The optimum loudspeaker arrangements for multichannel sound system

This paper discusses the number of loudspeakers for multichannel sound systems to reproduce the spatial impression of diffuse sound field, such as in auditorium. Some subjective experiments were conducted in order to find suitable numbers and arrangement of loudspeakers. On the experiments, reference diffuse sound filed was produced by 24 loudspeakers that were placed at every 15 degrees along a concentric circle around the listener in an anechoic room. And then, the number of loudspeakers, which radiated sound sources or reverberations, was reduced from 24 to 12, 8, 6, 4, 3, 2 and then each spatial impression was compared with the reference sound of 24 loudspeakers. For the sound source of these experiments, noises and musical sounds were used. It becomes clear that the spatial impression of diffuse sound field can be reproduced by only two symmetrical pairs of loudspeakers (that is, four loudspeakers in all). On this arrangement, one pair of loudspeakers should be place in the frontal area around the listener with an angle of about 60°, and the other pair should be in the rear area with an angle of 120 to 180°.