Where is your EASE™ data?

EASE™ is a predictive software solution that can measure the output of a point source speaker and provide a fairly accurate prediction of its behavior in a modeled 3-D space. The key to its abilities is that it’s measuring a device where audio energy is emitting form a single point. Ease allows designers to virtually “place” loudspeakers, and adjust minute details of the coverage angles to minimize room interaction and loudspeaker-loudspeaker interaction. DMLs mostly eliminate the room interaction component leaving only the coverage angle. Simple modeling applications such as SketchUp can be used if finite analysis is needed. Otherwise, in most cases, the 165 degree coverage of the DML is very easy to place effectively, eliminating the need for costly room modeling.

A DML is a different class of acoustic radiator with a highly complex radiation characteristic that’s not supported by EASE, etc. The DML behaves as a highly complex array of multiple point sources at once; all radiating with a pseudo-random phase distribution across the surface of the panel. There is no one point to measure.

Point source-based predictive software tools are currently not able to cope with the highly complex phase distribution across the panel’s surface and diffuse radiation characteristic of a DML. When we’ve tried in the past, the software just gives a nonsense result, as one would expect. A new generation of software needs to be developed that can understand a bending wave device and provide meaningful information as to its characteristics in a given space.

While predictive software is helpful in creating a speaker system design for a space, with a DML it’s far less critical. The audio energy produced is very broad, diffuse and un-correlated, unlike the very focused and correlated energy from a pistonic device. The net effect is that a DML does not react strongly with reflective room surfaces. The need to use predictive software to keep speaker energy away from reflective surfaces is much less critical for a DML than for a coherent source.

Furthermore, the DML’s 165⁰ horizontal and vertical coverage pattern greatly diminishes the need for precise aiming. It’s an audio fluorescent tube vs. a spotlight.