title: Comparison of vu-meter-based and rms-based calibration of speech levels.
abstract: A difference of approximately 5 dB exists between the level of spoken English determined using the ANSI standard vu-meter method compared to the common root-mean-square (rms) method. If the rms method is substituted for the present ANSI standard method for calibrating a speech audiometer, for example, the reported speech reception thresholds will improve 5 dB: Speech levels read approximately 5 dB less using rms. Similarly, the reported signal-to-noise ratio required to understand speech in a speech-spectrum noise will be 5 dB better using rms. A simple method for obtaining a close approximation to traditional calibrations using a modified rms method is given.
authors.affiliation: Etymotic Research, Inc., 61 Martin Lane, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007, USA. m_killion@etymotic.com
authors.forename: Mead C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Killion
mesh_terms: D001302:Audiometry, Speech / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002138:Calibration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009622:Noise; D012984:Software; D013060:Speech