Psychoacoustic evaluation of different methods for creating individualized, headphone-presented virtual auditory space from B-format room impulse responses

We evaluate a new technique for synthesizing individualized binaural room impulse responses for headphone-rendered virtual auditory space (VAS) from B-format room impulse responses (RIRs) recorded with a Soundfield micro- phone, and a listener's anechoic head-related impulse responses (HRIRs). Traditionally, B-format RIRs are decoded for loudspeaker playback using either Ambisonics or Spatial Impulse Response Rendering. For headphone playback, virtual loudspeakers are commonly simulated using HRIRs. However, the number and position of loudspeakers should not really be a factor in headphone playback. Hence, we present a new technique for headphone-rendered VAS which is not limited by the number and position of loudspeakers and compare its performance with traditional methods via a psychoacoustic experiment.