AES Europe 2026

The application of binaural cue perception mechanisms to
multichannel audio compression technology can reduce
spatial parameter redundancy; effectively lower the
encoding bitrate. Binaural cues play a critical role in
sound source localization,; their frequency-dependent
characteristics yield varied perceptual localization
effects. However, current understanding of the specific
behavior of binaural cues at low frequencies, as well as
the similarities; differences between interaural time
difference (ITD); interaural level difference (ILD),
remains incomplete. To explore the relationship between
ITD-based; ILD-based azimuth perception, this study
non-uniformly selected nine ITD values; twelve ILD
values within the 300–1480 Hz frequency range to test ITD
; ILD perceptual azimuths, respectively. The experimental
method involved using fixed binaural cue stimuli while
varying the audio with known horizontal azimuth angles to
approach the target binaural cue stimulus. Test results
indicate that both ITD; ILD perceptual effects are
significantly influenced by frequency, with the minimum
perceptual azimuth values for both ITD; ILD observed at
700 Hz, suggesting that binaural cue perception azimuths
are closer to the median plane at this frequency.
Furthermore, surface fitting was applied to the perceptual
azimuths of ITD; ILD, revealing relatively similar
patterns. Based on experimental findings, this paper
analyzes the explorable perceptual correlation between
ITD-based; ILD-based azimuth perception. The application
of data in spatial audio coding contributes to the
efficient transmission; fidelity preservation of audio
signals. This study provides valuable insights for
optimizing binaural cue-based compression techniques,
ultimately supporting high-fidelity spatial audio
reproduction.