Directional sound/speaker

[sludgeguts]

I understand there are options already on the market - albeit quite expensive but wondered if there was a more 'pocket friendly' way of confining sound to the area ahead of the speaker?

Normal speakers tend to send sound waves outwards (more or less) following the shape of the speaker cone. I'd like to confine these to an area no more than a few feet wide.
Any ideas?

 

[volxstu]

Not particularly no. The spread of the speaker is actually much wider than you would think. By blocking the waves you would create something like a horn which will just amplify and change the characteristic of the sound in a slightly different place. Then there is the fact that a speaker has a back wave. The spread is similar at the back as it is to the front. Depending on the speaker you are using then you could enclose the back wave but thats not likely to help too much.

May i ask what it is you want to achieve?

 

[sludgeguts]

Just thinking it'd be nice to listen to my music in the back garden without annoying my neighbours too much. My neighbours at the far end wouldn't be too annoyed as their conifers would absorb much of the sound.
I was also wondering about something similar in my lounge - so we can have surround sound without annoying the neighbours too much.

I've seen it done in establishments where people can dine in relative peace whilst people are dancing to loud-ish music only feet away, I've also seen it done (can't remember where) so people can hear a guide to an exhibit - only when they are stood in front of it.
I wasn't sure if this was something that could be achieved DiY for a few quid - but I'm guessing it's pro applications only for ££££

 

[volxstu]

This would have to be an environmental thing, like using materials for walls that are totally absorbant of sound not by directing the sound in a particular direction.
For example if you were to put walls either side of your garden then they will likely not hear it. But you dont want to make walls in your garden.
How loud do you need to go anyway? Surely your neighbours have to have some tolerance. I couldnt imagine you want hard thumping house music at all hours of the day.

Something like this directly on the wall behind the speakers may help but you would need to go for total coverage to stop all of the sound and other more expensive materials.
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/scan...ce=google+shopping&utm_medium=google+shopping

 

[sludgeguts]

Now to find something in my price range