Master Thesis - Perceptual Assessment of Loudspeaker Performance: A Comparison of In-Situ and Binaural Evaluation Methods

<h2><span><b>Job Title</b></span></h2>Master Thesis - Perceptual Assessment of Loudspeaker Performance: A Comparison of In-Situ and Binaural Evaluation Methods<p></p><h2>Job Description</h2><p><b><i>Category:</i></b> Signal Processing and Acoustics</p><p></p><p><b><i>Scope:</i></b> 2 students completing 30 credits (20 weeks) each.</p><p><br/><b>Background</b></p><p>Axis Communications develops products that produce sounds, such as loudspeakers, which are deployed in a wide range of acoustical environments and under varying operating conditions. Evaluating their perceptual performance is essential, and subjective evaluation provides an effective means of documenting listener experience. However, conducting comprehensive in situ evaluations quickly becomes impractical due to the large number of possible test conditions and environments.</p><p></p><p>One way to simplify the procedure is to present listener with binaural recordings that capture the target environments directly or that have been processed to auralize them. Such recordings allow for controlled, repeatable and scalable testing using headphones. It remains uncertain however whether binaural evaluations yield results that are consistent with those obtained through in situ testing, where listeners experience the device performance directly in the physical space.</p><p></p><p><b>Goal </b></p><ul><li><span>Build a system for collecting binaural recordings of devices which are being investigated.</span></li><li><span>Develop a system for presenting the corpus of binaural recordings to listeners using headphones, </span><span>allowing for controlled and repeatable testing.</span></li><li><span>Select a few perceptual acoustical parameters to assess. </span></li><li><span>Perform listening tests using both in situ measurements and recorded</span><span> stimuli to gather data on listener perceptions and preferences.</span></li><li><span>Analyze the results from the listening tests and in situ measurements, exploring various processing methods to enhance the accuracy and reliability of the findings </span></li><li><span>(optional for extended 60 credits) Incorporate perceptual objective metrics to correlate in situ measurements and binaural recordings</span></li></ul><p></p><p><b>Who are you?</b></p><p><span>For this thesis proposal we target students with a strong interest in audio, acoustics and psychoacoustics. Most likely you are studying a master’s program in a sound related field.</span><br/> </p><p><b>OK, I am interested! What do I do now?</b><br/>You are valuable to us – how nice that you are interested in one of our proposals! There are a few things for you to keep in mind when applying.</p><ul><li>Applications are accepted in both Swedish and English, and you apply via the proposal advert.</li><li>The announced thesis is open only to students affiliated with a Swedish University/College either directly or via an exchange program.</li><li>When the thesis proposal states that it includes two students working together, we would like you to apply in pairs. In these cases, send one application each but make sure to clearly state in your application who your co-applicant is. If you have any questions regarding this, please do not hesitate to contact us.</li><li>Please attach your CV and University/College grade summary.</li></ul><p></p><p><b>Who to contact for any questions regarding the position!</b><br/>Please contact Vasishta Kanthi +46 730 632626, <span>vasishta.kanthi@axis.com</span></p><p></p><h2>Type of Employment</h2>Thesis Worker (Fixed Term)<p></p><h2>Posting End Date</h2>2025-12-30<p></p><p><i>Certain roles at Axis require background checks, which means applicable verifications will be done in these recruitments. </i><i><span>Notice will be provided before we take any action.</span></i></p><p></p><h2>About Axis Communications</h2><p>We enable a smarter, safer world by creating innovative solutions for improving security and business performance. As a network technology company and industry leader, we offer solutions in video surveillance, access control, intercom, and audio systems, enhanced by intelligent analytics applications.</p><p></p><p>With around 5000 committed employees in over 50 countries, we collaborate with partners worldwide. Together, we thrive in our friendly, open, and collaborative culture and inspire each other to think beyond the expected. United by our commitment to inclusion, diversity, and sustainability, we consistently seek to develop our skills and way of working.</p><p></p><p><b><span>Let´s create a smarter, safer world</span> </b></p><p></p><p><span>For more information about Axis, please visit our website <a href="https://www.axis.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.axis.com</a>.</span></p><p><span>Listen to <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/07eb93UM9SMo6OCbjkZbDe?si=hzOvvC59TJKrJyf5vdEy4A&amp;dl_branch=1&amp;nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Get To Know Axis – Podcast</a></spa