In 5.1 surround sound systems the problems of lateral image instability and a non-linear lateral panning path are well known. Alternative panning techniques have been developed in an attempt to overcome these problems, but often improved spatial imaging compromises spectral integrity. This is an undesirable tradeoff in the context of music mixing and production. The current paper examines the effect of low-level inter-channel time differences (ICTDs) in contralateral channels with respect to lateral imaging. Subjective experiments evaluated localization perceptions with ICTDs of 1 ms in either the front or surround contralateral channel. This led to more accurate and predictable lateral image positioning with minimal spectral coloration. The results are used to propose a more effective 5.1 lateral panning mechanism.
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