As immersive object-based spatial audio continues to gain widespread adoption in the music industry, automobiles have become a target environment for multichannel audio reproduction capabilities. This emergence is driving new advances in audio rendering techniques. We present novel rendering strategies that scale with the number of available channels in automotive audio systems. This includes virtual height reproduction without the need for discrete overhead speakers that can be costly to implement. Here we compare the perceptual impact of 5.1 discrete, 5.1.4 discrete, and 5.1 virtual height rendering systems in multiple automotive environments. Subjective assessment paired comparison experiments were conducted to measure preference and multiple spatial audio attributes, and probability outcomes were modelled using a Bradley-Terry-Luce rank ordering. The 5.1 virtual height system provides a comparable sense of spaciousness and externalization to the 5.1.4 discrete channel system without degradation of spectral naturalness. These findings highlight the potential for virtual height rendering to enhance spatial audio immersion in automotive environments while minimizing the need for additional physical speakers. Further, this methodology can be generalized for subjective evaluation of audio delivery performance across a variety of channel configurations. We also describe multiple alternative rendering techniques for virtualization of immersive audio in automotive environments for future investigation.
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