Room compensation for loudspeaker reproduction using a supporting source

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel room compensation method that enhances both spectral and spatial loudspeaker reproduction by adding a delayed supporting source, improving perceived accuracy without perceptible auxiliary sounds.

Contribution

It proposes a frequency-selective energy addition technique using a secondary supporting source to improve spatial and spectral accuracy in loudspeaker reproduction.

Findings

Perceptually alters loudspeaker perception without perceiving the supporting source.

Performs comparably to commercial room compensation algorithms.

Offers advantages over traditional room compensation methods.

Abstract

Room compensation aims to improve the accuracy of loudspeaker reproduction in reverberant environments. Traditional methods, however, are limited to improving only spectral (timbral) and temporal accuracy, neglecting the spatial accuracy of loudspeaker reproduction. Proposed is a method that compensates for both spectral and spatial properties of loudspeaker reproduction, by adding energy to the perceived reverberant sound field in a frequency-selective manner using a delayed secondary supporting source. This approach allows for the modification of the direct to reverberant ratio as a function of frequency, altering spatial and spectral reproduction. The proposed method is perceptually evaluated, demonstrating its ability to alter the perception of a primary loudspeaker without the listener perceiving the supporting source. The results show that the proposed method performs comparably to a well-established commercial room compensation algorithm and has several advantages over traditional room compensation methods.