Evaluation of binaural loudness models with signals of different diffusivity

The effectiveness of three binaural loudness calculation procedures using dummy head recordings was tested to predict the results obtained from a listening test in which the sounds were broad noise bands with different degrees of diffusivity. The loudness calculation results obtained with the binaural recordings were also compared with the loudness calculation results obtained from an omnidirecitonal microphone. Using rms error as an indicator, one loudness calculation procedure proved to be more accurate than the other two for the binaural recordings while the loudness calculation results obtained with the omnidirecitonal microphone unexpectedly proved to be more reliable in predicting the results from the listening test than any of the binaural loudness calculation procedures tested.