Patent ID: 8073169

Claim:
A method for preserving an audio signal in an audio system having at least a front transducer and a rear transducer and receiving a plurality of audio signals including a front and a surround audio signal, the method comprising: applying the surround audio signal to the rear transducer with a first amount of gain; mixing a portion of the surround audio signal with the front audio signal from the plurality of audio signals to generate a mixed front audio signal; applying the mixed front audio signal to the front transducer with a second amount of gain; and decreasing the first amount of gain and increasing the second amount of gain according to a fade contour, wherein the fade contour keeps total sound energy due to reproduction of the audio signals by the transducers constant by: providing an amount for the decrease of the first amount of gain, the decrease causing a decrease in total sound energy due to reproduction of the surround audio signal by the rear transducer, and, at the same time, providing an amount for the increase of the second amount of gain, the increase causing an increase in total sound energy due to reproduction of the mixed front audio signal by the front transducer, the increase in total sound energy offsetting the decrease in total sound energy.