GoodSoundClub - Romy the Cat's Audio Site

In the Forum: Horn-Loaded Speakers
In the Thread: Midbass Horns and Real Estate.

Post Subject: Auto FormerPosted by Paul S on: 8/23/2009

Modern automotive sound damping is typically focused on "shaping" a targeted range of frequencies, based on how engineers want the cabin to sound and feel to the driver and passengers. No reason why audio damping should not also be targeted, for the sake of efficiency, if nothing else, but with home hi-fi there are additional factors to consider. At higher frequencies there are more damping options. Things get tricky as the frequency drops, however, with primary and secondary waves and sub-sets, along with the possibility of differential motion of an entire assembly (horn) in some cases, if the "damping" lacks sufficient mass to quell sympathetic or reactive vibration at low frequencies. Sand is nice because it effectively damps or thwarts a very wide range of frequencies - if there is enough of it. Many of the "lite solutions" I see would be suspect at lower frequencies, where sympathetic and/or reactive resonance means attenuation and/or cancellation rather than the rising response such resonance might cause at higher frequencies. In any case, although resonances are fairly easy to predict in theory, they are very difficult to model and allow for in fact apart from trial and error.

I am very interested to see paper mock-ups of resonance for lightweight horns for lower frequencies, to see how people plan to get around resonance. It would sure be great if someone actually came up with a "managable" lower-frequency horn that could take some of the pain and expense out of developing horns for lower frequencies.

Best regards,
Paul S

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