Placement of one or two placed virtual loudspeakers within a loudspeaker setup that includes a real loudspeakers is determined and vector base amplitude panning (VBAP) gains including the gains of the real loudspeakers and placed one or two virtual loudspeakers are also then determined. Gains of one or two placed virtual loudspeakers are redistributed to the real loudspeakers to ensure preservation of total energy. Real loudspeakers in the loudspeaker setup have redistributed gains of one or two placed virtual loudspeakers. Loudspeaker outputs are generated and transmitted to the real loudspeakers to be played back. When received audio content is ambisonics content, a predetermined grid is generated and HOA content is projected to the grid. Other aspects are also described.