Spatial Audio Reproduction using Distributed Mode Loudspeaker Arrays

True spatial reproduction of sound images over a large listening area can only be achieved by Wave Field Synthesis, which requires a high number of individual loudspeaker channels. This paper describes a novel method to realize such systems in a practical way using multi-exciter distributed mode panels and digital filtering. Explained in detail are filter designs for the reproduction of plane waves, which is required to efficiently transport and render a wave field in a perceptual sense, and filters for the creation of focused sound sources behind or in front of the panels. For MPEG-4 applications, the display of moving sound objects requires special algorithms to generate and interpolate long impulse responses, which are presented as well.