From manikin to microphone arrays development and application of binaural measurement devices

Ever since stereophonic systems were designed it was obvious to make the recording by two microphone channels which mimic the aural investigation of the acoustic environment by our two ears. Head‐related stereophony aims at a subjectively optimal reproduction of a sound field, in particular with headphones, whereas the multi‐channel synthesis of a sound field provides a listening condition which is more independent of the individual listeners acoustic properties (e.g., head size, near‐field refraction pattern). Binaural measurement devices are comparatively less complex and costly and therefore in use for about 30 years for sound field investigations, as in concert hall acoustics or in the assessment of environmental and technical sounds. A review is given on the development of head‐related stereophony for investigating (mainly) room acoustics. Concepts of future devices for the assessment of technical sound are presented. The classical head‐shaped recording system (dummy head) is substituted by beam‐forming microphone arrays.