Perceptual Evaluation of Extrapolated Spatial Room Impulse Responses From a Mono Source

Abstract: Immersion in virtual and augmented reality solutions is reliant on plausible spatial audio. However, plausibly representing a space for immersive audio often requires many individual acoustic measurements of source-microphone pairs with specialist spatial microphones, making the procedure time-consuming and expensive. In this study, we evaluate the plausibility of extrapolated and spatialised Room Impulse Responses (RIRs) by using a 3-Alternative Forced Choice (3AFC) listening test. The stimuli comprised of RIRs from three spaces convolved with speech, orchestral, and instrumental music. When asked to select which stimuli was artificial out of one extrapolated and two real stimuli, an overall accuracy of 38% was achieved from 20 participants (5 percentage points above the expected guessing rate). Given the listening test result, this study shows that it is possible to extrapolate plausible spatial RIRs from mono measurements, decreasing the need for time and specialist equipment in acoustic measurements.