Perceptual audio evaluation of media device orchestration using the multi-stimulus ideal profile method

The evaluation of object-based audio reproduction methods in a real-world context remains a challenge as it is difficult to separate the effects of the reproduction system from the effects of the audio mix rendered for that system. This is often compounded by the absence of explicitly-defined reference or anchor stimuli. This paper presents a perceptual evaluation of five spatial audio reproductions including Media Device Orchestration (MDO) in which a stereo mix is augmented by four additional loudspeakers. The systems are evaluated using the Multi-Stimulus Ideal Profile Method (MS-IPM), in which an assessor’s preferred value of each perceptual attribute is recorded in addition to their ratings of the systems. Principal Component Analysis was used to gain insight into the perceptual dimensions of the stimulus set and to investigate if the real systems overlap with the ideal profile. The results indicate that perceptual envelopment is the dominating perceptual factor for this set of reproduction systems, and the ideal system is one of high-envelopment.