Localization of Sound Sources in Binaural Reproduction of First and Third Order Ambisonics

The use of higher-order ambisonics in spatial sound recordings makes it possible to increase the accuracy of recording information about the direction from which the sound comes to the listener. However, with binaural ambisonic sound reproduction, the listener's ability to locate the sound source accurately may be limited. This paper presents a comparison of the listener's ability to locate a sound source during binaural listening to recordings made with first and third order ambisonic microphones. The analysis was carried out for two types of signal: pink noise and ringing sound. The analysis of localization errors depending on the ambisonics order, azimuth and elevation angles as well as the type of signal is presented. The obtained data indicate that in binaural reproduction of the ambisonic sound the localization errors in the azimuth plane were smaller for the third order ambisonics, compared to the first order. In the elevation plane both for first and third order the errors were significant.