A Testing Environment to Support the Design of Innovative Car Audio Systems Based on Electrodynamic Shakers

Nowadays, the car cabin is extensively used as a listening environment, and car audio systems are more and more integrated with multimedia solutions. Recently, this trend has also led to increased customization options and to the possibility of creating personalized seat entertainment. In this context, audio system producers are involved in the development of even more innovative solutions to meet and raise customer expectations. Among these, one of the most interesting challenges is the development of 4D systems, capable of combining Hi-Fi audio systems with devices for generating vibrations, creating a more immersive and engaging experience. In this paper, an innovative procedure to design a car audio system is presented, which includes an electrodynamic shaker installed on a car seat. A testing environment was designed to assess the capability of the system to improve the passenger perception. To do so, in the project follow-up, measurements from the sensors installed in the test cabin will be combined with the volunteers’ judgments collected during a jury test.