Addressing the Discrepancy Between Measured and Modeled Impulse Responses for Small Rooms

Simple computer modeling of impulse responses for small rectangular rooms is typically based on the image source method, which results in an impulse response with very high time resolution. Image source method is easy to implement, but simulated impulse responses are often a poor match to measured impulse responses because descriptions of sources, receivers, and room surfaces are often too idealized to match real measurement conditions. In this paper, a more elaborate room impulse response computer modeling technique is developed by incorporating measured polar responses of speaker, measured polar responses of microphone, and measured reflection coefficients of room surfaces into basic image source method. Results show that compared with basic image source method, the modeled room impulse response using this method is a better match to the measured room impulse response, as predicted by standard acoustical theories and principles.