Standard methods of presentation of sonar signals to operators have not maximized the capabilities of the auditory system. This report describes a dichotic method of sonar signal presentation to operators based on the masking‐level‐difference (MLD) principle in hearing. Using a Bekesy tracking procedure, twenty‐six listeners of varied experience detected recorded broadband sonar targets and low‐frequency pure tones that were embedded in 100 Hz–4 kHz recorded and synthesized backgrounds. The signals were either homophasic or antiphasic and the backgrounds were always homophasic. Average detection thresholds for the antiphasic sonar signals were 5–7 dB better than their homophasic counterparts. Pure tone antiphasic detection thresholds were also 6–11 dB better than in the homophasic presentation. The sonar signals show similar MLD’s as those found with speech signals.