Ambidio: Sound stage width extension for internal laptop loudspeakers

This paper introduces a sound stage width extension method for internal loudspeakers. Ambidio is a realtime application that enhances a stereo sound file playing on a laptop in order to provide a more immersive experience over built-in laptop loudspeakers. The method, based on Ambiophonics principles, is relatively robust to a listener's head position, and requires no measured/synthesized HRTFs. The key novelty of the approach is the pre/post-processing algorithm that dynamically tracks the image spread and modifies it to fit the hardware setting in real-time. Two detailed evaluations are provided to assess the robustness of the proposed method. Experimental results show that the average perceived stage width of Ambidio is 176° using internal speakers, while keeping a relatively flat frequency response and a higher user preference rating.