Fresh From the Bench: APL Virtuoso v2 Binaural Renderer for Multichannel and Immersive Audio Formats

Originally launched in May of 2023, APL Virtuoso is a culmination of more than 10 years of research into binaural audio and spatial sound, offering users the ability to mix and monitor immersive audio over headphones, without the need for complex loudspeaker setups. The v2 update of APL Virtuoso introduced acoustics emulation and externalization, simulating the experience of listening to loudspeakers in a perfectly tuned room.

In this issue we write about some of the most innovative Drivers and Transducers from the past two years. Read about dual-driver true wireless earbuds, and how to assess listening effort inside vehicles. Douglas Self shares his latest findings on Modern Op-Amp Distortion Tests, and René Christensen explores the analytical framework that sustains great simulation techniques. Reviews of the APL Virtuoso v2 Binaural Renderer, and the Purifi 1ET9040BA amplifier module.

Applied Psychoacoustics Laboratory (APL) announced a software update for its binaural rendering plugin and standalone application. APL Virtuoso v2 introduces acoustics emulation and externalization, simulating the experience of listening to loudspeakers in a perfectly tuned room. APL also announced support for the Audeze Maxwell head-tracking headphones, as well as the ability to load speaker configurations, and personal HRTFs.