Surround sound loudspeakers

Abstract

A system for the multichannel reproduction of sound in which a plurality of loudspeakers connectable to a surround sound processor is disclosed. Circuits for adapting the processor to provide left and right side output signals are also disclosed. Left and right side dual loudspeakers are disclosed wherein each dual loudspeaker contains two independent drivers, one facing the front and the other the rear of the listening area, the front-facing drivers being connectable to the left and right side output signals and the rear-facing drivers being connectable to the corresponding left and right rear output signals of the processor. The dual loudspeakers operate in a first mode to produce a dipole sound radiation pattern whenever the signals are applied in antiphase to the front-facing and rear-facing drivers thereof, thereby producing a diffuse sound field, and operate in a second mode to produce a hemispherical, omnidirectional sound pattern when the signals are applied to the respective drivers in phase, thereby producing a focused sound field with good localization characteristics. An operation mode-switching circuit implements the desired mode selectable by the user.