JPH10174199A - Speaker sound image controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To generate a sound image at a desired position even in any position relation between listener speaker and sound image by performing sound image control while dividing (m) pieces of speakers into the groups respectively having plural pieces. SOLUTION: A speaker sound image controller is composed of a control part 1, sound image processing part 2 and mapper part 3. The control part 1 is provided with a pair speaker preserving part 10 preserving a pair of speakers suitable for speaker sound image processing in the arrangement of speakers, pair speaker combination preserving part 11 preserving the combination of pair speakers existent there and pair speaker selecting part 12 for selecting any combination of speakers suitable for the position of sound image. The sound image processing part 2 has double speaker sound image controllers 20 as many as the number of pair speakers preserved in the pair speaker preserving part 10. The mapper part 3 has (n) pieces of output arithmetic parts 30 for finding the output values of (n) pieces of speakers from sound data processed by the sound image processing part 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a speaker for controlling the sound image of stereophonic sound by adjusting the output of these speakers when generating stereophonic sound using a plurality of speakers arranged around a listener. The present invention relates to a sound image control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when generating stereophonic sound, it is common to use two speakers arranged in front of a listener, and by adjusting the outputs of these two speakers, A sound image is formed at a desired position. Generally, in order to reproduce a sound image at an accurate position, it is necessary to obtain the acoustic characteristics of the original sound field from the sound image to the listener and the acoustic characteristics of the reproduced sound field from both speakers to the listener. Then, in the reproduced sound field, the acoustic characteristics of the original sound field are added to the original sound, and the acoustic characteristics of the reproduced sound field are removed from the original sound, and the obtained sound signal is listened to by a listener using a speaker. By doing so, the sound image of the original sound field can be accurately reproduced to the listener, and the position of the original sound image can be accurately localized.

The addition of acoustic characteristics to such original sound,
The removal processing is performed by passing the signal of the original sound through a filter having many multipliers, amplifiers, and adders. The characteristics of the filter (multiplication coefficient in the multiplier, amplification factor in the amplifier, etc.) are determined in consideration of the distance between the sound image and the listener, the distance between both speakers and the listener, the movement pattern of the sound image, and the like. As for such a two-speaker sound image control system for controlling a sound image using two speakers, a number of systems have been proposed, including an application by the same applicant as the present application (Japanese Patent Application No. 7-231705). .

[0004]

As described above, it is possible to form a sound image at an arbitrary position by using two speakers and controlling the outputs. However, since only two speakers are used, especially when controlling the sound image in the opposite direction to the speakers for the listener,
It is difficult to correctly localize the sound image, and there is a problem that stereophonic sound cannot be generated accurately.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and uses three or more speakers, divides these speakers into a plurality (for example, two), and outputs a sound image in units of these sets. By performing the control, the three-dimensional sound image processing can be made more effective, and in any case where the listener, the speaker, and the sound image are in any positional relationship, the sound image is localized at a desired position, and the three-dimensional sound is accurately generated. It is an object of the present invention to provide a loudspeaker sound image control device capable of performing the following.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a speaker sound image control apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention generates a three-dimensional sound by n (n ≧ 3) speakers, and converts the sound image of the three-dimensional sound into the n sound images. An apparatus for controlling using a speaker, wherein the n
Means for setting m sets (m ≧ 2) of k (k ≧ 2, k <n) speakers among the plurality of speakers, and setting one or more sets of speakers from the set m sets Means for selecting, m sound image control devices for performing sound image processing on each set of k speakers, and the n number of sound image control devices based on the sound image processing values of the sound image control devices corresponding to the selected set. Calculating means for calculating the output value of each speaker.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the loudspeaker sound image control device according to the first aspect, the calculating means multiplies a sound image processing value from the sound image control device by a gain determined according to a sound image position, and The output value of each of the n speakers is calculated as follows.

[0008]

(Equation 2)

Where y _i : speaker output value, α _ij : gain, x _ji : sound image processing value from the sound image controller (i = 1, 2,..., N)

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention. In the following example, a case will be described as an example where a set is formed by two speakers from n speakers (k = 2). The speaker sound image control device of the present invention includes a control unit 1, a sound image processing unit 2, and a mapper unit 3.

The control unit 1 stores a pair of speaker storage units 10 that store a set of speakers suitable for performing two-speaker sound image processing according to the arrangement of speakers, and stores a combination of paired speakers existing in the paired speaker storage unit 10. And a pair speaker selection unit 12 for selecting a suitable pair speaker combination according to the position of the sound image.

The sound image processing unit 2 includes a two-speaker sound image control device 20 for performing two-speaker sound image control.
In the number of speakers (m) stored in the storage device. The minimum value of m is 2, and when each speaker is paired with all the other speakers, m takes the maximum value, and the maximum value is nx (n-1) / 2. The mapper section 3
It has n output calculation units 30 for obtaining output values of n speakers from the sound data processed by the sound image processing unit 2. M-two-speaker sound image control device in sound image processing unit 2
Reference numeral 20 is connected to two corresponding output calculation units 30 in accordance with the speaker set information stored in the pair speaker storage unit 10.

Next, the operation will be described. A plurality of pairs (m pairs) of arbitrary two of the n speakers are stored in the pair speaker storage unit 10 in advance, and the pair information of the speakers is stored in the pair speaker combination storage unit 11 and the sound image processing unit. It is sent to the section 2 and the mapper section 3. Further, the paired speaker combination storage unit 11 stores a combination of a pair of speakers (paired speakers) existing in the paired speaker storage unit 10 (a single set of paired speakers or a plurality of paired speakers). .

The position information (x, y, z) of the sound image is transmitted to the control unit 1
The paired speaker selection unit 12 selects a paired speaker combination that is optimal for the sound image position from the paired speaker combinations stored in the paired speaker combination storage unit 11. The combination information of the selected pair speaker is output to the sound image processing unit 2 together with the position information of the sound image. The position information of the sound image is also sent to the mapper unit 3.

One or a plurality of two-speaker sound image controllers 20 in the sound image processing unit 2 corresponding to the selected combination of the paired speakers perform the two-speaker sound image processing, and associate the processing result with the paired speakers. 2 in the mapper section 3
Output to the two output calculation units 30. Each output operation unit 30 multiplies the input sound image processing data x _ji by a gain α _ij (= 0.0 to 1.0) determined according to the sound image position, and calculates the corresponding speaker output value y _i as in the following equation. Ask for.

[0016]

(Equation 3)

As described above, two-speaker sound image processing is performed for each of the two divided speakers, and the sound image is controlled by obtaining output values of three or more speakers. Therefore, since the sound image is controlled by three or more speakers, three-dimensional sound can be generated more accurately than when two speakers are used. In addition, since the two-speaker sound image processing data is multiplied by the gain corresponding to the sound image position, highly accurate sound image control can be performed in accordance with the sound image position. Furthermore, since the two-speaker sound image processing has been considerably advanced technically, the sound image control using three or more speakers can be easily performed by using the two-speaker sound image processing technology.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments. In the following embodiments, the number of speakers used is four (n =
4), and a set of two speakers is formed from the four speakers (k = 2).

(First Embodiment) FIG. 2 shows a listener A and four speakers (a first speaker S1, a second speaker S2, a third speaker S3, and a fourth speaker) according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a positional relationship between S4) and four types of sound images (a first sound image P1, a second sound image P2, a third sound image P3, and a fourth sound image P4).
When the direction directly in front of the listener A is set to 0 degree and the counterclockwise direction (counterclockwise as viewed from the listener A) is set as a positive angle direction, the direction of 45 degrees (left front as viewed from the listener A) The first speaker S1, the direction of 315 degrees (the right front as viewed from the listener A), the second speaker S2, the direction of 225 degrees (the right rear as viewed from the listener A), the third speaker S3, the direction of 135 degrees (Listener A
Fourth speakers S4 are respectively installed at the left rear as viewed from above. Also, the first sound image P1 is slightly to the left of the listener A in front of the listener A, and the second sound image P2 is slightly in front of the listener A to the left of the third sound image P1.
P3 is a little to the right behind listener A, and fourth sound image P4 is listener A.
Set slightly behind the right side of each.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a system configuration according to the first embodiment. 3, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Pair speaker storage unit 10
Speaker pairs (pair speaker pairs) stored in
Are two types (m = 2) of a first speaker S1 and a second speaker S2 (), and a third speaker S3 and a fourth speaker S4 ().
It is. Then, in the pair speaker combination storage unit 11,
And two combinations are stored.

In the first embodiment, two loudspeakers (first loudspeaker S) in front of the listener A are set in accordance with the position of the sound image.
The first and second speakers S2 and the two rear speakers (third and fourth speakers S3 and S4) are controlled so as to sound while switching.

In FIG. 2, 90 degrees and 270 degrees are used.
This is the speaker switching position. In the range of 0 to 90 degrees
When performing control processing of the located first sound image P1 and second sound image P2
In this case, the combination in the pair speaker selection unit 12 (first speaker
Speaker S1 and the second speaker S2) are selected and sent to the sound image processing unit 2.
Sent. Two-speaker sound image control device in sound image processing unit 2
When the device 20 is operated, the output calculation unit of (1) and (2) of the mapper unit 3
Processing result x to 30₁₁, X ₁₂Is output. In the mapper section 3
Is the output value y of the first speaker S1 and the second speaker S2 ₁, Y_Two
Is determined as follows. y₁= Α₁₁x₁₁ y_Two= Α_{twenty one}x₁₂ y_Three= 0 y_Four= 0

In FIG. 2, when the control processing of the third sound image P3 and the fourth sound image P4 located in the range of 180 degrees to 270 degrees is performed, the combination (the third speaker S3 and the fourth The speaker S4) is selected and sent to the sound image processing unit 2. Two-speaker sound image controller in sound image processor 2
20 is activated and the output operation unit 3 of (3) and (4) of the mapper unit 3
0), the processing results x ₁₃ and x ₁₄ are output. Mapper part 3
Then, the output values y ₃ and y of the third speaker S3 and the fourth speaker S4
₄ is obtained as follows. y ₁ = 0 y ₂ = 0 y ₃ = α ₃₁ x ₁₃ y ₄ = α ₄₁ x ₁₄

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 4 shows a listener A and four speakers S1, S2, S3, and 4 in a second embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a positional relationship between S4 and four types of sound images P1, P2, P3, and P4. The installation position of each speaker is the same as that of the first embodiment (FIG. 2). The first sound image P1 is slightly to the left of the listener A, and the second sound image P2 is slightly to the left of the listener A.
The third sound image P3 is set immediately behind the listener A, and the fourth sound image P4 is set slightly behind the listener A on the right side.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a system configuration according to the second embodiment. 5, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are given the same numbers. Pair speaker storage unit 10
Speaker pairs (pair speaker pairs) stored in
Are the first speaker S1 and the second speaker S1, as in the first embodiment.
Speaker S2 (), third speaker S3, fourth speaker S4
(M = 2), but the pair speaker combination storage unit 11 stores three types of combinations,-and-.

In the second embodiment, the sound images (the second sound image P2 and the fourth sound image P
In the case of controlling 4), control is performed so that four speakers sound using two sets of two-speaker sound image control devices 20.

In the case of performing control processing of a sound image (eg, first sound image P1) in the range of 0 to 60 degrees and 300 to 360 degrees in FIG.
As in the first embodiment, the combination (first speaker S1 and second speaker S2) in the pair speaker selection unit 12 is selected, and the two-speaker sound image control device 20 in the sound image processing unit 2 operates. The processing results x ₁₁ and x ₁₂ are output to the output operation unit 30 of (1) and (2) of the mapper unit 3. The first in the mapper section 3
Output values y ₁ and y ₂ of the speaker S1 and the second speaker S2 are obtained as follows. y ₁ = α ₁₁ x ₁₁ y ₂ = α ₂₁ x ₁₂ y ₃ = 0 y ₄ = 0

In the case of performing control processing on a sound image (eg, third sound image P3) in the range of 120 to 240 degrees in FIG.
Similarly to the embodiment, the combination (the third speaker S3 and the fourth speaker S4) in the pair speaker selection unit 12 is selected,
The two-speaker sound image control device 20 in the sound image processing unit 2 operates, and the processing results x ₁₃ and x ₁₄ are output to the output calculation unit 30 of (3) and (4) of the mapper unit 3. The mapper unit 3 calculates output values y ₃ and y ₄ of the third speaker S3 and the fourth speaker S4 as follows. y ₁ = 0 y ₂ = 0 y ₃ = α ₃₁ x ₁₃ y ₄ = α ₄₁ x ₁₄

On the other hand, the sound image in the range of 60 to 120 degrees in FIG.
(Example: 2nd sound image P2), sound image in the range of 240 to 300 degrees
When performing control processing of (example: the fourth sound image P4), a pair
Combination of-(all four speakers
(S1, S2, S3, S4) are selected and sent to the sound image processing unit 2.
You. The sound image processing unit 2 controls two speaker sound images.
When the device 20 operates, the (1), (2), (3), (4)
To the output operation unit 30 of the processing result x₁₁, X₁₂, X₁₃, X₁₄Comes out
Is forced. In the mapper section 3, the first speaker S1 and the second speaker
Output values of speaker S2, third speaker S3, and fourth speaker S4
y₁, Y_Two, Y_Three, Y _FourIs determined as follows. y₁= Α₁₁x₁₁ y_Two= Α_{twenty one}x₁₂ y_Three= Α₃₁x₁₃ y_Four= Α₄₁x₁₄

FIG. 6 shows a graph of the second embodiment at 60 to 120 degrees.
An example of the gain α in the range is shown. Gay shown by solid line
Α₁₁, Α_{twenty one}Is 1 at 60 degrees and the angle is large
And it becomes 0 at a position of 120 degrees. one
The gain α indicated by the broken line ₃₁, Α₄₁Is at 60 degrees
Is 0 and increases 120 degrees as the angle increases
It becomes 1 at the position of. Such a gain is
The sound is cut smoothly at the switching position without disturbing the sound.
It is set to change.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 7 shows a listener A and four speakers S1, S2, S3, and S3 in a third embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a positional relationship between S4 and four types of sound images P1, P2, P3, and P4. The installation position of each speaker is the same as that of the first embodiment (FIG. 2). A little left of the first sound image P1 in front of the listener A (the area sandwiched by the first and second speakers S1 and S2)
Next, the second sound image P2 is slightly forward of the left side of the listener A (first and fourth
The third sound image P3 is located slightly to the left behind the listener A (the area sandwiched by the third and fourth speakers S3 and S4), and the fourth sound image P4 is located on the right side of the listener A in the area sandwiched by the speakers S1 and S4. It is set slightly behind (an area between the second and third speakers S2 and S3).

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a system configuration according to the third embodiment. 8, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are given the same numbers. Pair speaker storage unit 10
Speaker pairs (pair speaker pairs) stored in
Are the first speaker S1, the second speaker S2 (), the second speaker S2, the third speaker S3 (), the third speaker S3,
Four types (m = 4) of the fourth speaker S4 (), the first speaker S1, and the fourth speaker S4 (). The pair speaker combination storage unit 11 stores four combinations of,, and.

In the third embodiment, two loudspeakers (the first loudspeaker) in front of the listener A are arranged in accordance with the position of the sound image.
S1, second speaker S2), front and rear left two speakers (first speaker S4, fourth speaker S4), rear left and right two speakers (third speaker S3, fourth speaker S4), front and rear right two (The second speaker S2 and the third speaker S3).

When the control processing of the first sound image P1 is performed, the combination (first speaker S1 and second speaker S2) in the pair speaker selection unit 12 is selected and sent to the sound image processing unit 2.
The two-speaker sound image control device 20 in the sound image processing unit 2 operates, and the processing results x ₁₁ and x ₁₂ are output to the output calculation unit 30 of (1) and (2) of the mapper unit 3. The mapper unit 3 determines output values y ₁ and y ₂ of the first speaker S1 and the second speaker S2 as follows. y ₁ = α ₁₁ x ₁₁ y ₂ = α ₂₁ x ₁₂ y ₃ = 0 y ₄ = 0

When performing the control processing of the second sound image P2, the combination (first speaker S1 and fourth speaker S4) in the pair speaker selection unit 12 is selected, and the two-speaker sound image control device in the sound image processing unit 2 is selected. 20 is activated and (1),
The processing results x ₂₁ and x ₂₄ are output to the output operation unit 30 of (4). In the mapper section 3, the first speaker S1 and the fourth speaker S4
Output values y ₁ and y ₄ are obtained as follows. y ₁ = α ₁₂ x ₂₁ y ₂ = 0 y ₃ = 0 y ₄ = α ₄₂ x ₂₄

When the control processing of the third sound image P3 is performed, the combination (third speaker S3 and fourth speaker S4) in the pair speaker selection unit 12 is selected, and the two-speaker sound image control device in the sound image processing unit 2 is selected. 20 is activated and (3),
(4) Output processing result to the arithmetic unit 30 x _23, x ₁₄ of are output. In the mapper section 3, the third speaker S3 and the fourth speaker S4
Output values y ₃ and y ₄ are obtained as follows. y ₁ = 0 y ₂ = 0 y ₃ = α ₃₂ x ₂₃ y ₄ = α ₄₁ x ₁₄

When the control processing of the fourth sound image P4 is performed, the combination (the second speaker S2 and the third speaker S3) in the pair speaker selection unit 12 is selected, and the two-speaker sound image control device in the sound image processing unit 2 is selected. 20 is activated, and the mapper section 3 (2),
The processing results x ₂₂ and x ₁₃ are output to the output operation unit 30 of (3). In the mapper section 3, the second speaker S2 and the third speaker S3
Output values y ₂ and y ₃ are obtained as follows. y ₁ = 0 y ₂ = α ₂₂ x ₂₂ y ₃ = α ₃₁ x ₁₃ y ₄ = 0

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 9 shows a listener A and four speakers S1, S2, S3, and S4 in a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a positional relationship between S4 and four types of sound images P1, P2, P3, and P4. The installation position of each speaker is the same as that of the first embodiment (FIG. 2). The first sound image P1 is slightly to the left in front of the listener A, the second sound image P2 is almost in the same direction as the first speaker S1, the third sound image P3 is slightly to the left behind the listener A, and the fourth sound image
P4 is set in substantially the same direction as the third speaker S3.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a system configuration according to the fourth embodiment. 10, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Pair speaker storage unit 10
Speaker pairs (pair speaker pairs) stored in
Are the first speaker S1 and the second speaker S1, as in the third embodiment.
Speaker S2 (), second speaker S2, third speaker S3
(), The third speaker S3, the fourth speaker S4 (),
Four types (m) of the first speaker S1 and the fourth speaker S4 ()
= 4). Then, the pair speaker combination storage unit 11 stores-,-,-,-, and-.
8 combinations are stored.

In the fourth embodiment, the sound images (second sound image P2, fourth sound image P
When controlling 4), two sets of speaker sound image control devices 2
Control to sound three speakers using 0.

When the control processing of the first sound image P1 is performed, as in the third embodiment, the combination (first speaker S1 and second speaker S2) in the pair speaker selection unit 12 is selected and the sound image is selected. It is sent to the processing unit 2 and the two-speaker sound image control device 20 in the sound image processing unit 2 is operated, and (1),
The processing results x ₁₁ and x ₁₂ are output to the output calculation unit 30 of (2). In the mapper section 3, the first speaker S1 and the second speaker S2
Output values y ₁ and y ₂ are obtained as follows. y ₁ = α ₁₁ x ₁₁ y ₂ = α ₂₁ x ₁₂ y ₃ = 0 y ₄ = 0

When the control processing of the second sound image P2 is performed, the combination of-(first speaker S
1, the second speaker S2 and the fourth speaker S4) are selected and sent to the sound image processing unit 2. In the sound image processing unit 2, the two-speaker sound image control device 20 operates and the mapper unit 3
The processing results x ₁₁ and x ₂₁ ,
x _12, x ₂₄ are output. The first speaker S1 in mapper unit 3, obtaining the output value y _1, y ₂ and y ₄ of the second speaker S2 and the fourth speaker S4 as follows. y ₁ = α ₁₁ x ₁₁ + α ₁₂ x ₂₁ y ₂ = α ₂₁ x ₁₂ y ₃ = 0 y ₄ = α ₄₂ x ₂₄

When the control processing of the third sound image P3 is performed, as in the third embodiment, the combination (third speaker S3 and fourth speaker S4) in the pair speaker selection unit 12 is selected, and the sound image The two-speaker sound image control device 20 of the processing unit 2 is operated, and the processing results x ₂₃ and x ₄₁ are sent to the output calculation unit 30 of (3) and (4) of the mapper unit 3. The mapper unit 3 calculates output values y ₃ and y ₄ of the third speaker S3 and the fourth speaker S4 as follows. y ₁ = 0 y ₂ = 0 y ₃ = α ₃₂ x ₂₃ y ₄ = α ₄₁ x ₁₄

When the control processing of the fourth sound image P4 is performed,
-Combination in the speaker selection unit 12 (second speaker S
2, the third speaker S3 and the fourth speaker S4) are selected,
In the sound image processing unit 2, and the two-speaker sound image control device 20
Is activated, and the output calculation section of (2), (3), (4) of the mapper section 3
Processing result x to 30_{twenty two}, X₁₃And x_{twenty three}, X₁₄Is sent. Ma
In the upper part 3, the second speaker S2, the third speaker S3 and the
Output value y of four speakers S4 _Two, Y_ThreeAnd y_FourAs below
Ask for. y₁= 0 y_Two= Α_{twenty two}x_{twenty two} y_Three= Α₃₁x₁₃+ Α₃₂x_{twenty three} y_Four= Α₄₁x₁₄

In the above-described embodiment, the number of speakers used is four (n = 4). However, this is merely an example. Needless to say, this is acceptable.

In the above-described embodiment, a set is formed by two speakers (k = 2). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a set is formed by three or more speakers. Of course, it is also good. However, technology for generating and controlling sound images with two speakers has already been established.
Considering that this existing technology can be used, it is most convenient to form a pair of two speakers and control the sound image in units of pair speakers as described in the embodiment.

[0047]

According to the present invention, n speakers are used, these speakers are divided into a plurality of (for example, two) speakers, and the sound image is controlled in units of these sets. Can be performed easily and effectively,
Regardless of the positional relationship between the listener, the speaker, and the sound image, a sound image can be generated at a desired position, and three-dimensional sound can be accurately generated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a positional relationship among a listener, a speaker, and a sound image according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a positional relationship among a listener, a speaker, and a sound image according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating an example of a gain according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a positional relationship among a listener, a speaker, and a sound image according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a positional relationship among a listener, a speaker, and a sound image according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration according to a fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control part 2 Sound image processing part 3 Mapper part 10 Pair speaker storage part 11 Pair speaker combination storage part 12 Pair speaker selection part 20 2 Speaker sound image control device 30 Output calculation part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for controlling a sound image of the stereophonic sound by using the n speakers when generating the stereophonic sound by using n (n ≧ 3) speakers, wherein: means for setting m (m ≧ 2) sets of k (k ≧ 2, k <n) speakers; means for selecting one or more speaker sets from the set m sets; M sound image controllers that perform sound image processing on each set of speakers, and output values of the n speakers based on sound image processing values of the sound image controller corresponding to the selected set. A speaker sound image control device, comprising: a calculating means for calculating. 2. The arithmetic means multiplies a sound image processing value from the sound image control device by a gain determined according to a sound image position, and calculates output values of the n speakers as follows. The speaker sound image control device according to claim 1, wherein: (Equation 1) Where y _i : speaker output value, α _ij : gain, x _ji : sound image processing value from the sound image controller (i = 1, 2,..., N)