Manifold for multiple compression drivers with a single point source exit

A loudspeaker comprising:

• an acoustic horn;
• a plurality of compression drivers;
• and
• a manifold that is coupled to the acoustic horn and comprises:
• a first inlet that receives sound waves from a first compression driver included in the plurality of compression drivers;
• a second inlet that receives sound waves from a second compression driver included in the plurality of compression drivers;
• an output section that includes a plurality of concentric rings, and is designed to deliver a point source of sound to a throat section of the acoustic horn;
• a first channel that is configured to guide sound waves received at the first inlet to a first location within a first concentric ring and to isolate the sound waves received at the first inlet from sound waves received at the second inlet.

A computer implemented method for configuring a loudspeaker for operation, wherein the loudspeaker includes a manifold that is designed to deliver a point source of sound to an acoustic horn, the method comprising:

• partitioning a plurality of compression drivers into a plurality of groups, wherein each group is associated with a different channel length and a different time delay;
• determining that a length of a first channel approximately equals a channel length that is associated with a first group, wherein the first channel guides sound waves receives at a first inlet included in a plurality of inlets to a first location in an output section of the manifold and isolates the sound waves received at the first inlet from sound waves received at the other inlets included in the plurality of inlets;
• and
• configuring a compression driver included in the first group to deliver sound waves that are delayed by a time delay that is associated with the first group to the first inlet.