SOUND-QUALITY EVALUATION - A MULTILAYERED PROBLEM

It is the purpose of this paper to provide an introduction to the subs equent articles originating from the eaa tutorium on ''aurally-adequat e sound-quality evaluation'' which was held in Antwerp in March 1996. After a short recollection of the development of the concept of sound quality, a modern definition of product-sound quality is proposed and discussed. A system-oriented approach toward sound-quality evaluation is then introduced - with the aim of making sound-quality engineers aw are of the various components and processes being involved in the form ation of sound quality. Awareness of these components and processes is deemed to be a necessary foundation of proper sound-quality evaluatio n. The paper concludes with a discussion of practical consequences and offers some comments on the concept of typicalness in product-sound q uality.