Experiments on authenticity and naturalness of binaural reproduction via headphones

Abstract

Binaural stimuli presented via headphones need to be plausible in localization and sound coloration for a successful reproduction of an acoustic scene, especially for experiments on auditory selective attention. The goal is to provide artificially generated acoustic scenes in a way that the difference between a real situation and an artificially generated situation has no influence in psychoacoustic experiments. The quality and reliability of binaural reproduction via headphones comparing two different microphone setups (miniature microphone in open dome and ear plug) used for individualized head-related transfer functions and headphone transfer function measurements is analyzed. Listening tests are carried out focusing on authenticity, naturalness, and distinguishability in a direct comparison of real sources and binaural reproduction via headphones. Results for three different stimuli (speech, music, pink noise) are discussed. Furthermore, approaches to perform experiments on auditory selective attention with binaural reproduction versus dichotic reproduction are made.