Polar response

The Polar response measurement is an extended version of the LS sensitivity measurement. In order to measure spatial directivity characteristics a number of sensitivity measurements is performed sequentially from different directions seen from the loudspeaker (or from the microphone). For this either the loudspeaker is rotated (e.g. on a rotating plate or by a rotating arm) or the microphone is moved (microphone arc). Usually the data is displayed in relation to the measurement on a pre-defined reference axis.

If all data points are located on a plane, they are referred to as horizontal or vertical directivity, depending on the orientation of the plane; three-dimensional arrangements are called balloon. The angular resolution of the data points usually ranges between 10° and 1°; for not excessively focussed loudspeakers 5° has often been found to be a good compromise between measurement time and accuracy. The relation between source dimensions, angular resolution and measuring distance is described for example in this paper (in German).

Prior to the actual measurement a reference measurement needs to be carried out by Ref. - Reference measurement.

Basically the measuring configuration is identical to the one in LS sensitivity, only the measuring mode Repeat is not available here.

Additional menus available under Setup are Turn table setup and Polar data setup.