Pinna cues drive the need for individualized HRTFs in vertical localization

Evidence

Once an HRTF is recorded, sounds can be passed through the HRTF for presentation over headphones to a listener. Sound will then be perceived as external to the body, despite the headphone presentation. Interestingly, for localization in the horizontal plane, a listener-specific HRTF is not necessary. Wenzel, Arruda, Kistler, and Wightman (1993) compared sound localization abilities for people listening over headphones using their own HRTF and an HRTF measured using different people. They found that localization in the horizontal plane was generally unaffected by the specific HRTF. However, listeners performed better at localizing in the other two planes when they were presented sounds from their own HRTF. In particular, it appears that the pinnae cues were most relevant. Consequently, depending on the application, a specific HRTF may or may not be important. For example, listening to a concert over headphones may not require an individualized HRTF. However, video games in which targets may come from above or below could be associated with a better immersive experiment using an individualized HRTF. — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 1538

Categorization

• SEED: Angle for a piece on whether VR/audio tech should offer individualized HRTF calibration or generic profiles.