A new class of acoustic radiator has been investigated and shown to exhibit unusual radiation characteristics that can produce enhanced intelligibility under given listening conditions. The improvement mechanisms are investigated and shown to be related to a number of unique features. These include transient response, synergetic decay, lower inherent distortion, directivity, and the diffusivity of acoustic radiation. In a sound system design, it is desirable to produce an even coverage in both spatial and spectral domains. Conventional radiators, the majority of which work under a pistonic regime, exhibit two important characteristics that limit their effectiveness in real-world applications. These are the well-known narrowing of the acoustic radiation (dispersion) angle with increasing frequency and the coherency of the radiation. In contrast, the distributed-mode radiators, an emerging new technology, tend to overcome these obstacles and offer a new approach to improved sound distribution and multimedia. They combine a flat power response with an essentially constant and wide directivity (independent of frequency), augmented by a spatially and temporally diffuse radiation characteristic. The fast transient response results in a signal broadcast with very high clarity. The diffuse nature of the radiation suggests a lower degree of boundary interaction and spectral interference.