Hearing the Way: Influence of Varying Spatialized Audio Cues and Device Type on AR Navigation Experience

Spatialized audio cues in Augmented Reality (AR) provide an alternative to visually dominated navigation systems, yet little is known about how device type and cue design jointly shape user experience and performance. This study presents a within-subject experiment comparing artificial versus nature sounds across two AR platforms: a smartphone and a mixed-reality headset. Thirty-four participants completed audio-only outdoor navigation tasks, with 27 included in the final analysis. Subjective measures (UEQ, NASA-TLX, custom items) and objective metrics (completion time, path efficiency) were collected. Results showed that nature sounds were rated significantly higher in efficiency, pleasantness, and overall navigation experience compared to artificial sounds, while device type had limited influence on subjective ratings. Participants with prior AR audio navigation experience completed tasks faster, suggesting training benefits. These findings highlight the importance of cue design and user adaptation for future AR navigation systems.