Passive and active virtual height filter systems for upward firing drivers

A virtual height filter for use in a speaker system reflecting sound waves off a room ceiling to a listening position in the room, comprising:

• an active virtual height filter circuit configured to generate at least part of a frequency response curve to a signal transmitted to an upward-firing driver to create a target transfer curve that compensates for height cues present in sound waves transmitted directly through the room in favor of height cues present in the sound reflected off the ceiling by at least partially removing directional cues from the speaker location and at least partially inserting directional cues from the reflection point;
• and
• a passive virtual height filter system configured to generate at least part of the frequency response curve, and incorporated in a mechanical aspect of the upward-firing driver or an enclosure enclosing the upward-firing driver.

A method for providing a virtual height filter transfer function to speaker system having an upward-firing driver reflecting sound off of a surface in a room, the method comprising:

• providing an active virtual height filter circuit configured to generate at least part of a frequency response curve to a signal transmitted to an upward-firing driver to create a target transfer curve that compensates for height cues present in sound waves transmitted directly through the room in favor of height cues present in the sound reflected off the surface by at least partially removing directional cues from the speaker location and at least partially inserting directional cues from the reflection point;
• and
• providing a passive virtual height filter system configured to generate at least part of the frequency response curve, and incorporated in a mechanical aspect of the upward-firing driver or an enclosure enclosing the upward-firing driver.