The problem here is terminology and the understanding of the application of it.
If I put a subwoofer in a corner, pump 40 Hz through it, and stand blindfolded in the room with it, I can point it out. The omnidirectional nature of low frequency transducers is well documented, but the source point is very distinguishable.
Problems begin to arise with very high frequencies in a reflective environment. If I take a HF horn, pump 12k through it, and stand blindfolded in the middle of a metal or glass room, I'd have a much harder time distinguishing the location.
In both cases, if you use a pulse instead of a constant sine wave, the ability to locate the sound is greatly enhanced.
Having worked on a contract for Neumann about 10 years ago or so developing the kunstkopf, I can tell you from personal experience and exhaustive testing, these observations are well documented, but never referenced by people using the satellite systems.
Additionally, your statement about 80Hz being nondirectional can be easily debunked. Meyer has developed a subwoofer system which creates a cardiod pattern from a subwoofer. Also, placing two direct firing subwoofers in proximity to cause coupling, will exhibit lobing thereby becoming more directional. As a monitor engineer who has to stand close to the stack, I appreciate this phenomenon.
Let's not even get on the horn loaded bass cabinet here. That's very directional although huge (the size being one reason for multiple cabinets or the Meyer rig).
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The problem here is terminology and the understanding of the application of it.
If I put a subwoofer in a corner, pump 40 Hz through it, and stand blindfolded in the room with it, I can point it out. The omnidirectional nature of low frequency transducers is well documented, but the source point is very distinguishable.
Problems begin to arise with very high frequencies in a reflective environment. If I take a HF horn, pump 12k through it, and stand blindfolded in the middle of a metal or glass room, I'd have a much harder time distinguishing the location.
In both cases, if you use a pulse instead of a constant sine wave, the ability to locate the sound is greatly enhanced.
Having worked on a contract for Neumann about 10 years ago or so developing the kunstkopf, I can tell you from personal experience and exhaustive testing, these observations are well documented, but never referenced by people using the satellite systems.
Additionally, your statement about 80Hz being nondirectional can be easily debunked. Meyer has developed a subwoofer system which creates a cardiod pattern from a subwoofer. Also, placing two direct firing subwoofers in proximity to cause coupling, will exhibit lobing thereby becoming more directional. As a monitor engineer who has to stand close to the stack, I appreciate this phenomenon.
Let's not even get on the horn loaded bass cabinet here. That's very directional although huge (the size being one reason for multiple cabinets or the Meyer rig).