• Benjamin Kahl

Abstract

This paper explores Wave Field Synthesis (WFS) as a method to enhance auditory immersion in VR-based cognitive research. While VR environments typically underuse auditory cues, WFS offers realistic, spatially accurate soundscapes. An experiment compared participants’ localization accuracy of static and moving sounds between WFS and conventional stereo setups, examining the impact of environment, sound type, and duration. Results showed higher accuracy with stereo but a more natural auditory experience with WFS, especially regarding directional cues. Despite current limitations like poor height localization and user-dependent optimization issues, WFS demonstrates significant potential for specialized auditory perception studies involving complex directional information.

https://doi.org/10.64560/32131235

Keywords