Multichannel Sound Reproduction Quality Improves with Angular Separation of Direct and Reflected Sounds

Arguments can be put forward for the separation of direct and reflected components of the sound field and reproducing them through appropriate transducers, but there is no definite tested outcome available about that. In this work the perceptual effect of angular separation in commonly used 5.0 and 7.0 multichannel systems was investigated. Four listening experiments were performed involving several schemes of separation and a variety of experimental conditions. The listeners consistently preferred schemes involving separation to schemes without separation.