In　this　paper,　an　improved　phase-error　based　filter　(IPBF)　for　dual-microphone　noise　reduction　is　proposed.　First,　instead　of　the　Wiener　filter,　a　statistical-model-based　amplitude　estimator　is　employed　in　IPBF　algorithm　to　make　further　reduction　of　the　directional　noise.　Then,　in　order　to　take　advantage　of　the　single　channel　speech　enhancement　method　and　the　PBF　method,　we　present　a　decision　rule　to　merge　the　spectral　gains　of　these　two　methods,　which　is　very　effective　in　the　reduction　of　musical　noise　caused　by　the　PBF　algorithm　and　the　performance　of　the　directional　noise　reduction　is　not　corrupted　at　the　same　time.　Experimental　results　show　that　the　proposed　method　outperforms　two　reference　methods.　©　2012　IEEE.