Hats for HATS

I’m excited to share with my network a revolutionary new product release from HBK: Hats for HATS!

Building on cutting-edge research on high-frequency head-related transfer functions (HRTFs), HBK has developed a range of standardised headwear for use when testing personal audio devices. HBK Electro-acoustics R&D Manager April Fjolsen explains:

The HRTF plays a critical role in our ability to localise sounds. Until recently, research was limited by the 8 kHz maximum frequency limit of previous-generation Head and torso simulators (HATS). With Type 5128 High-frequency HATS, researchers have finally been able to measure HRTFs across the full audible frequency range.

HBK engineers stumbled across the surprisingly large impact of headwear on HRTFs by accident, when an employee’s child found their way into our anechoic chamber at the Christmas party, and cheekily placed a Santa hat on a Type 5128 that was being used for long-term testing. Subsequent tests exhibited highly unusual results in the 12 - 15 kHz frequency range, revealing an entirely new area of research.

We discovered that the surprising result was not unique to the Santa hat, and that many types of headwear had a unique and significant impact on the HRTF - and that no test of personal audio devices is complete without taking headwear into account! Thus, we started development of a range of standardised headwear - our ‘Hats on Top of Head and Torso Simulator’ - or HOT-HATS!

We’re releasing four HOT-HATS later this month, with many more to come. Check out the posters below for a sneak peek!