Optimisation of the Localisation Performance of Irregular Ambisonic Decoders for Multiple Off-Centre Listeners

This paper presents a method for optimising the performance of irregular Ambisonic decoders for multiple offcentre listeners. New off-centre evaluation criteria are added to a multi objective fitness function, based on auditory localization theory, which guides a heuristic search algorithm to derive decoder parameter sets for the ITU 5-speaker layout. The new evaluation criteria are based upon Gerzon’s Metatheory of Auditory Localisation and have been modified to take into account off-centre listening positions. The derived decoders exhibit improved theoretical localisation performance for off-centre listeners. The theoretical results are supported by initial listening test results.