8 ms·

I seem to remember reading about paper thin Ambisonic speakers since I was a kid in the 80s reading Stereo Review. It looks like this sort of thing is finally c

by S_A_P 6y ago

I seem to remember reading about paper thin Ambisonic speakers since I was a kid in the 80s reading Stereo Review. It looks like this sort of thing is finally coming to fruition. I am assuming that you would need to augment these with a traditional subwoofer since you cant move much air with paper thin diaphragms.

Animats 6y ago
Yes, those were first made in the 1980s. They showed up in a book called "The Best of Japan" (1987), a picture book of 1980s Japanese technology. Probably coming soon to musical Xmas cards. Now if the e-paper display people ever get their act together and get the price down, this could have more potential.
Mediterraneo10 6y ago
Needing a subwoofer would make this technology useful for home cinemas where the deep bass can acceptably be issued from a single subwoofer. However, for music in surround-sound mixes, it would be less ideal because those music mixes often assume a full bass range is available from each of the five positions in a 5.0 setup.
- TheOtherHobbes 6y ago
  There's no directionality below around 200Hz, because the wavelength is around 1.7m, which is slightly wider than the space between the average pair of ears. (Unless you're a whale.) It doesn't matter if you mix in n.0 for any value of n>1 - all you get from multiple subwoofers is phase cancellation at room nodes, not location information.
  - Mediterraneo10 6y ago
    There must be some reason, then, that classical music labels producing surround-sound SACDs recommend full-size speakers at all 5.0 positions, and call a subwoofer a compromise for those unable to have full-size surround speakers.
    - anikom15 6y ago
      It’s because most ‘subwoofers’ are glorified fart boxes that have terrible harmonics, coupled with the fact that placing a subwoofer in the wrong spot can create poor room frequency response. Two subwoofers is preferred. Four subwoofers is the sweet spot. Any more and you get diminishing returns. Full-range speakers can work for a lot of music because most music has hardly any information below 40 Hz, the point where many ‘full-range’ speakers become inaudible. For content with significant sub–80 Hz content (i.e. movies, organ music, and Drum & Bass), subwoofers are more economical and arguably better for several reasons. One, bookshelfs+1 or 2 subwoofers is cheaper than all five full-range. Two, the subwoofers will offload power from the amp. Low frequencies have a tremendous amount of power in typical sounds. Three, the subwoofers can be placed anywhere so long as the cutoff frequency is set to 80 Hz or less. Above 80 Hz, the consensus is that the sound becomes locatable. The arbitrary placement of subwoofers is important because it allows you to place the subwoofer in a place which will excite room modes or attenuate room modes such that a more desirable room response is achieved. These positions are usually not where you would want to place speakers.

by S_A_P 6y ago

Animats 6y ago

Yes, those were first made in the 1980s. They showed up in a book called "The Best of Japan" (1987), a picture book of 1980s Japanese technology. Probably coming soon to musical Xmas cards. Now if the e-paper display people ever get their act together and get the price down, this could have more potential.

Mediterraneo10 6y ago

Needing a subwoofer would make this technology useful for home cinemas where the deep bass can acceptably be issued from a single subwoofer. However, for music in surround-sound mixes, it would be less ideal because those music mixes often assume a full bass range is available from each of the five positions in a 5.0 setup.

TheOtherHobbes 6y ago
There's no directionality below around 200Hz, because the wavelength is around 1.7m, which is slightly wider than the space between the average pair of ears. (Unless you're a whale.) It doesn't matter if you mix in n.0 for any value of n>1 - all you get from multiple subwoofers is phase cancellation at room nodes, not location information.
- Mediterraneo10 6y ago
  There must be some reason, then, that classical music labels producing surround-sound SACDs recommend full-size speakers at all 5.0 positions, and call a subwoofer a compromise for those unable to have full-size surround speakers.
  - anikom15 6y ago
    It’s because most ‘subwoofers’ are glorified fart boxes that have terrible harmonics, coupled with the fact that placing a subwoofer in the wrong spot can create poor room frequency response. Two subwoofers is preferred. Four subwoofers is the sweet spot. Any more and you get diminishing returns. Full-range speakers can work for a lot of music because most music has hardly any information below 40 Hz, the point where many ‘full-range’ speakers become inaudible. For content with significant sub–80 Hz content (i.e. movies, organ music, and Drum & Bass), subwoofers are more economical and arguably better for several reasons. One, bookshelfs+1 or 2 subwoofers is cheaper than all five full-range. Two, the subwoofers will offload power from the amp. Low frequencies have a tremendous amount of power in typical sounds. Three, the subwoofers can be placed anywhere so long as the cutoff frequency is set to 80 Hz or less. Above 80 Hz, the consensus is that the sound becomes locatable. The arbitrary placement of subwoofers is important because it allows you to place the subwoofer in a place which will excite room modes or attenuate room modes such that a more desirable room response is achieved. These positions are usually not where you would want to place speakers.