Binaural Loudness Spectra Analysis of Individualized Binaural Room Impulse Responses

In order to objectively evaluate the timbre difference caused by using individualized and non-individualized binaural room impulse responses (BRIRs) in binaural auralization, perceptual differences between human subject's BRIRs and an artificial head's BRIRs, along with the difference across six human subjects' BRIRs, were investigated by using Moore's loudness model. All BRIRs were measured in a multi-media classroom. In loudness spectra analysis, mono white noise signal was used as the input stimulus and the total loudness level was 86 phons. Results show that the maximum difference caused by different pinna-relevant notch frequency often occur at the frequency range of 34-36 ERB numbers (8.6-10.7 kHz). Supposing lphon/ERB as just noticeable difference (JND) for audibility, different BRIRs have obvious audible difference in timbre, which is consistent with our previous psychoacoustic experiment results. Thus, individualized BRIRs are necessary in binaural auralizaiton.