AES Europe 2026

A “phantom image” is the illusion of an independent sound
source created by two or more loudspeakers. Most often
created by manipulating level differences between
stereophonic channels (aka, “panning”), the effect is used
to create a sense of auditory space between loudspeakers
; is largely taken for granted. In recent years,
surround; immersive audio systems have attempted to
utilize phantom image processing to render audio objects in
desired positions across multiple loudspeaker arrays. This
research examined the efficacy of phantom image perception
horizontally; vertically from an active listener
perspective. After listening to a target loudspeaker,
listeners (n = 442) were asked to move a phantom sound to a
position to match that of the target loudspeaker. The
listener’s phantom placement was then compared to the
target,; subjects were allowed “correct” their phantom
position. The horizontal experiment was based on a
standard stereophonic 60° loudspeaker array with the target
loudspeaker at 15° off center. The vertical experiment
utilized elevated loudspeakers in a 60° arc with the target
loudspeaker elevated 10° above the horizon (lower
loudspeaker). Results show nearly universal “undershoot” in
horizontal placement error on first attempts with gradual
improvement over trials that coalesced around the projected
target location. However, after repeated tries, final
perceptual image locations were spread over 2/3 of the
sound-field around the target loudspeaker. In the vertical
trials perceptual locations were spread across the entire
sound field in all three trials; failed to show any
patterns of coalescence around the target loudspeaker.