Empirical transfer functions were measured for a manikin head as a function of source position (re: the listener) and listener position (re: the room) for sources within a meter of the listener. Empirical results are compared to room simulations using a standard image-method model combined with anechoic, distance-dependent head-related transfer functions (HRTFs). Results suggest that the biggest discrepancies between measured and modeled impulse responses arise due to interactions of the head with the source, which cannot be ignored for sources this close to the listener. Results give insight into the importance of the acoustic effects of the head and room on the total signal reaching a listener and have implications for understanding spatial perception in rooms and developing realistic 3-D spatial auditory displays.
