Numerous applications are currently envisioned for immersive audio systems. The principal function of such systems is to synthesize, manipulate, and render sound fields in real time. We examine several fundamental and technological limitations that impede the development of seamless immersive audio systems. Such limitations stem from signal processing requirements, acoustical considerations, human listening characteristics, and listener movement. We present a brief historical overview to outline the development of immersive audio technologies and discuss the performance and future research directions of immersive audio systems with respect to such limits. Last, we present a novel desktop audio system with integrated listener-tracking capability that circumvents several of the technological limitations faced by today's digital audio workstations.
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