Reverberation cues underlying virtual auditory distance perception for a frontal source

This study investigated the potential role of temporal, spectral, and binaural room-induced cues for the perception of virtual auditory distance. Listeners judged the perceived distance of a frontal source simulated between 0.5 and 10 m in a room via headphones, with eyes closed in a soundproof booth. All stimuli were equalized in broadband received level. Source signals with different spectra (pink or white noise, speech) were tested. The results indicate similar variations in distance estimates with simulated distance for the three source types. While listeners might have combined different cues for their evaluations, if they were to have used a single cue, the results point to the direct-to-reverberant ratio (DRR) or the spectral balance/centroid. A systematic bias in distance estimates was also observed across source types: Reported distances were on average farthest for pink noise, closer for speech, and closest for white noise. The DRR and spectral balance account reasonably well for the differences between pink and white noises, but not for the differences between speech and noises. Overall, the DRR led to the highest correlation with the distance estimates.