This paper studies some aspects of how polar plots should be carried out when measuring loudspeakers. At low frequencies the effect of the cabinet becomes simpler as the wavelength of the sound becomes large relative to the cabinet dimensions. This allows a particular point to be picked out which acoustically acts as the centre of the speaker at the lower frequencies. This concept is verified by acoustic simulation, and also theoretically by expressing the source radiation into a multipole expansion. Some general criteria are presented to give estimates of the acoustic centre for different geometrical aspects of the cabinet. Polar plots pivoted about the acoustic centre display very consistent low-frequency characteristics. The discussion includes a number of other considerations regarding the acoustic centre.

Authors: Henwood, David; Vanderkooy, John
Affiliations: B&W Research Establishment; University of Waterloo(See document for exact affiliation information.)
AES Convention: 120 (May 2006) Paper Number: 6784
Publication Date: May 1, 2006 Import into BibTeX
Subject: Loudspeakers and Sound Reinforcement
Permalink: https://www.aes.org/e-lib/browse.cfm?elib=13588

Click to purchase paper as a non-member or login as an AES member. If your company or school subscribes to the E-Library then switch to the institutional version. If you are not an AES member and would like to subscribe to the E-Library then Join the AES!

This paper costs $33 for non-members and is free for AES members and E-Library subscribers.

Learn more about the AES E-Library

E-Library Location: (CD 120Papers)   /120/6784.pdf

Start a discussion about this paper!