Radiation Pattern
Radiation pattern describes how a speaker spreads sound in different directions. This field covers its midrange, roughly 300 Hz to 3 kHz, separately from bass loading.
Monopole here means a conventional forward-facing speaker, not one emitting absolutely no sound behind it.
Dipole radiates front and back in opposite phase: one side pushes while the other pulls. Bipole radiates front and back in phase: both push together.
Omnidirectional spreads sound broadly around the speaker horizontally. Cardioid emphasizes the front and reduces rear radiation.
Radiation Pattern — Loudspeaker
The pattern affects which listening seats receive direct sound and which walls reflect it. Check the manufacturer’s placement guidance and plots showing sound output by direction and frequency.
Real patterns change with frequency; a name alone neither specifies a measured dispersion angle nor proves better sound. Bass and treble may behave differently.
Sources
- Loudspeaker directivity and room response — Siegfried Linkwitz
- Directivity Control Waveguide technology — Genelec
- Cardioid midrange and bass design — Dutch & Dutch
Sources
- Monopole, dipole and bipolar speaker terminology — Fluance
- Sound field control for stereo — Siegfried Linkwitz