The multidimensional characterization of active noise cancelation headphone perception

This papers explores the perceptual characteristics associated with the application of active noise cancelation (ANC) technologies to headphones. In this popular application, both noise cancelation performance is evaluated in noise & also the impact on the perception of music reproduction in noise. Environmental scenarios were reproduced from B-format recording over a 5-channel loudspeaker setup in an anechoic chamber to ANC headphones placed on a head & torso simulator. From binaural recordings of the noise & music-in-noise with ANC a sensory evaluation was performed by a panel of 11 selected & screened assessors. Eight & ten consensus attributes were developed & rated enabling a multivariate statistical for each scenario. In both cases a 4-dimensional perceptual space was developed & is discussed in the paper.