Binaural audio = pseudo Stereo demodulation

True stereo audio is implemented in the Teensy Convolution SDR in FM wide demodulation mode.

However, binaural audio is also possible and useful for other signals on shortwave:

I have implemented three Stereo demodulation modes:

• IQ: listen directly to I and Q without any demodulation
• Stereo SSB: listen to demodulated LSB on the right ear and demodulated USB on the left ear
• Stereo SAM: this is a Stereo version of sideband selected synchronous AM demodulation, i.e. a PLL which locks to the carrier of a station and sends the lower sideband (SAM-L) to the left ear and the upper sideband (SAM-U) to the right ear

What do you need Stereo demodulation for?

• just to hear selective fading acting differently on the lower and the upper sideband (if it were not for that, Stereo SSB would make no sense)
• for "spatially" identifying CW stations in the filter bandwidth: could lead to more efficient separation of CW stations which are very near to each other. You can actually hear if the stations are below or above your tuned frequency
• to spatially enhance your hearing experience (eg. when listening to music)
• to be able to "hear" what these famous "I" and "Q" signals are

Binaural receivers were once famous when phasing rigs became popular (Hayward et al. 2012). In March 1999, a binaural IQ phasing receiver was published in QST ("to fully appreciate this receiver, you´ve got to hear it", Campbell 1999). The IQ signals were preserved all the way to the headphones. Sorting the signals and interference was then left to the ear-brain processor. "Binaural receivers are a delightful way to listen" (Hayward et al. 2012).

"A number of experimenters have noticed that Binaural IQ receivers sound best with very little audio filtering. A versatile receiver might have a switch that provides wide open Binaural IQ for tuning around the band and then a number of narrow band options for communicating with individual stations." (Hayward et al. 2012).

The Teensy Convolution SDR software delivers exactly this option (together with two more stereo demodulation modes)!

Hayward, W., Campbell, R. & B. Larkin (2012): Experimental methods in RF design. - The American Radio Relay League ARRL.

Campbell, R. (1999): A binaural IQ receiver. - QST March 1999: 44-49. HERE