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Directional Radiation Characteristics

Characteristics:

KLIPPEL R&D System
Off-axis far field SPL responseNFSSCN, POL, SCN-NF
Directional response patternNFSSCN, POL, SCN-NF
Polar and balloon plotsNFSSCN, POL, SCN-NF
Coverage and radiation angleNFSSCN, POL, SCN-NF
Directivity indexNFSSCN, POL, SCN-NF
Sound power response    NFSTRF, SCN-NF

The sound pressure is measured at a defined distance from the speaker in various directions at a spatial resolution. Using spherical coordinates, the angles (θ and ρ) define the measurement point on the measuring axis and the reference axis under free-field conditions. The SPL response versus frequency and the spherical coordinates may be presented as polar, balloon or other 2D or 3D plots. The total acoustic sound power under free-field or half-space free field conditions can be calculated from sound pressure averaged over a large sphere at sufficient spatial resolution or from the sound pressure generated by the loudspeaker under diffuse field conditions. The directivity index describes the ratio (in decibels) of the sound pressure at a point on the reference axis relating to the sound pressure that a point source radiating the same acoustical power as the loudspeaker under test would produce under free-field conditions.

The figure to the left illustrates the measurement of the directional characteristics by using a turntable and a set of microphones located at a constant distance from the loudspeaker with a defined angular resolution.

KLIPPEL R&D SYSTEM (development)

Module

Comment

Transfer Function Measurement (TRF)

TRF can be used to measure the sound pressure response of a loudspeaker operated under anechoic conditions. Alternatively, the sound pressure of a loudspeaker operated in a diffuse sound field is measured, and the sound power response is calculated considering the reverberation time of the room.

Scanning Vibrometer System (SCN)

SCN calculates the most important directional characteristics of the radiator using the mechanical vibration and the geometry of the radiator measured with laser scanning technique. 

Polar Far-Field Measurement (POL)

POL module controls the Transfer Function Module (TRF) and turntables to measure the sound pressure response at a defined distance in spherical coordinates.  

Near Field Scanner (NFS)

The Near-Field-Scanner 3D offers a fully automated acoustic measurement of direct sound radiated from the source under test. The radiated sound is determined in any desired distance and angle in the 3D space outside the scanning surface. 

Templates of KLIPPEL Products

Name of the Template

Application

TRF SPL + waterfall

Sound pressure level and cumulative decay spectrum

TRF sensitivity (Mic 2)

Calibration of the microphone at IN2 using a pistonphone

TRF true acoustical phase

Total phase without time delay

TRF 3rd oct. spectr. analyzer

Continuous loop measurement giving the spectrum of the signal acquired via IN1 integrated over 1/3 octave

IEC 20.6 Mean SPL

Mean sound pressure level in a stated frequency band according IEC 60268-5 chapter 20.6

IEC 21.2 Frequency Range

Effective frequency range according IEC 60268-5 chapter 21.2

IEC 22.4 Mean Efficiency

Mean efficiency in a frequency band according IEC 60268-5 chapter 22.4

Response Smoothness

Frequency response smoothness

SPL Merging Near / Farfield

Merges near-field response and far-field response according to Application Note AN 39



Standards

Audio Engineering Society 
AES2 Recommended practice Specification of Loudspeaker Components Used in Professional Audio and Sound Reinforcement 
AES56 Standard on acoustics – Sound source modeling – Loudspeaker polar radiation measurement

Consumer Electronics Association
CEA 2034 Standard Method of Measurement for In-Home Loudspeakers

International Electrotechnical Commission 
IEC 60268-5 Sound System Equipment, Part 5: Loudspeakers




Papers and Preprints

Mark R. Gander, “Ground Plane Acoustic Measurement of Loudspeaker Systems, ” J. of Audio Eng. Soc., Volume 30, Issue 10, pp.723-731, October 1982.

W. Ahnert, et al., “Accurate Electroacoustic Prediction Utilizing the Complex Frequency Response of Far-Field Polar Measurements,” presented at the 108th Convention of the Audio Eng. Soc. (February 2000), Paper no. 5129.

W. Klippel, et al., “Distributed Mechanical Parameters of Loudspeakers Part 2: Diagnostics,” J. of Audio Eng. Soc. 57, No. 9, pp. 696-708 (2009 Sept.).

W. Klippel, et al., “Distributed Mechanical Parameters of Loudspeakers Part 1: Measurement,” J. of Audio Eng. Soc. 57, No. 9, pp. 500-511 (2009 Sept.).

J. Baird, et al., “The Analysis, Interaction, and Measurement of Loudspeaker Far-Field Polar Patterns,” presented at 106th Convention of Audio Eng. Soc., May 1999, Paper no. 4949.