Noise assessment in a high-speed train

Binaural sound recordings in various positions in a high-speed train have been used as stimuli in listening tests. In a first experiment, sounds were submitted to subjects at their real levels. Loudness revealed to be the most important parameter; it could be very well described by A-weighted levels. In a second experiment, loudness of stimuli were equalised; strong inter-individual differences appeared, which are due to different appreciations of the low-frequency content of sounds. Usual physical or psycho-acoustical parameters failed to correctly described that perceptual parameter; a simple parameter based on the specific loudness calculations was developed and could correctly describe the results.