A method to decode audio signals is provided that includes: receiving an input spatial audio signal; determining directions of arrival of directional audio sources represented in the received input spatial audio signal; determining one of an active input spatial audio signal component and a passive spatial audio signal input component, based upon the determined directions of arrival; determining the other of the active input spatial audio signal component and the passive input spatial audio signal component, based upon the determined one of the active input spatial audio signal component and the passive input spatial audio signal component; decoding the active input spatial audio signal component to a first output format; and decoding the passive input spatial audio signal component to a second output format.