This project aims at understanding and controlling the key factors in acoustic stimulation and simulation techniques relevant for naturally sounding presentation to humans in a way that avoids any mismatch be-tween the intended and the psychoacoustically determined impression of sound quality, loudness, and other attributes.

We consider both free-field equalization of headphones and numerical vibrotactile modelling of earphones coupled to the ear canal as well as the construction and individualization of acoustical “transparent” earpieces. To identify and model the factors involved, a wide range of simulated acoustic environments (partially enhanced with visualization) and ear-level devices will be employed in a multisite round-robin test.