Audio system with enhanced spatial effect

• Main Author: PETERS; RICHARD W
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 13.12.1977
• Subjects: ACOUSTICS; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; BASIC ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; IMPEDANCE NETWORKS, e.g. RESONANT CIRCUITS; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING,NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; PHYSICS; RESONATORS; SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ARTCOLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TRANSMISSION

An audio system comprising a record player, tape deck, microphones, or other signal source which generates stereo signals supplied to two main speakers for reproduction; the stereo signals are added together to afford an intermediate signal which is subjected to at least two successive equal delays to generate a plurality of delayed signals which are summed with the intermediate signal in predetermined amplitude and phase relation to generate a spatial effect signal that is essentially free of noticeable reverberations or echoes. This spatial effect signal is reproduced by a separate speaker in the same listening space as the main speakers to add ambience and diffuseness to the total sound field. In the preferred construction two delayed signals are employed, delay is effected with the signals in digital form, and the summing ratio for the intermediate, first delayed, and second delayed signals is approximately 1:2:1 with the intermediate signal and the second delayed signal in phase opposition. A corresponding monophonic system is also disclosed.