A method for Perceptual Assessment of Automotive Audio Systems and Cabin Acoustics

This paper reports the design and implementation of a method to perceptually assess the acoustical properties of a car cabin and the subsequent sound reproduction properties of automotive audio systems. Here, we combine Spatial Decomposition Method and Rapid Sensory Analysis techniques. The former allows instant comparisons between auralized measured Vehicle Impulse Responses (VIR) over loudspeakers, avoiding headphone-related shortcomings, while rapid sensory analysis overcomes time-consuming product profiling and language-specific problems, commonly found in the evaluation of audio material. The proposed method is described in terms of capturing, analyzing and reproducing the sound field. A brief overview of the experimental procedure is presented as well as preliminary results of a pilot experiment.