Non-Special Loudspeakers as Speech Test Sources in Natural Acoustics Speech Intelligibility Investigations
Objective speech intelligibility estimations undertaken in natural acoustics speech communications (NAS) scenarios require the utilization of a speech source that approximates the acoustic characteristics of a human talker. Only a limited number of special speech sources that conform to the specific...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-06-01
|
| Series: | Acoustics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2624-599X/5/3/38 |
| _version_ | 1797581800666562560 |
|---|---|
| author | Luis Gomez-Agustina Haydar Aygun Liji Suseela Thankom Mohan |
| author_facet | Luis Gomez-Agustina Haydar Aygun Liji Suseela Thankom Mohan |
| author_sort | Luis Gomez-Agustina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective speech intelligibility estimations undertaken in natural acoustics speech communications (NAS) scenarios require the utilization of a speech source that approximates the acoustic characteristics of a human talker. Only a limited number of special speech sources that conform to the specifications in the relevant guidelines are available in the market; however, they can be deemed expensive by professional practitioners and other users. Non-special and affordable loudspeakers are often used in NAS investigations in place of standardized special speech sources without the knowledge of their suitability and results validity. This study aims to examine the suitability of a range of representative common and affordable non-special loudspeakers as a potential alternative to standardized speech sources in NAS indicative or pilot investigations. Frequency response and Speech Transmission Index Public Address (STIPA) experimental results obtained from a reference standardized speech source were compared against results from various non-special loudspeakers measured utilizing diverse and real-world representative combinations of NAS acoustic conditions under controlled laboratory conditions. STIPA mean absolute errors for the alternative speech sources were generally lower than the STIPA method uncertainty and one Just Noticeable Difference (0.03 STI). The findings of this study will inform practitioners of the suitability of affordable loudspeakers when standardized special test loudspeakers are not available. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:10:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-af3e49a8971341d8b13ba9b4453a1c09 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2624-599X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:10:45Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acoustics |
| spelling | doaj.art-af3e49a8971341d8b13ba9b4453a1c092023-11-19T09:03:09ZengMDPI AGAcoustics2624-599X2023-06-015361963010.3390/acoustics5030038Non-Special Loudspeakers as Speech Test Sources in Natural Acoustics Speech Intelligibility InvestigationsLuis Gomez-Agustina0Haydar Aygun1Liji Suseela Thankom Mohan2School of Built Environment and Achitecture, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London SE1 0AA, UKSchool of Built Environment and Achitecture, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London SE1 0AA, UKSchool of Built Environment and Achitecture, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London SE1 0AA, UKObjective speech intelligibility estimations undertaken in natural acoustics speech communications (NAS) scenarios require the utilization of a speech source that approximates the acoustic characteristics of a human talker. Only a limited number of special speech sources that conform to the specifications in the relevant guidelines are available in the market; however, they can be deemed expensive by professional practitioners and other users. Non-special and affordable loudspeakers are often used in NAS investigations in place of standardized special speech sources without the knowledge of their suitability and results validity. This study aims to examine the suitability of a range of representative common and affordable non-special loudspeakers as a potential alternative to standardized speech sources in NAS indicative or pilot investigations. Frequency response and Speech Transmission Index Public Address (STIPA) experimental results obtained from a reference standardized speech source were compared against results from various non-special loudspeakers measured utilizing diverse and real-world representative combinations of NAS acoustic conditions under controlled laboratory conditions. STIPA mean absolute errors for the alternative speech sources were generally lower than the STIPA method uncertainty and one Just Noticeable Difference (0.03 STI). The findings of this study will inform practitioners of the suitability of affordable loudspeakers when standardized special test loudspeakers are not available.https://www.mdpi.com/2624-599X/5/3/38speech intelligibilitymouth simulatorspeech sourcenatural acousticsSTIPA |
| spellingShingle | Luis Gomez-Agustina Haydar Aygun Liji Suseela Thankom Mohan Non-Special Loudspeakers as Speech Test Sources in Natural Acoustics Speech Intelligibility Investigations Acoustics speech intelligibility mouth simulator speech source natural acoustics STIPA |
| title | Non-Special Loudspeakers as Speech Test Sources in Natural Acoustics Speech Intelligibility Investigations |
| title_full | Non-Special Loudspeakers as Speech Test Sources in Natural Acoustics Speech Intelligibility Investigations |
| title_fullStr | Non-Special Loudspeakers as Speech Test Sources in Natural Acoustics Speech Intelligibility Investigations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Non-Special Loudspeakers as Speech Test Sources in Natural Acoustics Speech Intelligibility Investigations |
| title_short | Non-Special Loudspeakers as Speech Test Sources in Natural Acoustics Speech Intelligibility Investigations |
| title_sort | non special loudspeakers as speech test sources in natural acoustics speech intelligibility investigations |
| topic | speech intelligibility mouth simulator speech source natural acoustics STIPA |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2624-599X/5/3/38 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT luisgomezagustina nonspecialloudspeakersasspeechtestsourcesinnaturalacousticsspeechintelligibilityinvestigations AT haydaraygun nonspecialloudspeakersasspeechtestsourcesinnaturalacousticsspeechintelligibilityinvestigations AT lijisuseelathankommohan nonspecialloudspeakersasspeechtestsourcesinnaturalacousticsspeechintelligibilityinvestigations |