The Design, Calibration, and Validation of a Binaural Recording and Playback System for Headphone and Two-Speaker 3D-Audio Reproduction

The evolution of iOS, Android, Windows Mobile, and other operating systems has fueled a rapid growth in personal entertainment products and has revolutionized the way consumers receive, control, and listen to audio content. Headphones or earphones and two-speaker stereo have become the dominant means of listening. Multichannel /speaker audio systems in contrast are primarily a part of the motion picture and home theater experience and can create audio content with richer spatial content. This 3D or immersive audio experience is desired by consumers but is not a part of the typical listening experience. Binaural sound, reproduced by headphones or two speakers, using cross-talk cancellation techniques, has been shown to provide significant spatial audio benefits when properly implemented. This paper presents a detailed look as to how these technologies are being refined and applied today to create entertainment content with significantly improved spatial qualities.