AES Europe 2026

This study evaluates three Next-Generation Audio (NGA)
rendering systems through listening tests using real-life
audio content. The testing paradigm prioritized subjective
preference over adherence to a ground-truth reference.
Participants assessed perceptual spatial audio attributes
in both 5.1; 7.1.4 loudspeaker setups. The findings
suggest that strict adherence to the rendering algorithm
used during content creation is not mandatory in terms of
listener preference. While not advocating disregarding
artistic intent without consideration, this study proposes
that such flexibility in reproduction can be an acceptable
compromise.