System for increasing perceived loudness of speakers

Abstract

A system can be provided for increasing loudness of an audio signal to present a perceived loudness to a listener that is greater than a loudness provided natively by a loudspeaker. The system can include one or more of the following: a frequency suppressor, a loudness adjuster, an equalizer, and a distortion control module. The frequency suppressor can increase headroom in the audio signal by filtering out low and / or high frequencies. The loudness adjuster can calculate a loudness of the audio signal and apply a gain to the audio signal to increase the loudness. The equalizer can further increase headroom by attenuating portions of a passband of the loudspeaker's frequency response. The distortion control module can induce partial harmonic distortion in the audio signal to further increase loudness.

Description

Background technique

[0001] The physical size constraints of portable media devices often make the speakers in these devices relatively small in size. Small speaker drivers suffer from low output levels and often cannot reproduce the entire audible frequency range. When increasing the amplitude, distortion is introduced and more battery power is consumed. The noisy environment in which these devices are typically used only contributes to these problems.

[0002] Existing solutions to combat the low levels emanating from these devices tend to include adding hardware such as external speakers. These solutions run counter to the notion of portability either by adding bulk to devices that have been carefully designed to be small or by carrying a large number of gadgets around the consumer. Contents of the invention

[0003] In a particular embodiment, a system for increasing the loudness of an audio signal is presented to present a perceived loudness to a listener that is gre...

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