Extension of the Optimal Source Distribution for Binaural Sound Reproduction

Abstract

Binaural reproduction over loudspeaker requires system inversion which is often referred to as cross-talk cancellation. Such process is the major factor to degrade the quality of 3D sound reproduction but the Optimal Source Distribution (OSD) provides simple and effective signal processing and loudspeaker design principle which enables lossless crosstalk cancellation process. The OSD takes advantage of its physical property which ensures that in-phase and out-of-phase components of the binaural reproduction process are balanced. Hence the bulk of the crosstalk cancellation is achieved by its loudspeaker design principle and the related natural interference in the sound field. Inverse filters of the OSD have a unique property where only the simple phase change is required in essence for the perfect crosstalk cancellation. Therefore, each filter has flat frequency response that lead to advantages in many respects. It is shown here that the advantage of the OSD is further enhanced by separating in-phase and out-of-phase components through an alternative system design.