Spatial Audio Displays for Speech Communications: a Comparison of Free Field and Virtual Acoustic Environments

The ability of listeners to detect, identify, and monitor multiple simultaneous speech signals was measured in free field and virtual acoustic environments. Factorial combinations of four variables, including audio condition, spatial condition, the number of speech signals, and the sex of the talker were employed using a within-subjects design. Participants were required to detect the presentation of a critical speech signal among a background of non-signal speech events. Results indicated that spatial separation increased the percentage of correctly identified critical speech signals as the number of competing messages increased. These outcomes are discussed in the context of designing binaural speech displays to enhance speech communication in aviation environments.