ATSurround Processor for foobar2000: Ultimate Spatial Audio Enhancer

ATSurround Processor Review: 3D Audio Improvements for foobar2000

Introduction ATSurround Processor is a plugin for foobar2000 aimed at creating a sense of depth and spatialization from stereo sources. It uses stereo widening, phase manipulation, and simulated room cues to produce a more immersive listening experience without requiring multichannel audio or headphones with virtual surround.

What it does

• Expands perceived stereo width and stage depth.
• Simulates surround-like cues by processing phase, level, and delays.
• Offers controls for intensity, balance, and frequency-dependent processing.
• Integrates as a foobar2000 DSP component, so it runs in the playback chain.

Installation and setup

1. Download the ATSurround Processor component and place the DLL in foobar2000’s components folder (relaunch foobar2000).
2. Open Preferences > Playback > DSP Manager and add ATSurround to the active DSPs.
3. Start with conservative settings (low intensity/width) and enable previewing while adjusting.
4. If using speakers, sit on-axis and avoid extreme width values to prevent localization issues.

Sound quality and performance

• Stereo tracks: Most users will notice increased spaciousness and clearer separation between instruments. Vocals can move slightly forward or back depending on settings.
• Mixed/complex material: In dense mixes, ATSurround can help unmask details but may also create phasey artifacts if overused.
• Headphones: The effect translates well on many headphones, often enhancing immersion, though results depend heavily on headphone signature.
• CPU: Lightweight—negligible impact on modern CPUs when used as a single DSP. Multiple instances or very high sample rates increase load.

Controls and tuning tips

• Width/Intensity: Increase gradually. Around 10–25% often adds pleasing air; higher values risk unnatural widening.
• Frequency split: Apply stronger processing to mid/highs and keep low frequencies untouched to preserve bass focus.
• Balance/Center focus: Use to prevent vocals or centered instruments from shifting undesirably.
• Phase correction: Enable if you hear hollow or comb-filtering effects; it reduces artifacts at the cost of some width.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Adds convincing spatial enhancement from stereo sources.
• Simple integration with foobar2000’s DSP chain.
• Low CPU usage and responsive controls.
• Useful across headphones and speakers with proper tuning.

Cons

• Can introduce phase artifacts if over-applied.
• Results vary by recording and playback system—no universal “best” setting.
• Not a substitute for true multichannel or binaural-encoded mixes.

Use cases

• Jazz, acoustic, and classical tracks where imaging and space add musical value.
• Older stereo recordings that benefit from gentle widening.
• Critical listening to separate elements in dense mixes (with caution).

Bottom line ATSurround Processor is a practical, low-cost DSP for foobar2000 that noticeably enhances spatial impression for many stereo recordings. It’s best used with careful tuning—moderate settings and frequency-aware processing yield the most natural results while avoiding phase-related downsides. For listeners wanting more immersive sound from existing stereo libraries without switching to multichannel or complex setups, ATSurround is worth trying.