Does environmental noise influence preference of background-foreground audio balance?

With an increase in the consumption of mobile media, audio is being consumed in a range of contexts. The literature describes several techniques to improve the experience of mobile listening by utilising information about the environmental noise of the listening environment, however, none of the previous work utilises object-based audio. This paper investigates the possibility of using object-based audio to improve the experience of mobile listening by investigating whether environmental noise influences preference of background-foreground audio balance. A listening test was carried out in which listeners were asked to adjust the background-foreground balance to their preference whilst in the presence of reproduced environmental noise. It was found that environmental noise can have a significant effect on preferred background-foreground balance.