Listener tracking stereo for object based audio reproduction

This paper introduces a method to provide accurate localisation of audio objects with a stereo reproduction system when the listener is away from the sweet spot. To this end, a formulation is presented which allows to compensate the loudspeaker input feeds so that the soundwaves which propagate from both loudspeakers arrive with the same amplitude and phase independently of the listener position. In order to render audio objects, conventional panning techniques are used, which are also adapted depending on the listener position. The formulation has been implemented in a real time system and an initial set of measurements show that the proposed system is able to pan different objects accurately inside the loudspeaker span. The measurements also show that the panning of virtual audio sources outside of the loudspeaker span is limited to spatial positions close to the loudspeakers. PACS No:43.38.Vk, 43.60.Fg, 43.66.Lj