The Relationship Between the Frequency Characteristics of Automobile Warm-up Noise and Annoyance

Abstract

In the automotive industry, vehicle sound significantly impacts perceived value, making it crucial to understand the link between subjective auditory perception and objective physical metrics. Defining these metrics enables both comfort improvement and standardization. This study examines warm-up noise from an accelerated warm-up system (AWS), which occurs in locations like home garages. If unpleasant, it can disturb both drivers and neighbors. To address this, we conducted psychoacoustic analysis and perceptual experiments to investigate the relationship between warm-up noise characteristics and annoyance. The results show that higher tonality and dissonance levels increase annoyance. Suppressing these factors effectively enhances comfort and improves perceived product value through better sound quality.