Compact and efficient sub-woofer system and method for installation in structural partitions

Abstract

A loudspeaker system is provided for installation in a space between a front panel and an enclosed area behind the front panel of a partition such as a wall, ceiling or floor fronting a listening area. Electroacoustical transducers are provided which have a two sided vibratory diaphragm driven by an electrical signal. An enclosure mounts the electroacoustical transducers such that one side of the vibratory diaphragm is in contact with air outside the enclosure, with the enclosure being configured to substantially enclose and define a specific volume of air within the enclosure having a predefined acoustic compliance and which is in contact with the other side of the vibratory diaphragm of the electroacoustical transducers. The enclosure is mounted to the structural partition such that the enclosure extends into the space behind the front panel of the partition so that the one side of the vibratory diaphragm contacts a volume of air outside the enclosure within the space behind the front panel of the partition. A passive radiator such as a port which has a predetermined acoustic mass is provided for coupling the specific volume of air enclosed by the enclosure to the air outside the enclosure in the listening area. With such an arrangement, the electroacoustical transducer itself and the enclosure are concealed within the structural partition, while the volume of air outside the enclosure means within the space behind the front panel of the partition is substantially acoustically isolated over the approximate frequency range of operation of the electroacoustical transducer from the volume of air outside the enclosure within the listening area.