Martellotta F., Skaug C.

The paper describes the main steps of a research to investigate the relation between subjective assessment of listening conditions in churches and the main objective acoustic parameters. Measurements of binaural impulse responses were made in several churches and in different positions inside the same church. A listening room was designed and realized in order to carry out listening tests using a stereo-dipole configuration. Measured binaural IRs were cross-talk canceled and then auralized with three different anechoic motifs including classical symphonic, romantic symphonic, and sacred choral music. Paired comparisons were finally performed, asking a trained panel of subjects their preference. Factor analysis was used in order to investigate which acoustical aspects influence subjective preference and whether the latter changes as a function of the music motif.