As part of the Hearing Valley project, the hearing laboratory has been established in the facilities of the University of Eastern Finland, located on the ground floor of the Canthia building, at Yliopistonranta 1 C, 70200 Kuopio. The laboratory was completed in August 2025 and was taken into use in October 2025.
Research room of the Hearing Valley laboratory.
The hearing laboratory consists of three rooms. Upon entering, visitors arrive in a waiting area, which provides access to both the research room and the monitoring room. The research room is equipped with video surveillance and a microphone system, allowing continuous monitoring and two-way communication between the participant and the research team in the monitoring room.
Detailed descriptions of the laboratory equipment are provided below.
The computer‑controlled Madsen Astera 2 diagnostic audiometer is integrated with the Aurical FreeFit real‑ear measurement (REM) system and the Aurical HIT hearing aid test chamber. The system supports Oldenburg sentence‑in‑noise tests in Finnish, Swedish, and English, enabling advanced speech‑in‑noise assessment. It is suitable for in‑situ hearing aid measurements and is fully compatible with the NOAH data management system, providing a comprehensive platform for audiological diagnostics, research, and hearing aid evaluation.
The Bittium NeurOne EEG/ERP system delivers high‑precision, multichannel neural recordings with wide bandwidth and ultra‑high sampling rates. Its Tesla amplifier supports AC/DC recording and precise real‑time triggering, enabling advanced neuromodulation and closed‑loop stimulation research.
Smart Eye Pro is a remote, multi‑camera eye‑tracking system that enables high‑precision measurement of gaze and head movements without wearable equipment. It supports naturalistic research settings and provides detailed metrics for studies of visual attention, audiovisual processing, and cognitive load.
The GRAS 45BC is a state‑of‑the‑art KEMAR acoustic manikin designed for accurate and repeatable acoustic measurements. It replicates the acoustic properties of the human head, torso, and ears, enabling objective and standardized evaluation of spatial hearing, speech perception, and audio device performance. The system supports controlled, reproducible testing conditions and is well suited for advanced hearing research, binaural acoustics, and auditory technology assessment.
A multichannel loudspeaker system consisting of 37 loudspeakers and two subwoofers is used to create realistic and immersive sound environments. The research room is equipped with thirty‑two Genelec 8331A three‑way coaxial loudspeakers and four Genelec 8330A two‑way coaxial loudspeakers, supported by two Genelec 7370A subwoofers for low‑frequency reproduction. An additional two‑way loudspeaker is installed in the control room for monitoring purposes.
The system provides accurate and consistent sound reproduction across a wide frequency range. Built‑in room correction filters help reduce the influence of room acoustics at the listening position, and the loudspeaker settings can be controlled remotely. These features make the system well suited for spatial hearing research and immersive audio studies.
The Sibbo PUF digital otoscope enables high‑quality visualization of the ear canal and tympanic membrane through a digital display, supporting accurate documentation and easy sharing of clinical findings. Complementing this, the laboratory also utilizes a traditional otoscope for fast and reliable assessment of ear structures during routine examinations. Together, these instruments provide both advanced digital imaging capabilities and efficient, hands‑on otoscopic evaluation for research and clinical purposes.
Em64 Eigenmike Spatial Microphone is a 64‑capsule spherical microphone for high‑precision 3D sound recording. Powered via PoE and using Dante networking, it enables up to 6th‑order Higher‑Order Ambisonics and flexible beamforming that is ideal for spatial audio analysis and hearing research.
Meta Quest 3 virtual reality headsets enable immersive, controlled audiovisual environments for hearing research, assessment, and rehabilitation. The technology supports advanced studies of spatial hearing and multisensory interaction by allowing precise control over experimental conditions in realistic virtual scenarios.
