Sound reproduction method and apparatus for assessing real-world performance of hearing and hearing aids

A multi-channel sound reproduction system for testing hearing and hearing aids comprising:

• at least one audio source;
• a listening position at which a test subject is placed;
• a plurality of loudspeakers located at approximately ear level of a test subject in the listening position, the plurality of loudspeakers for receiving a plurality of audio signals from the audio source;
• a first further loudspeaker located at approximately ear level and at front and center of a test subject in the listening position, the first further loudspeaker for receiving a further audio signal from the audio source;
• a second further loudspeaker located at an overhead center position above the test subject in the listening position;
• and
• the at least one audio source transmitting a time-offset or delayed sum of at least a portion of the plurality of audio signals and the further audio signal to the second further loudspeaker.

A method of testing hearing and hearing aids comprising:

• recording sounds of an acoustic environment via a plurality of microphones placed about and facing away from a recording position;
• storing the sounds recorded by each of the plurality of microphones as audio signals in an audio source;
• recording speech;
• storing the recorded speech as a target signal in the audio source;
• and
• reproducing, from the stored target signal and the stored audio signals and via a plurality of loudspeakers placed about and facing into a listening position, sounds representative of the speech and of the acoustic environment at the listening position.

A multi-channel sound reproduction system for testing hearing and hearing aids comprising:

• at least one audio source;
• a listening position at which a test subject is placed;
• and
• a plurality of loudspeakers placed about the listening position, the plurality of loudspeakers for receiving audio signals from the audio source, at least two of the plurality of loudspeakers generating sound from at least a portion of the audio signals which appears to, but does not, emanate from at least one other of the plurality of loudspeakers.

A multi-channel sound reproduction system for testing hearing and hearing aids comprising:

• at least one audio source;
• a listening position at which a test subject is placed;
• and
• a plurality of loudspeakers placed at locations that are approximately equidistant from and facing toward a center of the listening position, the plurality of loudspeakers for receiving audio signals from the audio source, the audio signals being representative of recordings made by a plurality of microphones that are approximately equidistant from and facing away from a center of a recording position, the recording position being located in an environment having sounds desired to be reproduced at the listening position.