Stereophonic reproduction method and apparatus

A method for reproducing stereophonic sound corresponding to first and second stereophonic signals comprising:

• energizing a first transducer with said first stereophonic signal to produce a first acoustic wave pattern;
• energizing a second transducer with said second stereophonic signal to produce a second acoustic wave pattern;
• and
• disposing said first and second transducers back to back within a distance not greater than a wavelength at about 9.5 KHz.

A stereophonic sound system comprising:

• at least first and second transducer means for producing acoustic wave patterns;
• means for disposing said at least first and second transducer means back to back within a distance of each other of not greater than a wavelength corresponding to an upper frequency of about 9.5 KHz defining temporally aligned and phase coherent operation of said first and second transducer means such that said acoustic wave patterns have virtual effective point sources spaced apart a distance not greater than said wavelength as perceived at a listening distance;
• and
• means for energizing said first and second transducer means with first and second stereophonic signals to actuate said first and second transducer means to emit said acoustic wave patterns in correspondence with said first and second stereophonic signals.

A stereophonic sound system comprising:

• transducer means for producing first and second acoustic wave patterns characterizeable at a listening distance as having first and second effective point sources respectively;
• and
• said transducer means including at least first and second transducers;
• means for applying first and second stereophonic signals to said first and second transducers respectively;
• and
• means for disposing said first and second transducers back to back and within a distance of each other not greater than a limiting distance equal to or less than a wavelength at an operating frequency of said transducer means of about 9.5 KHz to virtually align said first and second effective point sources within said limiting distance of each other as perceivable at a listening distance.

A stereophonic sound reproduction apparatus comprising:

• audio transducers for reproducing sound waves from at least first and second stereophonic audio signals;
• said audio transducers including at least first and second transducer means accepting said first and second stereophonic audio signals respectively;
• means for mounting said first and second transducer means in substantially opposing directions with backs thereof facing each other;
• said means for mounting disposing said first and second transducer means a distance apart not greater than a wavelength at an upper operational frequency limit of said first and second transducer means when said first and second stereophonic audio signals to produce corresponding audio wave fronts in substantial synchronization.