PESQ, POLQA, AQuA
Feature Comparison Table
Feature |
PESQ |
POLQA |
AQuA |
| Measurements in wideband audio |
NO |
YES |
YES |
| Accurate measurements in CDMA networks |
NO |
YES |
YES |
| VAD detection in AMR codec |
NO |
YES |
YES |
| GSM/WCDMA accurate measurements |
NO |
YES |
YES |
| Variable delay up to 1 sec in VoIP |
NO |
YES |
YES |
| Strong linear distortions |
NO |
YES |
YES |
| Limitations with speech enhancement devices (noise reduction, gain control) |
YES |
NO |
NO |
| Works in NB (up to 8 kHz Sample Rate) bandwidths |
NO |
YES |
YES |
| Works in WB (up to 16 kHz Sample Rate) bandwidths |
NO/YES[1] |
YES |
YES |
| Works in SWB (above 16 kHz Sample Rate) bandwidths |
NO |
YES |
YES |
| Works with audio sampling rate higher than 48kHz |
NO |
NO |
YES |
| Works with all standard and non-standard codecs audio (AMR-WB, EVRC-WB, iLBC, AMB+, AAC, SLIK, G.711, G.729) |
NO |
YES |
YES |
| Works with all technologies (GSM, WCDMA, LTE, VoIP, VoIP over IMS) |
NO |
YES |
YES |
| Can be used in testing terminals and hand-free applications |
YES |
YES |
YES |
| Considers codec degradations (tandem codecs, packet loss, frame errors, bit errors) |
NO |
YES |
YES |
| Customized perceptual model and algorithm |
NO |
NO |
YES |
| Considers network specific degradations |
NO |
YES |
YES |
| Copes with P.800 MOS |
YES |
YES |
YES |
| Talking quality |
YES |
NO |
NO/YES |
| MOS score for long sequences of speech (more than 12 seconds) |
NO |
NO |
YES |
| Noisy listening environments |
NO |
NO |
YES |
| Music |
NO |
NO |
YES |
| Noise suppressors |
NO |
NO |
YES |
| Non-telephony applications |
YES |
NO |
YES |
| Different languages |
YES |
NO |
YES |
| Multi-dimensional audio(Works with Stereo) |
NO |
NO |
YES |
| Unified perceptual model for all types of audio (speech, music) |
NO |
NO |
YES |
| Can work with very long audio (1 hour and more) |
NO |
NO |
YES |
Using AQuA instead of PESQ or POLQA
- POLQA fixes weaknesses of PESQ. AQuA does not show recognized weaknesses
- POLQA unlikely PESQ can work with all modern speech codecs, voice enhancement devices and network conditions. AQuA algorithm naturally allows this possibility, but also extends it to music clips and wideband audio with sampling rate higher than 48kHz.
- POLQA has higher accuracy than PESQ. AQuA has high accuracy towards P.800 measurements and allows customization (tuning) of perceptual model used in the software.
- POLQA still has limitations that must be considered and overviewed. AQuA has been chosen by many customers for voice and audio quality analysis proving that its possible limitations are not significant.
- POLQA does not have backwards compatibility with PESQ. AQuA provides reasonable score difference with PESQ considering AQuA MOS scores comply with P.800
