Determining noise and sound power level differences between primary and reference channels

A method for estimating a noise power level difference (NPLD) between a primary microphone and a reference microphone of an audio device includes obtaining primary and reference channels of an audio signal with primary and reference microphones of an audio device and estimating a noise magnitude of the reference channel of the audio signal to provide a noise variance estimate for one or more frequencies. A modelled probability density function (PDF) of a fast Fourier transform (FFT) coefficient of the primary channel of the audio signal is maximized to provide a NPLD between the noise variance estimate of the reference channel and a noise variance estimate of the primary channel. A modelled PDF of an FFT coefficient of the reference channel of the audio signal is maximized to provide a complex speech power level difference (SPLD) coefficient between the speech FFT coefficients of the primary and reference channel. A corrected noise magnitude of the reference channel is then calculated based on the noise variance estimate, the NPLD and the SPLD coefficient.