A process for reproducing sound using a loudspeaker array that is housed in a loudspeaker cabinet, comprising: receiving a plurality of input audio channels of a piece of sound program content that is to be converted into sound by the loudspeaker array housed in the loudspeaker cabinet; performing content analysis upon the piece of sound program content, receiving one or both of sensor data and a user interface selection as decision inputs, wherein each of the decision inputs indicates one of i) room acoustics or ii) a listening position; selecting, using one or more of a) the listener position, b) room acoustics, and c) content analysis, one of a plurality of sound rendering modes in accordance with which playback of the piece of sound program content occurs through the loudspeaker array, and changing the selected sound rendering mode based on changes in one or more of said listening position, room acoustics, or content analysis, characterized by the plurality of sound rendering modes including a) a plurality of first modes and b) a second mode, wherein in each of the plurality of first modes, the loudspeaker array produces sound beams having i) an omni-directional pattern that includes a sum of two or more of the plurality of input audio channels, superimposed with ii) a directional pattern (11, 13) that has a plurality of lobes, each lobe containing a difference of the two or more of the plurality of input audio channels, and wherein in the second mode, the loudspeaker array produces sound beams having i) a direct content pattern that is aimed at the listening position, the direct content pattern containing sound segments, taken from the input audio channels, to be perceived as coming from a direction, and being superimposed with ii) an ambient content pattern (16,17) that is aimed away from the listening position, the ambient content pattern containing sound segments, taken from the input audio channels, to be perceived as being all around. receiving a plurality of input audio channels of a piece of sound program content that is to be converted into sound by the loudspeaker array housed in the loudspeaker cabinet; performing content analysis upon the piece of sound program content, receiving one or both of sensor data and a user interface selection as decision inputs, wherein each of the decision inputs indicates one of i) room acoustics or ii) a listening position; selecting, using one or more of a) the listener position, b) room acoustics, and c) content analysis, one of a plurality of sound rendering modes in accordance with which playback of the piece of sound program content occurs through the loudspeaker array, and changing the selected sound rendering mode based on changes in one or more of said listening position, room acoustics, or content analysis, characterized by the plurality of sound rendering modes including a) a plurality of first modes and b) a second mode, wherein in each of the plurality of first modes, the loudspeaker array produces sound beams having i) an omni-directional pattern that includes a sum of two or more of the plurality of input audio channels, superimposed with ii) a directional pattern (11, 13) that has a plurality of lobes, each lobe containing a difference of the two or more of the plurality of input audio channels, and wherein in the second mode, the loudspeaker array produces sound beams having i) a direct content pattern that is aimed at the listening position, the direct content pattern containing sound segments, taken from the input audio channels, to be perceived as coming from a direction, and being superimposed with ii) an ambient content pattern (16,17) that is aimed away from the listening position, the ambient content pattern containing sound segments, taken from the input audio channels, to be perceived as being all around.