Design of Automotive Audio Systems Using the Acoustic Transfer Function Measurement

The small, irregular volume of the typical automotive cabin can induce large, unpredictable variations in the low frequency response (<200 Hz) of woofers in the audio system. Acoustic transfer function measurements of these effects, made using a reciprocity technique, show these variations at the listener's position. The response of a subwoofer design at any position in the vehicle can be predicted and optimized through computer aided convolution of the woofer response and the acoustic transfer function. A commercially available loudspeaker acoustic simulator, SPEAK, was used for woofer system design and simulation in an automobile.