An Efficient Crosstalk Cancellation Algorithm for Headrest-Based Spatial Audio Rendering

Immersive audio systems aim to recreate three-dimensional soundscapes. A key component of such systems, when they are based on binaural reproduction, is the crosstalk cancellation (CTC), which minimizes signal leakage between channels to preserve spatial accuracy. This paper presents an enhanced crosstalk cancellation algorithm for headrest-based spatial audio rendering systems. The proposed method is based on a space average CTC algorithm, known for its robustness to small head movements, and introduces a causality constraint during the filter design phase to improve efficiency. Applied to a headrest-mounted loudspeaker configuration, the algorithm is evaluated using both objective acoustic metrics and subjective listening tests. Results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm delivers effective crosstalk suppression.