Title: Design and validation on a multiple sound source fast-measurement system of near-field head-related transfer functions

Author(s): YU Guangzheng; LIU Yu; XIE Bosun;

Affiliation(s): Acoustic Laboratory, School of Physics and Optoelectronics, South China University of Technology

Abstract: Near-field head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) are essential to scientific researches of binaural hearing and practical applications of virtual auditory display. High efficiency, accuracy and repeatability are required in a near-field HRTF measurement. Hence, there is no reference which intents on solving the measuring difficulties of near-field HRTF for human subjects. In present work, an efficient near-field HRTF measurement system based on computer control is designed and implemented, and a fast calibration method for the system is proposed to first solve the measurement of near-field HRTF for human subjects. The efficiency of measurement is enhanced by a comprehensive design on the acoustic, electronic and mechanical parts of the system. And the accuracy and repeatability of the measurement are greatly improved by carefully calibrating the positions of sound source, subject and binaural microphones. This system is suitable for near-field HRTF measurement at various source distances within 1.0 m, for both human subject and artificial head. The time costs of HRTF measurement at a single sound source distance and full directions has been reduced to less than 20 minutes. The measurement results indicate that the accuracy of the system satisfies the actual requirements. The system is applicable to scientific research and can be used to establish an individualized near-field HRTF database for human subjects.