A New Signal for Measuring Loudspeaker Maximum Linear SPL

Metadata

Publisher: SMPTE — White Plains, NY, USA
Doc Type: Journal Article
Content Type: Original Research
Abbreviated Title: SMPTE Mot. Imag. J
Volume: 129, No. 5, pp. 25–29
Abstract: To determine which loudspeakers are sized appropriately for a particular application, it is necessary to have a standard test signal. Test signals exists which intend to represent the frequency-dependent root mean square (RMS) level of typical content. However, the peak-to-average ratio (crest factor) of typical signals is also important for determining the maximum level a loudspeaker can attain. The crest factor of real signals as a function of frequency has been investigated and it is found that the crest factor increases with increasing frequency. On the other hand, the crest factor of pink noise and other standard noise signals changes minimally with frequency. A new test signal with the crest factor as a function of frequency is modeled after real signals. A procedure for finding the maximum sound pressure level (SPL) at which a loudspeaker can reproduce this signal linearly is proposed. Both the signal and the procedure have been made publicly available so that comparable measurements can be made by multiple, independent individuals.
Publication Date: 2020-06-01
DOI: 10.5594/JMI.2020.2986622
ISSN: Print: 1545-0279 | Electronic: 2160-2492
Link: https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2020.2986622
Author(s): Roger Schwenke
bio
Roger Schwenke is a senior scientist at Meyer Sound Laboratories, Berkeley, CA. He received a PhD degree in acoustics from Penn State University, State College, PA, in 2000. He has given many award-winning presentations at scientific conferences and has been featured several times as an expert on “MythBusters,” a show on the Discovery Channel. His work on SoundBox and Oliveto Restaurant was featured in the January 2020 issue of Popular Science and in The New Yorker article “Wizards of Sound.” He was awarded the SMPTE Journal Certificate of Merit in 2013 for his contribution to a paper on the interaction of loudspeakers and projection screens. He has contributed to the development of a number of Meyer Sound’s innovative products, including MAPP Online acoustic prediction software, SIM3 three-channel frequency analyzer, constellation active acoustic architecture, the M1D curvilinear array loudspeaker, and more. He gave a presentation on producing noise-induced vibrations for satellite component validation/verification at the Aerospace Testing seminar.
Keyword(s): Coherence, Crest Factor, Distortion Measurement, Loudspeaker Headroom, Maximum Sound Pressure Level (SPL), Onset Of Nonlinearity, Peak To Average Ratio, Test Signal
Copyright: © 2020 SMPTE

Bibliographic Reference(s)

ANSI.S1.11.1986 — ANSI S1.11-1986, Specifications for Octave-Band and Fractional Octave-Band Analog and Digital Filters EXTERNAL
ANSI.S3.5.1997 — American National Standard Institute (ANSI), S3.5-1997r2017, “Methods for Calculation of the Speech Intelligibility Index.” EXTERNAL
ALMA International, “EIA-426-B Loudspeaker Power Rating Test CD,” Version 1.0, Sep. 2001. EXTERNAL
M-Noise Procedure, “Meyer Sound Part # 02.916.050.01 B2,” Accessed: 26 Apr. 2020. [Online]. Available: https://m-noise.org EXTERNAL
J. Bendat and A. Piersol, Random Data Analysis and Measurement Procedures, Wiley: New York, 1986. EXTERNAL
S. Temme and P. Brunet, “A New Method for Measuring Distortion Using a Multitone Stimulus and Non-Coherence,” AES 121st Convention, Oct. 2006, Paper 6877. EXTERNAL
G. Carter, C. Knapp, and A. Nuttall, “Estimation of the Magnitude-Squared Coherence Function via Overlapped Fast Fourier Transform Processing,” IEEE Trans. Audio Electroacoust., 21(4):337–344, Aug. 1973. EXTERNAL

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Roger Schwenke; A New Signal for Measuring Loudspeaker Maximum Linear SPL, SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal ( Volume: 129, Issue: 5, June 2020); SMPTE, 2020. Available at https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2020.2986622

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Roger Schwenke; A New Signal for Measuring Loudspeaker Maximum Linear SPL, SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal ( Volume: 129, Issue: 5, June 2020); SMPTE, 2020. Available at https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2020.2986622

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<span class="citation">Roger Schwenke; <cite>A New Signal for Measuring Loudspeaker Maximum Linear SPL</cite>, SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal ( Volume: 129, Issue: 5, June 2020); SMPTE, 2020. Available at <a href="https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2020.2986622" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2020.2986622</a></span>

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Roger Schwenke; A New Signal for Measuring Loudspeaker Maximum Linear SPL, SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal ( Volume: 129, Issue: 5, June 2020); SMPTE, 2020
doi: 10.5594/JMI.2020.2986622
url: https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2020.2986622

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<li>
Roger Schwenke; <cite id="bib-10-5594-jmi-2020-2986622">A New Signal for Measuring Loudspeaker Maximum Linear SPL</cite>, SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal ( Volume: 129, Issue: 5, June 2020); SMPTE, 2020
<span class="doi">10.5594/JMI.2020.2986622</span>
</li>