Wave Field Synthesis is a well-established spatialization technique that solves the sweet-spot limitation of conventional sound reinforcement and uniquely allows the synthesis of focused sources — virtual sources positioned between the loudspeaker array and the listener. Despite its potential for extended reality (XR), WFS has remained confined to specialized environments such as live performance, installation or post-production workflows, with no accessible open-source tooling for research and creative authoring. We present AT_WaveSpace, an open-source WFS engine built on JUCE, distributed under the MIT licence, and integrated into Unity game engine, designed to democratize WFS for researchers, developers and creators. Building on the methodological framework of the SoundScape Renderer — which combined WFS engine development with a perceptual research platform — AT_WaveSpace serves simultaneously as a spatial audio delivery tool and as an experimental tool. A perceptual evaluation of near-field distance perception of focused WFS sources was conducted using this framework — a dimension absent from prior literature. Using a Midpoint ComParison procedure, participants were unable to rank sources at 40–100 cm consistently, while they ranked sources at 120–150 cm in correct order. Spectral centroid analysis reveals a distance-dependent timbral variation in the proximal zone whose physical origin remains unclear. Low-frequency ILD remains the primary candidate cue for correct ranking at 120–150 cm. Perspectives for further studies are outlined.
