The Influences of Microphone System, Video, and Listening Position on the Perceived Quality of Surround Recording for Sport Content

This paper investigates the influences of the recording/reproduction format, video and listening position on the

quality perception of surround ambience recordings for sport events. Two microphone systems First Order

Ambisonics (FOA) and Equal Segment Microphone Array (ESMA) were compared in both 4-channel (2D) and 8-

channel (3D) loudspeaker reproductions. One subject group tested audio-only conditions while the other group

was presented with video as well as audio. Overall, the ESMA was rated significantly higher than the FOA for all

quality attributes tested regardless of the presence of video. The 2D and 3D reproductions did not have a significant

difference within each microphone system. Video had a significant interaction with the microphone system and

listening position depending on the attribute.