INFLUENCE OF THE PERFOMANCE PARAMETERS
IN TRANSMISSION LINE LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM
PACS number: 43.38.Ja
Basilio Pueo, José Escolano, and Miguel Romá
Department of Physics, System Engineering and Signal Theory,
University of Alicante
E-03080 Alicante, Spain
e-mail: basilio@disc.ua.es, jescolano@disc.ua.es, mroma@disc.ua.es
ABSTRACT
Various different Transmission Line (TL) prototypes were fabricated to characterise the
influence of the main performance parameters of a TL. In this paper it has been demostrated
that low frequency response and electric input impedance changes due to several parameters
are presents line length, cross sectional areas and stuffing density are the main perfomance
parameters. Not also these known parameters perfomance but also some other unexplored
ones are tested on several TL prototypes. Finally, a set of non affecting parameters are
presented.
INTRODUCTION
Acoustic Labyrinth loudspeaker enclosure has been studied since 1936 by Olney [1]. In a
classic model, the sound wave from the back of the woofer is channelled down a long pathway
filled with an absorbent material. The total response is achieved by adding front and back
radiation. Theorically, this extends the low frequency response up to one-third octave below the
fundamental resonance of the driver.
Unlike classical enclosures, Transmission Lines cannot be analyzed by using Thiele-Small
parameters [2]. Since a valid model is not developed, a first approach is to know the influence of
some parameters and how they operate on the system response. Objective information is
seldom provided and it is confined mostly to a few designs frequency response measurement.
A deep study of electroacoustic device must consider two sides: the electric input impedance, in
terms of electric coupling, and the pressure response. Length and shape of the pipe, stuffing
density and cross sectional area are the main parameters to change the response. An optimum
Transmission Line enclosure for a given loudspeaker is not the purpose of this paper. On the
contrary, the influence of the known parameters are reconsidered in a more general view. This
means to consider other tested parameters that has not been performed before.
PROTOTYPE DESCRIPTION
An acoustic Transmission Line is a low frequency radiation system comprising a loudspeaker in
a damped pipe. Its length is the quarter wavelength of alignment frequency, and generally, this
is the loudspeaker resonance frequency. As vented boxes [3], the total response is adding the
two responses. Notwithstanding, the Transmission Line has an open-back so the acoustic load