Avatar 3D is showing to rave reviews in 2100 theaters, ESPN announced 85 sporting events broadcast in 3D starting with the FIFA World Cup in June, and all I heard about at CES was 3D televisions shipping this year.  It is a big deal.  I think… Or, it could be the next consumer electronics industry failed format.  There is no way to really know what 3D picture will become but there is huge momentum behind it and I think we are going to be hearing about it, watching it and talking about it for the next several years.

So, while we sit with our 3D glasses on being immersed in 3D video (and hopefully not getting headaches), I want to talk about 3D audio — because what’s the point of 3D video without an immersive audio experience?

Sound has an advantage over picture when it comes to rendering: the cues we receive from well designed and calibrated systems are closer to the real thing than what 3D displays can deliver.  Here’s what I mean by that:  I can stand behind a black acoustically transparent curtain next to a loudspeaker and with the right calibration make it so you can’t tell if it’s me or the speaker talking.  No display technology exists today that can fool you into thinking you are looking out of a real window. (more…)