"Did you hear that?": Investigating localized spatial audio effects on enhancing immersive and affective user experiences in virtual reality

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Ifigeneia Mavridou, Ellen Seiss, Giuseppe Ugazio, Mark Harpster, Phillip Brown, Sophia Cox, Christine Erie, David Lopez Jr., Ryan Copt, Charles Nduka, James Hughes, Joseph Butera, Daniel N. Weiss

Published: 2025, Last Modified: 03 Mar 2026VR Workshops 2025EveryoneRevisionsBibTeXCC BY-SA 4.0
Abstract: This study examines the effects of software-based localised audio enhancement in VR on spatial audio, immersion, and affective responses. Sixty-eight participants took part in a VR game (Job Simulator) and reported improved sound quality, immersion, and localization under enhanced audio conditions. Physiological measures revealed significant effects on emotional valence, highlighting enhanced audio as a cost-effective way to improve auditory involvement and emotional engagement in VR without additional hardware.