Single and double symmetric loudspeaker driver configurations

Abstract

New loudspeaker driver configurations comprise positioning the high frequency driver between symmetrically located lower frequency drivers and providing in combination electrical or acoustical delay to the high frequency driver relative to the lower frequency drivers. The lower frequency drivers are located above and below at equal distances from the high frequency driver or, with more than two lower frequency drivers, symmetrically about the high frequency driver. The sound pressure level and phase response is substantially equivalent to co-axial drivers including suitable high frequency electric delay circuitry operating at similar power levels. The delay for the high frequency driver is electrical or electrical in combination with a geometrical delay. With a stereo pair of loudspeakers the high frequency driver may be offset from the vertical between the above and below low frequency drivers in an outboard direction of the stereo pair. With a stereo pair including mid-range drivers, the mid-range drivers are located generally between the low frequency drivers symmetrically above and below the high frequency driver. The high frequency driver and mid-range drivers are offset from a vertical line between the low frequency drivers in an outboard direction for each loudspeaker of the stereo pair of loudspeakers. The driver placement forms an arc in each loudspeaker. With the loudspeakers paired, the driver locations appear as a pair of large parentheses '()'. A combination of electrical delay and geometric delay, the latter created by the placement of the drivers in each loudspeaker, results in wide-angle dispersion of sound with accurate phase response.