AVS › AVS Forum › Audio › Speakers › Sound directing bubbles
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Sound directing bubbles

post #1 of 7
1/28/13 at 1:22pm
Thread Starter 
I'm trying to find the official name for these. I'd like to buy a set to put in my living room. That or be able to make them. In the late 90's I remember visiting, I think, Barnes n nobles or borders. They had these half sphere plastic/glass bubbles hanging from the ceiling. They sphere faced down. You could select music from a nearby sampler/player and the sound would come down from the speakers inside these half bubbles. If you stepped 5 ft to either side you could hear almost nothing of the music. There's a family member that plays the television WAY too loud at night when my children are trying to sleep. I was hoping to set something like this up for them. Headphones won't work and because of positioning [not changable] any speaker system would still not fix the problem.

Anyone know what these are called? How to build/find them? ANY information would be great.
Reply
Reply

AVS Top Picks

post #2 of 7
2/22/13 at 2:33pm
Thread Starter 
Does anyone have any idea about these?
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 7
2/22/13 at 2:36pm
That kind of reminds me of the Lawrence Welk show...

"...someone please turn off the bubble machine..."
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 7
2/22/13 at 2:43pm
The only speakers I know of that resemble "bubbles" is Orb Audio. I have no idea if this is what Barnes and Noble used in the 90s, however.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 7
2/22/13 at 7:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Starlin17 View Post

I'm trying to find the official name for these.
Parabolic reflectors, and I doubt you'd be able to build your own.
http://www.browninnovations.com/default.html
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 7
2/23/13 at 12:19pm
Yes, parabolics are used extensively in retail and exhibits applications to provide isolation. Their ability to reduce sound levels outside the target zone is directly related to their height above the listener. In other words, if you can get them 20 feet above the floor it will sound like a speaker that's 20 feet away, and if the level is appropriate for a single listener and the room ambience is noisy, other people won't hear it.

But in a quiet room, positioned 8 feet above the floor, it will seem just as loud to others as any other speaker in the same location.

Plus, they sound like crap and they are horribly expensive.

I base my comments on 25 years of using models from Brown Innovations and Secret Sound in museum exhibits.

The "Cone of Silence" is still a fantasy, sorry. If headphones are not applicable, maybe a novelty speaker -- like the ones built into pillows or neck-rests -- might do the trick?
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 7
3/6/13 at 7:15pm
Thread Starter 
@Bill Fitzmaurice - That link was perfect the Sound Dome resembles it.

Thanks guys for responding, now I have something to look into. And I'll take your advice to heart also rdclark.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Speakers

AVS Top Picks

AVS › AVS Forum › Audio › Speakers › Sound directing bubbles