Immersive audio reproduction systems

An audio signal processing system configured to provide virtualized audio information in a three-dimensional soundfield using loudspeakers in a horizontal plane, wherein the virtualized audio information is perceived by a listener as including audible information in other than the horizontal plane, the system comprising:

• an audio signal input configured to receive at least one height audio signal, the at least one height audio signal including audio signal information that is intended for reproduction using a loudspeaker that is elevated relative to a listener;
• a localization signal input configured to receive localization information about the at least one height audio signal, the localization information including a first azimuth parameter;
• a memory circuit including one or more virtual height filters, wherein each of the virtual height filters is associated with one or more azimuth parameters;
• and
• an audio signal processor circuit configured to:
• retrieve a first virtual height filter from the memory circuit using the first azimuth parameter;
• and
• generate a virtualized audio signal by applying the first virtual height filter to the at least one height audio signal, wherein when the virtualized audio signal is reproduced using one or more loudspeakers in the horizontal plane, the virtualized audio signal is perceived by the listener as including audible information in other than the horizontal plane.

A method for providing virtualized audio information in a three-dimensional soundfield using loudspeakers arranged in a first plane, wherein the virtualized audio information is perceived by a listener as including audible information in other than the first plane, the method comprising:

• receiving, using a first processor circuit, at least one height audio signal, the at least one height audio signal configured for use in audio reproduction using a loudspeaker that is offset from the first plane;
• receiving, using the first processor circuit, localization information corresponding to the at least one height audio signal, the localization information including an azimuth parameter;
• selecting, using the first processor circuit, a first virtual height filter using information about the azimuth parameter;
• and
• generating a virtualized audio signal, including using the first processor circuit to apply the first virtual height filter to the at least one height audio signal, wherein the virtualized audio signal is configured for use in audio reproduction using one or more loudspeakers in the first plane, and wherein when the virtualized audio signal is reproduced using the one or more loudspeakers it is perceived by a listener as including audible information in other than the first plane.