Headphone Equalizer DSP for Lateralization and Timbre Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
When playing music on headphones, sound localization occurs inside the head, and the timbre (frequency characteristic) changes depending on the type of headphone used, which is not addressed by existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
A programmable processor-based effect giving device that performs a characteristic changing process across entire bandwidths, switching to a headphone sound field controlling process when headphones are selected, using a reduced number of bands (M<N) to alleviate lateralization and adjust timbre efficiently, utilizing the same program storage area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the speaker adjusting equalizer (EQ) is used for headphone output, then the timbre can be adjusted, but the sound becomes lateralized in the head and the frequency characteristics change according to the headphone type
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing different equalizer settings tailored to specific headphone types. The system identifies the connected headphone model and applies pre-calibrated frequency response adjustments specific to that headphone's acoustic characteristics, thereby correcting timbre variations while avoiding the lateralization issues that arise from using generic speaker EQ settings for headphone output.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by dynamically adjusting equalizer parameters based on the detected headphone type. The system stores multiple sets of EQ parameters corresponding to different headphone models and switches between them according to the connected device, enabling optimal sound quality adaptation without manual intervention from the user.
2Manufacturing precision
If the speaker adjusting equalizer (EQ) is implemented in the DSP, then the sound quality can be improved, but a wide program area is required in the DSP
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a multi-functional DSP program structure that handles both speaker and headphone output through a unified equalizer framework. Instead of implementing separate complete EQ systems for each output type, the system uses a single adaptable EQ module that can be configured for different output devices, thereby reducing the overall program area requirement while maintaining high sound quality for both speaker and headphone outputs.
3Volume of stationary object
If the music sound is adjusted without passing through the speaker adjusting equalizer (EQ) for headphone output, then the program area is reduced, but the sound is lateralized and timbre changes according to headphone type
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing optimal equalizer parameters for various headphone types before runtime. During operation, the system simply retrieves the appropriate pre-computed EQ settings based on the connected headphone model, avoiding the need for complex real-time calculations while still providing tailored timbre adjustment for each headphone type, thus maintaining both program efficiency and sound quality.
Data Source
AI summary
An effect giving device that can solve a problem that sound is localized inside a head when using a headphone and a problem that timbre changes depending on kind of the headphone is provided. A DSP 10 performs a speaker adjusting equalizer process that processes an entire bandwidth with seven bands. When output selecting means select a headphone 320, the DSP 10 performs a headphone adjusting equalizer process of the entire bandwidth with three bands of the equalizer process, and processes a process of other bands by replacing it to a lateralization sense alleviating process for the headphone 320. Since the headphone 320 and a speaker 318 are exclusively used, using an identical program storage area efficiently ensures an alleviation of a lateralization sense when using the headphone 320 and an adjustment of the timbre.