ILD (Interaural Level Difference)

Interaural Level Difference (ILD) is a cue our brain uses to determine the direction of a sound source, especially at higher frequencies. It refers to the difference in loudness or intensity of a sound between our two ears. When a sound comes from one side, it is typically louder in the closer ear and quieter in the farther ear due to the head blocking some sound energy. Our brain compares these level differences to help figure out where the sound is coming from in space. ILD is an essential part of our ability to localize sounds, especially in challenging listening environments.