A method, a computer readable medium, and an apparatus for multichannel audio playback adaptation. A user input defining a listening region relative to a loudspeaker arrangement is received via an input. A distance calculating unit determines minimal distances between the listening region and the loudspeakers. A comparator compares the determined minimal distances with a critical distance. A parameter setting unit then adapts output parameters for those loudspeakers for which the determined minimal distance is below the critical distance.

An audio processor for reproducing multichannel audio has a normal layer processing and a lower layer processing. The normal layer processing is configured for processing one or more channels of the object-specific audio or the multichannel audio belonging to a normal layer. The lower layer processing is configured for processing at least one channel or more channels of the object-specific audio or the multichannel audio belonging to a lower layer. The lower layer processing is configured to feed at least one signal belonging to the one channel or the more channels of the lower layer to a subwoofer output.

When a channel signal, such as a 22.2 channel signal, is rendered into a 5.1 channel signal, a three-dimensional (3D) audio may be reproduced by using a two-dimensional (2D) output channel, however, when an elevation angle of an input channel is different from a standard elevation angle, if elevation rendering parameters according to the standard elevation angle are used, distortion may occur in a sound image. In order to solve the aforementioned problem according to the related art and to prevent front-back confusion due to a surround output channel, an embodiment of the present invention provides a method of rendering an audio signal, the method including receiving a multichannel signal including a plurality of input channels to be converted to a plurality of output channels; adding a preset delay to a frontal height input channel so as to allow each of the plurality of output channels to provide a sound image having an elevation at a reference elevation angle; changing, based on the added delay, an elevation rendering parameter with respect to the frontal height input channel; and preventing front-back confusion by generating, based on the changed elevation rendering parameter, an elevation-rendered surround output channel delayed with respect to the frontal height input channel.

An earpiece device includes a housing, a sound generator and a first blocker. The sound generator includes a first loudspeaker which includes a vibrating board. The vibrating board includes a first sound generating surface and a second sound generating surface. The first sound generating surface is disposed towards the exterior of the housing. The second sound generating surface is disposed opposite to the first sound generating surface. The first blocker includes a first portion, a second portion, a first side surface and a second side surface. The first side surface is disposed towards the first sound generating surface. The second side surface is disposed opposite to the first side surface. The first portion is disposed between the first side surface and the second side surface and is fixed to the cover plate. The second portion is disposed opposite to the first portion and is distant from the cover plate.

A method of processing each of a first plurality of temporal windows of first and second input audio signals to generate first and second output audio signals comprises (a) detecting a time offset between respective portions of the first and second input audio signals corresponding to a given temporal window by: (i) detecting a correlation between one or more properties of the respective portions according to each of a group of candidate time offsets under test; and (ii) selecting, as a detected time offset for the given temporal window, an offset for which the detecting step (i) detects a correlation which meets a predetermined criterion such as greatest correlation; and (b) for each of a second plurality of temporal windows, generating a portion of the first and second output signals by applying a relative delay between portions of the first and second input audio signals in order to correct one or both of the input audio signals to generate a pair of output audio signals (such as a stereo pair) having a reduced temporal disparity between the audio content of the two signals.

A method of playing back audio content with improved immersiveness can include receiving, at a playback device, audio input including vertical content having a high-frequency portion and a low-frequency portion. The playback device can face along a first sound axis and comprise an up-firing transducer configured to direct sound along a second sound axis that is vertically angled with respect to the primary sound axis and a side-firing transducer or array configured to direct sound along a third axis that is horizontally angled with respect to the first sound axis. The low-frequency portion of the vertical content can be played back via the side-firing transducer or array, while the high-frequency portion of the vertical content can be played back via the up-firing transducer.

A method for influencing an auditory direction perception of a listener, and to an arrangement for it the method is disclosed, to provide a solution, by means of which the improvement of the suppression of the auditory localization of a direction of one or more real sources S.sub.1 of a sound projecting audio playback system is achieved in that a localization-masking additionally generated sound entity is provided and is radiated by the real source S.sub.1 with a directional effect in a defined direction.

An earpiece device includes a housing, a sound generator and a first blocker. The sound generator includes a first loudspeaker which includes a vibrating board. The vibrating board includes a first sound generating surface and a second sound generating surface. The first sound generating surface is disposed towards the exterior of the housing. The second sound generating surface is disposed opposite to the first sound generating surface. The first blocker includes a first portion, a second portion, a first side surface and a second side surface. The first side surface is disposed towards the first sound generating surface. The second side surface is disposed opposite to the first side surface. The first portion is disposed between the first side surface and the second side surface and is fixed to the cover plate. The second portion is disposed opposite to the first portion and is distant from the cover plate.

A method of playing back audio content with improved immersiveness can include receiving, at a playback device, audio input including vertical content having a high-frequency portion and a low-frequency portion. The playback device can face along a first sound axis and comprise an up-firing transducer configured to direct sound along a second sound axis that is vertically angled with respect to the primary sound axis and a side-firing transducer or array configured to direct sound along a third axis that is horizontally angled with respect to the first sound axis. The low-frequency portion of the vertical content can be played back via the side-firing transducer or array, while the high-frequency portion of the vertical content can be played back via the up-firing transducer.

A vehicle audio system includes a first driver's seat speaker, a second driver's seat speaker having a narrower directivity than the first driver's seat speaker, a first front passenger's seat speaker, a second front passenger's seat speaker having a narrower directivity than the first front passenger's seat speaker, and a delay processing unit that causes an audio signal output to the speaker out of the first driver's seat speaker and the second driver's seat speaker closest to the driver's seat to be delayed relative to an audio signal output to the speaker furthest from the driver's seat, and causes an audio signal output to the speaker out of the first front passenger's seat speaker and the second front passenger's seat speaker closest to the front passenger's seat to be delayed relative to an audio signal output to the speaker furthest from the front passenger's seat.