Asymmetrical high-frequency waveguide, 3-axis rigging, and spherical enclosure for surround speakers
Embodiments are described for a high-frequency waveguide that improves the performance of large-scale surround sound and immersive audio environments. A horn waveguide is configured to be asymmetric about one of a vertical axis and horizontal axis of the waveguide to form an asymmetric horn waveguide. A spherical enclosure surrounds the asymmetric horn waveguide to form a horn speaker, and a three-axis mounting system is configured to fix the horn speaker to one of a wall or ceiling surface of the venue, wherein the mounting system facilitates rotating the horn speaker to a location that provides maximum coverage of the venue within the passband of the asymmetric horn waveguide.
1. A speaker for transmitting sound into a venue comprising:
a horn waveguide configured to be asymmetric about one of a vertical axis and horizontal axis of the waveguide to form an asymmetric horn waveguide that provides a coverage window in which a horizontal coverage width transitions from a first angle at the top of a coverage angle to a second angle at the bottom of the coverage angle, the first angle being smaller than the second angle; and
a driver acoustically coupled to the horn waveguide;
wherein the horn waveguide includes two symmetric surfaces about a vertical axis of the speaker and two asymmetric surfaces about a horizontal axis of the speaker that are separated by adjusting surfaces within the horn to control a Q factor of the waveguide.
2. The speaker of claim 1 , wherein the first angle is between 60 degrees and 150 degrees; and
wherein the second angle is between 60 degrees and 150 degrees.
3. The speaker of claim 1 , wherein the first angle is between 70 degrees and 165 degrees; and
wherein the second angle is between 70 degrees and 165 degrees.
4. The speaker of claim 1 , wherein the first angle is between 80 degrees and 130 degrees; and
wherein the second angle is between 80 degrees and 130 degrees.
5. The speaker of claim 1 , wherein the first angle is between 50 degrees and 80 degrees; and
wherein the second angle is between 110 degrees and 165 degrees.
6. The speaker of claim 5 , wherein the speaker points substantially outwards at the first angle; and
wherein the speaker points substantially downwards at the second angle.
7. The speaker of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide spreads high frequency audio content across a lower side of the speaker.
8. The speaker of claim 1 , wherein a relative size of each surface, an amount of tilt of each surface, and a distance between the adjusting surfaces dictates an optimum projection angle of the horn speaker.
9. A method of providing an even audio spectrum during use in a venue by speakers, comprising:
providing a horn waveguide configured to be asymmetric about one of a vertical axis and horizontal axis of the waveguide to form an asymmetric horn waveguide that provides a coverage window in which a horizontal coverage width transitions from a first angle at the top of the coverage angle to a second angle at the bottom of the coverage angle, the first angle being smaller than the second angle; and
providing a driver acoustically coupled to the horn waveguide;
wherein the horn waveguide includes two symmetric surfaces about a vertical axis of a speaker and two asymmetric surfaces about a horizontal axis of the speaker that are separated by adjusting surfaces within the horn to control a Q factor of the waveguide.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first angle is between 60 degrees and 155 degrees; and
wherein the second angle is between 60 degrees and 150 degrees.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first angle is between 80 degrees and 130 degrees; and
wherein the second angle is between 80 degrees and 130 degrees.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first angle is between 50 degrees and 80 degrees; and
wherein the second angle is between 110 degrees and 165 degrees.
13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising spreading high frequency audio content across a lower side of the speaker.
14. A horn speaker assembly providing an even audio spectrum during playback in a venue, comprising:
an asymmetric horn waveguide having a vertical axis and horizontal axis defined by two symmetric surfaces opposed about a vertical plane of the horn speaker and by two asymmetric surfaces opposed about a horizontal plane of the speaker, and wherein the horn waveguide projects sound substantially outwards at a first angle and projects sound substantially downwards at a second angle, the first angle being smaller than the second angle; and
a driver acoustically coupled to the horn waveguide;
wherein the two asymmetric surfaces are separated by adjusting surfaces within the horn to control a Q factor of the waveguide.
15. The horn speaker assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first angle is between 60 degrees and 150 degrees; and
wherein the second angle is between 60 degrees and 150 degrees.
16. The horn speaker assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first angle is between 80 degrees and 130 degrees; and
wherein the second angle is between 80 degrees and 130 degrees.
17. The horn speaker assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first angle is between 50 degrees and 80 degrees; and
wherein the second angle is between 110 degrees and 165 degrees.
18. The horn speaker assembly of claim 14 , wherein the waveguide spreads high frequency audio content across a lower side of the speaker assembly.