A loudspeaker horn is described, which produces good coupling of sound to the atmosphere, while avoiding perturbations in magnitude and phase that would produce large narrow-frequency losses or transient distortions. The horn includes a major sound-reflective portion of typical horn shape, and also includes a buffer extending around the large end of the horn. The buffer has a sound absorption coefficient about halfway between the almost zero absorption coefficient of the major portion of the boundary walls of the horn and the 100% absorption coefficient of the ambient atmosphere, to couple sound to the atmosphere more efficiently, and with an efficiency that is relatively constant with frequency. A horn of largely rectangular cross-section, has corner regions covered with highly sound absorbing material, to minimize transient distortions such as "ringing".

A sound-damping structure is provided for use as part of a sound-directing component of a loudspeaker. The structure includes a first structural layer, a second structural layer, and a core layer enclosed between the first and second structural layers. The first and second structural layers include a generally rigid material, and the core layer includes a sound-damping material. The first structural layer includes an outside surface facing an exterior of the sound-directing component. The second structural layer includes an inside surface having an interior of the sound-directing component through which sound energy is directed.

The rear cavity of a tweeter speaker includes a cylindrical block four of a rigid, open celled, homogenous foamed material, such as aluminum. The rear end of the cylinder is cut to expose open cells, and is coated with an impermeable resin film, whereby the block absorbs and dampens back-pressure vibrations within the speaker cabinet from the low frequency woofer, and reduces standing and reflected waves generated by the tweeter. Alternatively, the entire block may be enclosed within a case five.

A speaker system which has a speaker unit with a diaphragm and an acoustic path provided on the front side of the diaphragm so as to guide sound waves emitted from the diaphragm. The acoustic path is defined by a sound absorbing member. The space in the acoustic path and the sound absorbing member is separated by a partition member which is disposed in such a manner that at least a portion of the sound absorbing member is exposed to the space in the acoustic path, except that the portion of the sound absorbing member just adjacent the diaphragm is not exposed to the acoustic path. This arrangement eliminates peaks and troughs of resonance determined by the length of the acoustic path, so that flat sound pressure frequency characteristics can be obtained over a wide range up to high-pitch tone region.

Disclosed is an improved speaker structure having a rigid unit-support member and a sound-intercepting wall. In order to improve the quality of reproduced sound, the sound-intercepting wall is composed of a layer of sound-absorbent material which is applied at least to outer surface of said unit-support member and a soundproof sheet of an acoustic energy-absorbent material which covers up tightly the layer of sound-absorbent material.