PORTABLE STEREO SOUND SYSTEM
In some embodiments, portable speakers can be small and lightweight and can communicate with one or more audio device over wired or wireless connections. In some embodiments, portable speakers achieve reduced complexity as compared to typical high fidelity systems (e.g., by including a reduced number of speaker drivers and amplifiers), while still maintaining high fidelity stereo audio playback, thereby achieving both portability and high quality audio capability. For instance, certain implementations of the speaker include two primary speakers disposed on opposing faces of the speaker enclosure (e.g., full or mid-range drivers) and two tweeters, also disposed on opposing faces. Primary speakers can be disposed on respective ends of the housing and each can output a different stereo channel. Each tweeter can be positioned on different face of the housing. The speaker system according to some embodiments generates a mono high frequency signal to drive the tweeters.
1 . A portable speaker system comprising:
a housing comprising first and second opposing end faces, a bottom surface, a top surface, and first and second side faces,
the first and second end faces defining a width of the housing, the bottom surface, the top surface, the first face, and the second face each extending along a length of the housing between the first and second end faces, defining an interior acoustic cavity of the housing, the length of the housing being significantly greater than the width of the housing;
first and second tweeters supported by the housing, the first tweeter being the only tweeter arranged on the first side face and the second tweeter being the only tweeter arranged on the second side face,
the first tweeter having a pointing direction substantially perpendicular to the first side face, the second tweeter having a pointing direction substantially perpendicular to the second side face;
first and second primary speakers supported by the housing, the first primary speaker arranged on the first end face and the second primary speaker arranged on the second end face,
the first primary speaker having a pointing direction substantially perpendicular to the first end face, the second primary speaker having a pointing direction substantially perpendicular to the second end face;
a wireless interface configured to receive a wireless audio signal; and
audio electronics within the housing configured to process the audio signal and to drive the first and second tweeters and the first and second primary speakers; and
a rechargeable battery within the housing configured to drive the audio electronics.
2 . A portable speaker system comprising:
a housing comprising first and second opposing ends, a bottom side, and first and second opposing sides, the first and second ends defining a width of the housing, the bottom, first, and second sides each extending along a length of the housing between the first end and the second end to define a speaker enclosure;
first and second tweeters supported by the housing, the first tweeter arranged on the first side and the second tweeter arranged on the second side;
first and second primary speakers supported by the housing, the first primary speaker arranged on the first end and the second primary speaker arranged on the second end; and
audio electronics within the housing configured to drive the first and second tweeters and the first and second primary speakers.
3 . The portable speaker system of claim 2 , further comprising at least one low frequency speaker configured to reproduce low frequency audio.
4 . The portable speaker of claim 2 , wherein the audio electronics is further configured to:
receive a stereo audio signal;
determine a modified stereo audio signal; and
output, using at least one audio amplifier, the modified stereo audio signal to the first and second tweeters and the first and second primary speakers.
5 . The portable speaker system of claim 4 , wherein the audio electronics is configured to wirelessly receive the stereo audio signal from an audio source.
6 . The portable speaker system of claim 2 wherein the first and second tweeters are positioned substantially symmetrically on the opposite first and second sides.
7 . The portable speaker system of claim 2 , wherein the first side does not include any other tweeter in addition to the first tweeter and the second sides does not include any other tweeter in addition to the second tweeter.
8 . The portable speaker system of claim 2 , wherein the first and second primary speakers are positioned substantially symmetrically on the opposite first and second ends.
9 . The portable speaker system of claim 2 further comprising a rechargeable battery configured to power the audio electronics.