Listener Reaction to Stereophonic Reproduction by Reflected Sound

Comparisons were made by numerous observers of the stereophonic perception of direct versus reflected sound. For conventional direct sound, two loudspeakers having wide frequency response were used at spacings of from six to fifteen feet, directed toward the listeners. For reflected sound, equivalent dual sound sources were used placed back-to-back near the walls of a room in which it was desired to establish a stereo sound field. The frequency response of the latter system was equalized to have the same apparent response as the conventional system. Many of the tests were conducted behind a sound permeable screen. Listeners were mixed in their ability to identify the reflective systems and in their preference for one system over the other, although they reacted favorably to both systems.