Effect of an active noise control system on the perception of the noise quality inside a car

Laboratory listening tests bave been undertaken for evaluating how the acoustic field variations due to an active noise control system modify the subjective preferences given by a listening jury. As far as the sound pressure level is by no means sufficient or even adequate to describe the physical phenomena determining the subjective perception, this investigation has dealt with psychoacoustics parameters and masking effects. The results, even if with the limitations dependent on the preliminary phase of the study, have shown the need of developing the active noise control engineering design for improving not only the sound pressure level reduction but also, and more powerfully, the acoustic comfort.