Based on the measurements from 52 Chinese subjects (26 males and 26 females), a high-spatial-resolution head-related transfer function (HRTF) database with corresponding anthropometric parameters is established. By using the database, cues relating to sound source localization, including interaural time difference (ITD), interaural level difference (ILD), and spectral features introduced by pinna, are analyzed. Moreover, the statistical relationship between ITD and anthropometric parameters is estimated. It is proved that the mean values of maximum ITD for male and female are significantly different, so are those for Chinese and western subjects. The difference in ITD is due to the difference in individual anthropometric parameters. It is further proved that the spectral features introduced by pinna strongly depend on individual; while at high frequencies (ƒ ≥ 5.5 kHz), HRTFs are left-right asymmetric. This work is instructive and helpful for the research on binaural hearing and applications on virtual auditory in future.head-related transfer function, measurement, interaural time difference, binaural hearing

A simple spherical head and pulsating spherical sound source model are proposed to investigate the effect of multiple scattering between the head and the sound source on near-field head-related transfer function (HRTF) measurement. Multipole expansion method is used to calculate HRTFs of the model, then the relationships among the magnitude error of HRTF with frequency, source direction, source size, and the distance between the head centre and the sound source are analysed. The results show that to ensure the magnitude error of HRTF within 1.0dB up to 20kHz, for source distance not less than 0.15m or 0.20m, the radius of the sound source should not exceed 0.03 m or 0.05 m, respectively. The conclusion suggests an appropriate size of sound source in near-field HRTF measurement.

The omnidirectional character is one of important requirements for the sound source used in near-field headrelated transfer function (HRTF) measurements. Based on the analysis on the radiation sound pressure and directivity character of various spherical polyhedron sound sources, a spherical dodecahedral sound source with radius of 0.035 m is proposed and manufactured. Theoretical and measured results indicate that the sound source is approximately omnidirectional below the frequency of 8 kHz. In addition, the sound source has reasonable magnitude response from 350 Hz to 20 kHz and linear phase characteristics. Therefore, it is suitable for the near-field HRTF measurements.

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