YouTuber Uses Custom Acoustic Scanner to Visualize Spatial Audio Performance in Different Speaker Setups
YouTuber PlasmatronX built a Computer Acoustic Tomography (CAT) scanner that visualizes sound waves in a room to compare how soundbars perform against full surround sound systems. The device uses multiple microphones and custom hardware to map acoustic behavior, with a stuffed guinea pig serving as a head-sized reference object. The visualization demonstrates how room acoustics and speaker placement affect spatial audio perception, revealing the 'sweet spots' for different audio configurations.
PlasmatronX created a custom testing rig that enables visual mapping of sound wave propagation using Computer Acoustic Tomography, allowing direct comparison between different audio setups including stereo speakers, soundbars, and 7.1 surround systems. The experiment uses a toy guinea pig positioned at approximately 4:1 scale to a human head as a reference point within a multi-speaker array. The visualization reveals how soundbars create virtual speaker effects through acoustic trickery and beam steering, while also demonstrating the critical role room acoustics play in audio perception. Key findings show that room reflections from walls and ceilings, combined with sound absorption from furniture, significantly impact what listeners hear. The creator has made the project open-source, providing code, 3D printing files, and schematics for others to replicate the experiment.
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- TechRadarCenter
How does 'virtual' spatial audio from a soundbar compare to an actual surround setup? Someone built a mind-blowing scanner that lets you 'see' sound waves to demonstrate it, with the help of a stuffed guinea pig and a custom-built 8-channel amp
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