#88: A Legacy of Sound, with Dr Sean Olive
A Legacy of Sound, with Dr Sean Olive
In this episode of Audio Talks, I had the honour of sitting down with Dr. Sean Olive, former Senior Fellow at HARMAN and one of the most influential figures in modern audio research.
Known for his groundbreaking work on the HARMAN Sound Curve, Sean has helped elevate the entire industry’s understanding of sound quality – bridging the gap between how we hear and how we measure sound.
From struggling with poor recordings of his own piano recitals and jazz orchestrations to his mentorship under audio legend Dr. Floyd Toole and leadership as President of the Audio Engineering Society, Sean’s mission has always been to transform the way we experience sound.
Here, he shares the personal and professional journey that led him to reshape how we think about listener preferences, headphone equalisation, and predictive modelling of sound quality.
More useful links and information:
Check out the latest AKG headphones: https://uk.akg.com
Learn more about the Audio Engineering Society here: https://aes2.org/
Look out for the upcoming fourth edition of Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers, Rooms and Headphones here: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781003477495/sound-reproduction-floyd-toole-sean-olive-todd-welti
For Sean’s upcoming keynote at the 2025 AES International Conference on Headphone Technology visit: https://aes2.org/event-extra/2025-aes-international-conference-on-headphone-technology-program/
The Audio Talks playlist on TIDAL: https://listen.tidal.com/playlist/6d14f4ad-f1c7-404d-ba82-fe8d0a320b93
Make sure to follow HARMAN on Social Media and visit our Art of Listening website to get a full view on how HARMAN helps people get the most out of each moment they spend listening:
Instagram @audiotalkspodcast
Instagram @HARMAN_intl
Facebook @HARMANint
LinkedIn @HARMAN International
https://artoflistening.harman.com/
Audio Podcast
About Sean Olive
Sean Olive is former Senior Research Fellow for Harman International, a major manufacturer of audio products for consumer, professional and automotive spaces. He directed the Corporate R&D group, overseeing acoustic and psychoacoustic research for Harman.
Prior to 1993, he was a research scientist at the National Research Council of Canada where his research focused on the perception and measurement of loudspeakers, listening rooms, and microphones.
Sean received a Bachelors degree in Music from the University of Toronto, and his Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Sound Recording from McGill University in Montreal. His Ph.D. research was on room acoustic adaptation and the acoustical interaction between loudspeakers and rooms.
Dr. Olive has written over 50 research papers on the perception and measurement of audio for which he was awarded the Audio Engineering Society (AES) Fellowship Award in 1996, two Publication Awards (1990 and 1995), the ALMA Titanium and Harman Achievement Awards. Sean is the past President of the Audio Engineering Society.
For more info see www.linkedin.com/in/seanolive
About HARMAN
Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, HARMAN designs and engineers connected products and solutions for automakers, consumers, and enterprises worldwide, including connected car systems, audio and visual products, enterprise automation solutions; and services supporting the Internet of Things.
With leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson® and Revel®, HARMAN is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform around the world.
More than 50 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and connected car systems. Our software services power billions of mobile devices and systems that are connected, integrated and secure across all platforms, from work and home to car and mobile. HARMAN has a workforce of approximately 30,000 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
In March 2017, HARMAN became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. HARMAN is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer. Minorities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
HARMAN offers a great work environment, challenging career opportunities, professional training and competitive compensation. Looking for a challenge where your experience is valued? Come see what you can achieve as a leader with HARMAN!
More info: HARMAN.com
Audio Talks
A podcast on all things audio presented to you by HARMAN and our family of audio brands including JBL, Harman Kardon and AKG. Host Oisin Lunny, music journalist and audio enthusiast, will interview expert guests, legends of the music industry, and audio scientists to discuss the power of music and audio in all its facets.
Audio Talks is presented by Harman.
To view all of the Audio Talks podcast episodes click here.
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