Evaluation of head‐related transfer function on the opposite side to a sound source

Abstract

A head‐related transfer function (HRTF) is a complex acoustic transfer function because it includes the effect of reflection and refraction due to the head and ears. The HRTFs on the opposite side to a sound source have more complex characteristics and lower power than HRTFs that are on the same side as a sound source. Moreover, many previous studies about monaural sound localization showed that performances of sound localization on the opposite side were not precise. From these results, it can be assumed that the HRTFs on the opposite side are not necessary to use listener’s own. In our experiments, several stimuli that convolved with the HRTFs were presented to evaluate individuality. The left ear HRTF was the subject’s own, and the right ear HRTF was the subject’s own and others. The differences between the subject’s HRTF and others’ HRTFs were evaluated using the spectral distortion score. The sound source azimuths were from 0 to 180 deg at intervals of 30 deg; the front was 0 deg, the left side was 90 deg, and the back was 180 deg. The results shows that the right ear HRTFs between 30 and 150 deg azimuth have low individualities.