HEAD acoustics ACQUA Adds Listening Effort Prediction Option

With LEAP (Listening Effort Prediction from Acoustic Parameters) now integrated into ACQUA 6.1.100, HEAD acoustics offers an optional tool for on-site prediction of the perceived listening effort. The software predicts the perceived listening effort of a listener when hearing an impaired speech signal without the need for an undisturbed reference signal. This makes it possible to carry out measurements more efficiently under laboratory conditions and in real-world applications.

ACQUA 5.0.100 is the first iteration of the new generation of the well-established measurement and analysis software ACQUA from HEAD acoustics. ACQUA's significantly reworked software structure provides even greater flexibility for voice and audio quality evaluation, while paving the way for future expansions. Designed for the requirements in applications as diverse as communication systems, Bluetooth, ANC headphones, or smart speakers, ACQUA now supports faster hardware configuration, perceived loudness analysis, and MDAQS audio quality evaluation.

In this article for audioXpress, Hans W. Gierlich, managing director of HEAD acoustics, explains how to test the different performance parameters of smart speakers and smart home devices under real-life conditions, how to deal with the challenges of optimizing systems for voice and audio quality, how to simulate environmental conditions, user behavior, and test the performance of the various functionalities. This article was originally published in audioXpress, January 2019.

With HQS-SmartHome the measurement technology specialist HEAD acoustics provides a new tool for testing communication and audio quality of voice-controlled smart home devices. The database for the ACQUA analysis system contains efficient test series for analyzing and optimizing smart speakers, speakerphones and conferencing devices. HQS-SmartHome (HEAD acoustics Quality Standard) offers a wide range of realistic and reproducible measurements and simulations for research and development phase up to production.

The January 2019 (CES) edition of audioXpress has arrived. Read our Microphone Market Update, addressing the latest cutting-edge microphone technologies, and learn how Zylia created its ZM-1 spherical microphone array. Also in this edition, Joe D’Appolito explains how to address the equalization of closed-box subwoofers, Hans W. Gierlich writes about testing Smart Home Devices, David Logvin reviews the Lepai LP40PA plate amplifier, and George Ntanavaras describes a stereo analog preamplifier DIY project. Oh, and read Erik Owen's unique take on Rocky Mountain Audio Fest (RMAF) 2018.

HEAD acoustics has launched a new version of VoCAS (Voice Control Analysis System), the company’s software for evaluating voice control systems. The turnkey test solution now supports the company’s modular multi-channel labCORE front end. According to the Herzogenrath, Germany-based company, VoCAS offers manufacturers even more possibilities to test their ASR system (Automatic Speech Recognition) in vehicles, mobile phones or smart speakers objectively and reproducibly.

A powerful and versatile all-in-one solution for a wide variety of applications, the new modular multi-channel front end labCORE from HEAD acoustics, introduces a powerful and versatile measurement instrument that expands the German company’s application scope. Due to its modularity, its wide selection of digital and analog inputs and outputs as well as its programmable interfaces, labCORE is an all-in-one solution for voice and audio quality measurements.