Robustness of Equalization to Displacement Effects: Part II

Abstract

In a multiple listener environment, equalization may be performed through magnitude response spatial averaging at expected listener positions. However, the performance of averaging-based equalization, at the listeners, will be affected when there is a mismatch between microphone and listener positions. In this chapter, we present a modal analysis approach, targeted at low frequencies, to map mismatch to an equalization performance metric. Specifically, a closed-form expression is provided that predicts the equalization performance in the presence of mismatch. The results, which are particularly valid at lower frequencies where standing wave modes of the room are dominant, indicate that magnitude average equalization performance depends on (i) the amount of displacement/mismatch, and (ii) the frequency component in the modal response. We have provided validation of the theoretical results, thereby indicating the usefulness of the proposed analytic approach for measuring equalization performance due to mismatch effects. We also demonstrate the importance of average equalization over single listener equalization when considering mismatch/ displacement effects.