Sound field simulation method by combining finite difference time domain calculation and multi-channel reproduction technique

In order to auralize the room impulse responses obtained by the numerical analysis based on the wave theory, a multi-channel sound field simulation system using the Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method has been developed. In this system, uni-directional impulse responses for four orthogonal directions in a 2-dimensional space are firstly calculated by the FDTD method and they are reproduced directly from four loudspeakers set in an anechoic room. At the center point of the reproduced sound field, we can hear the sound with 2-dimensional information assumed in the FDTD calculation. In this paper, the principle and the basic performance of this system are introduced and an example of subjective hearing test performed using this system is presented.