Calculation of subjective preference at each seat in a concert hall

Abstract

This paper represents a method of calculating the subjective preference of sound fields in concert halls before construction. Subjective preference judgments (paired comparison tests) were systematically performed using fully independent objective parameters of acoustic information which describe the signals to the two ears. The sound fields with various combinations of listening level, delay of early multiple reflections, subsequent reverberation time, and magnitude of the interaural cross correlation were simulated with the aid of a digital computer. The optimal conditions maximizing the subjective preference could be found for each objective parameter, because the parameters had an almost independent effect on the subjective preference judgments. Based on the linear scale value, which is obtained by applying the law of comparative judgment, we can calculate a total preference value according to the ‘‘principle of superposition.’’ Examples of calculating the preference values by use of the plan and the cross section of a concert hall are described.