Correlations between deficiencies in power window systems influencing sound quality and some psychoacoustic metrics

The perceptual auditory attributes principally responsible for the annoyanc e quality of certain deficiencies in power window systems are identified an d quantified experimentally with a set of psychoacoustic metrics. A group o f measured sound signatures and the corresponding window translation veloci ties in over 30 production passenger vehicles are examined in this sound qu ality study. These measurements are acquired using a relatively simple non- destructive setup situated in a large hemi-anechoic chamber. An analysis is performed to map the specific amplitude, temporal and spectral characteris tics of the measured sound and velocity data to the subjective attributes t hat influence perceived annoyance response significantly. The annoyance lev el is quantified using a normalized preference scale that is obtained from the paired comparison tests taken by 70 human subjects with normal hearing range. The study shows that sounds depicting higher intensity, pitch, trans ient effect, and time-varying character are found to be more annoying. Thes e results provide a comprehensive set of information that can be used in pr oduct design and trouble-shooting phases to reduce overall noise quality co mplaints. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.