Compact and efficient sub-woofer system and method for installation in structural partitions

A method for mounting a loudspeaker system in a space defined by a front panel and an enclosed area behind the front panel of a structural partition fronting a listening area, comprising the steps of:

• providing an electroacoustical transducing means having a two sided vibratory diaphragm;
• providing an enclosure means configured to enclose a specific air volume having a predefined acoustic compliance;
• mounting said electroacoustical transducing means to the enclosure means such that one side of the electroacoustical transducing means contacts air outside of the enclosure and the other side of the electroacoustical transducing means contacts the specific air volume within the enclosure means;
• mounting the enclosure means to the structural partition such that the enclosure means extends into the space behind the front panel of the partition so that the one side of the vibratory diaphragm contacts a volume of air outside the enclosure means within the space between the front panel of the partition and a rear panel of the partition;
• providing a passive radiating means characterized by having a specific acoustic mass for coupling the specific volume of air enclosed by the enclosure means to the air outside the enclosure means in the listening area;
• and
• providing a compression plate mounted to the enclosure means in spaced relationship to and facing the one side of said vibratory diaphragm in contact with air outside the enclosure means to form a partial enclosure so as to isolate the vibratory diaphragm from the rear partition member adjacent the one side of the vibratory diaphragm while at the same time maintaining coupling of the vibratory diaphragm to the air volume outside the enclosure means between the front and rear panels of the partition;
• whereby
• the volume of air outside the enclosure means within the space behind the front panel of the partition is substantially acoustically isolated over the approximate frequency range of operation of the electroacoustical transducing means from the volume of air outside the enclosure means within the listening area.

A loudspeaker system for installation in a space defined by a front panel and an enclosed area between the front panel and a rear panel of a structural partition fronting a listening area comprising:

• electroacoustical transducing means having a two sided vibratory diaphragm;
• means for coupling an electrical signal to said electroacoustical transducing means for driving same;
• enclosure means for mounting said electroacoustical transducing means such that one side of said vibratory diaphragm is in contact with air contained within the partition between the front and rear panels thereof, and the other side of said vibratory diaphragm is coupled to air in the listening area fronted by the front panel of the partition;
• means for mounting said enclosure means to the structural partition such that said enclosure means extends into a space between the front and rear panels of the partition;
• and
• a compression plate mounted to the enclosure means between the one side of said vibratory diaphragm and the rear panel of the partition and in spaced relationship with said vibratory diaphragm to form a partial enclosure around said vibratory diaphragm to provide isolation of the rear panel with respect to sound pressure from said vibratory diaphragm while maintaining coupling of said vibratory diaphragm to the air contained within the partition between the front and rear panels.