Generalized crosstalk cancellation and equalization using multiple loudspeakers for 3D sound reproduction at the ears of multiple listeners

A classical crosstalk cancellation and equalization (CTCE) system uses two loudspeakers and assumes only one listener. In this paper, the idea is generalized to the design of using multiple loudspeakers for multiple listeners. We will show that if the number of loudspeakers is equal to the number of ears, only a least-squares (LS) solution can be obtained, while using more loudspeakers than ears we have more options: either an LS solution or an exact solution for perfect CTCE. Via simulations using real impulse responses measured in the varechoic chamber at Bell Labs, we learn that a CTCE system employing more loudspeakers will be more robust to errors in the estimated acoustic impulse responses.