RDECOM #3
SPHERE ROOM
The Sphere Room, named for its spherical loudspeaker configuration, measures 5.3 m wide by 5.4 m long and is 4.9 m high. It is designed for investigations in the integrity of auditory virtual spaces, the realism of complex auditory simulations, the effects of changes in Head-Related Transfer Functions (HRTF) on auditory perception, and the effects of helmets and other headgear on spatial orientation. The room contains 57 Meyer Sound MM-4XP test loudspeakers. The loudspeakers are positioned at five levels of elevation plus a single loudspeaker mounted directly overhead. The azimuthal separation varies with elevation such that there are equally spaced separations of 20° at the 0° elevation, 30° at the ±30° elevations and 45° degrees at the ±60° elevation, constituting a sphere surrounding the listener.
The listener station in the Sphere Room is located in the middle of the room on an elevated and adjustable platform so that the ears of the participant can be located at the center of the sphere of loudspeakers. Adjustments made with the combination of the platform and the chair cover the range of seated heights between the 5th percentile female and the 95th percentile male so that the ears of virtually any listener can be located in line with the horizontal plane. An unlimited number of sounds may be presented simultaneously to any combination of the loudspeakers. Moving sounds can be simulated among multiple loudspeakers through panning algorithms implemented in software. Four loudspeakers are located on height-adjustable stands in the corners of the room to provide background noise when needed. These loudspeakers are each capable of providing background noise up to 110 dBA at the position of the listener. The combination of spherically located loudspeakers and the central position of the listener can result in a completely immersive auditory environment.
RDECOM #3
SPHERE ROOM
The Sphere Room, named for its spherical loudspeaker configuration, measures 5.3 m wide by 5.4 m long and is 4.9 m high. It is designed for investigations in the integrity of auditory virtual spaces, the realism of complex auditory simulations, the effects of changes in Head-Related Transfer Functions (HRTF) on auditory perception, and the effects of helmets and other headgear on spatial orientation. The room contains 57 Meyer Sound MM-4XP test loudspeakers. The loudspeakers are positioned at five levels of elevation plus a single loudspeaker mounted directly overhead. The azimuthal separation varies with elevation such that there are equally spaced separations of 20° at the 0° elevation, 30° at the ±30° elevations and 45° degrees at the ±60° elevation, constituting a sphere surrounding the listener.
The listener station in the Sphere Room is located in the middle of the room on an elevated and adjustable platform so that the ears of the participant can be located at the center of the sphere of loudspeakers. Adjustments made with the combination of the platform and the chair cover the range of seated heights between the 5th percentile female and the 95th percentile male so that the ears of virtually any listener can be located in line with the horizontal plane. An unlimited number of sounds may be presented simultaneously to any combination of the loudspeakers. Moving sounds can be simulated among multiple loudspeakers through panning algorithms implemented in software. Four loudspeakers are located on height-adjustable stands in the corners of the room to provide background noise when needed. These loudspeakers are each capable of providing background noise up to 110 dBA at the position of the listener. The combination of spherically located loudspeakers and the central position of the listener can result in a completely immersive auditory environment.