Abstract: A sound-producing device includes a housing having a front and a top, a first electro-acoustic transducer facing from the front of the housing, a second electro-acoustic transducer facing from the top of the housing, and a third electro-acoustic transducer facing from the top of the housing. There is at least one processor that is configured to, during audio playback, generate a first array using the first and second electro-acoustic transducers, the first array providing a left height component of the audio playback, and generate a second array using the first and third electro-acoustic transducers, the second array providing a right height component of the audio playback.

Abstract: A computer program product having a non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer program logic encoded thereon that, when performed on a surround sound audio system that is configured to render left front, right front, and center front audio signals, and also render left and right near-field binaurally-encoded audio signals, causes the surround sound audio system to develop the left and right near-field binaurally-encoded audio signals, and provide the left near-field binaurally-encoded audio signal to a left non-occluding near-field driver and provide the right near-field binaurally-encoded audio signal to a right non-occluding near-field driver.

Abstract: A computer program product having a non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer program logic encoded thereon that, when performed on a surround sound audio system that is configured to render left front, right front, and center front audio signals, and also render left and right near-field binaurally-encoded audio signals, causes the surround sound audio system to develop the left and right near-field binaurally-encoded audio signals, and provide the left near-field binaurally-encoded audio signal to a left non-occluding near-field driver and provide the right near-field binaurally-encoded audio signal to a right non-occluding near-field driver.

Abstract: A computer program product having a non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer program logic encoded thereon that, when performed on a surround sound audio system that is configured to render left front, right front, and center front audio signals, and also render left and right near-field binaurally-encoded audio signals, causes the surround sound audio system to develop the left and right near-field binaurally-encoded audio signals, and provide the left near-field binaurally-encoded audio signal to a left non-occluding near-field driver and provide the right near-field binaurally-encoded audio signal to a right non-occluding near-field driver.

Abstract: A multi-channel audio system including first combining circuitry, for combining a first spectral band of a first plurality channels to provide a first bass audio signal stream; second combining circuitry, for combining the first spectral band of a second plurality channels to provide a second bass audio signal stream; and third combining circuitry, for combining a second spectral band, the second spectral band including lower frequencies than the first spectral band, of the first plurality of channels and the second plurality of channels to provide a third bass audio signal stream.

Abstract: An audio system including a rendering processor for separately rendering a dialogue channel and a center music channel. The audio system may include circuitry for extracting one or both of the dialogue channel or the center music channel from program material that does not include both a dialogue channel and a center music channel. The dialogue channel and the center music channel may be radiated with different radiation patterns.

Abstract: An three-way audio system that uses directional arrays for radiating mid-frequency acoustic energy and passive directional devices to radiate the high frequencies. the system includes a left channel, a right channel, and a center channel. A crossover network separates the left channel and the right channel into low frequency content, midrange frequency content, and high frequency content. An omnidirectional acoustical device radiates acoustic energy corresponding to the low frequency content of the combined left channel, right channel and center channel. A first directional array, comprising signal processing circuitry and more than one acoustic driver, radiates acoustic energy corresponding to the midrange content of one of the left channel and right channel signal so that more acoustic energy corresponding to the midrange content of one of the left channel signal and the right channel signal is radiated laterally than in other directions.

Abstract: An audio system including a left input channel signal, a right input channel signal, and a discrete center input channel. Circuitry removes correlated content from the left input channel signal and the right input channel signal and inserts the correlated content into the center input channel signal to provide a modified left input channel signal, a modified right input channel signal, and a modified center input channel signal. The modified left input channel signal is radiated by a directional loudspeaker so that radiation in a direction toward a listening area is less than radiation in other directions. The modified right channel input channel signal is radiated by a directional loudspeaker so that radiation in a direction toward a listening area is less than radiation in other directions.

Abstract: An three-way audio system that uses directional arrays for radiating mid-frequency acoustic energy and passive directional devices to radiate the high frequencies. the system includes a left channel, a right channel, and a center channel. A crossover network separates the left channel and the right channel into low frequency content, midrange frequency content, and high frequency content. An omnidirectional acoustical device radiates acoustic energy corresponding to the low frequency content of the combined left channel, right channel and center channel. A first directional array, comprising signal processing circuitry and more than one acoustic driver, radiates acoustic energy corresponding to the midrange content of one of the left channel and right channel signal so that more acoustic energy corresponding to the midrange content of one of the left channel signal and the right channel signal is radiated laterally than in other directions.

Abstract: Vehicle audio systems including directional loudspeakers, particularly directional arrays. An exemplary audio system for a vehicle includes a plurality of audio channels. The vehicle includes a first passenger position and a second passenger position ahead of the first passenger position. The audio system includes a first directional loudspeaker positioned ahead of the first passenger position and in back of the second passenger position, constructed and arranged to radiate directionally a first audio channel so that a direction toward the first passenger position is one of a low radiation direction and a high radiation direction and so that a direction toward the second passenger position is the other of a low radiation direction and a high radiation direction.

Abstract: A signal processor for use in a vehicle audio system provides multiple operating modes. A first mode provides substantially equal total sound pressure levels at each seating location. A first equalization pattern provides a substantially similar frequency response at each of the seating locations, and a first balance configuration provides substantially similar balance patterns at each of the seating locations. A second mode provides greater sound pressure levels at a first seating location than at other seating locations. A second equalization pattern results in a frequency response at the first seating location that is substantially smoother than the frequency responses at other seating locations, and a second balance configuration results in the balance pattern at the first seating location being substantially more balanced than the balance patterns at other seating locations.

Abstract: An audio system including a left input channel signal, a right input channel signal, and a discrete center input channel. Circuitry removes correlated content from the left input channel signal and the right input channel signal and inserts the correlated content into the center input channel signal to provide a modified left input channel signal, a modified right input channel signal, and a modified center input channel signal. The modified left input channel signal is radiated by a directional loudspeaker so that radiation in a direction toward a listening area is less than radiation in other directions. The modified right channel input channel signal is radiated by a directional loudspeaker so that radiation in a direction toward a listening area is less than radiation in other directions.

Abstract: A multi-channel audio system including first combining circuitry, for combining a first spectral band of a first plurality channels to provide a first bass audio signal stream; second combining circuitry, for combining the first spectral band of a second plurality channels to provide a second bass audio signal stream; and third combining circuitry, for combining a second spectral band, the second spectral band including lower frequencies than the first spectral band, of the first plurality of channels and the second plurality of channels to provide a third bass audio signal stream.

Abstract: A multi-channel audio system including first combining circuitry, for combining a first spectral band of a first plurality channels to provide a first bass audio signal stream; second combining circuitry, for combining the first spectral band of a second plurality channels to provide a second bass audio signal stream; and third combining circuitry, for combining a second spectral band, the second spectral band including lower frequencies than the first spectral band, of the first plurality of channels and the second plurality of channels to provide a third bass audio signal stream.

Abstract: An audio system including a rendering processor for separately rendering a dialogue channel and a center music channel. The audio system may include circuitry for extracting one or both of the dialogue channel or the center music channel from program material that does not include both a dialogue channel and a center music channel. The dialogue channel and the center music channel may be radiated with different radiation patterns.

Abstract: A signal processor for use in a vehicle audio system provides multiple operating modes. A first mode provides substantially equal total sound pressure levels at each seating location. A first equalization pattern provides a substantially similar frequency response at each of the seating locations, and a first balance configuration provides substantially similar balance patterns at each of the seating locations. A second mode provides greater sound pressure levels at a first seating location than at other seating locations. A second equalization pattern results in a frequency response at the first seating location that is substantially smoother than the frequency responses at other seating locations, and a second balance configuration results in the balance pattern at the first seating location being substantially more balanced than the balance patterns at other seating locations.

Abstract: A surround audio system for a vehicle with a plurality of operating modes. The vehicle includes seating locations. The audio system includes a plurality of input channels including surround channels. The audio system further includes a plurality of operating modes. A first operating mode is characterized by substantially equal perceived loudnesses at each of said seating locations, an equalization pattern developed by weighting frequency responses at each of said seating locations substantially equally, and a balance pattern developed by weighting sound pressure level measurements at each of said seating locations substantially equally.

Abstract: A convertible automobile sound system is responsive to the state of the convertible automobile top for providing equalization to speakers related to the state of the convertible top.

Abstract: A vehicle sound system is constructed and arranged to establish a sound image at a desired location spaced from the sound source.

Abstract: Vehicle audio systems including directional loudspeakers, particularly directional arrays. An exemplary audio system for a vehicle includes a plurality of audio channels. The vehicle includes a first passenger position and a second passenger position ahead of the first passenger position. The audio system includes a first directional loudspeaker positioned ahead of the first passenger position and in back of the second passenger position, constructed and arranged to radiate directionally a first audio channel so that a direction toward the first passenger position is one of a low radiation direction and a high radiation direction and so that a direction toward the second passenger position is the other of a low radiation direction and a high radiation direction.