Cardioid configurations

technical bulletin - version 2.0

Introduction
A standard subwoofer configuration radiates very low frequencies in all directions. In some situations, this
omnidirectional behavior may cause some problems, such as too much bass on the stage, unwanted room reflections, or
noise pollution to nearby areas. However, it is possible to obtain a better rejection at the back of the subwoofer array by
using the subwoofers in cardioid mode.
The SPL mappings in this document represent top views of the coverage at 50 Hz. Each colour represent a 3 dB step.

Cardioid subwoofer configurations

Standard vs cardioid pattern

A single subwoofer is omnidirectional, however an array of 4 subwoofers becomes directional and presents a rejection
of 6 dB at the rear of the system, where the subwoofers are placed on the ground.
Refer to the Distributed Edge Dipole (DED) Model for Cabinet Diffraction Effects (AES Journal).
The overall level of a cardioid configuration using 4 subwoofers is reduced by 1 dB at the front and gives a maximum
rejection of 15 dB at the rear of the system.

standard cardioid

rear front rear front

-6 dB 0 dB -15 dB -1 dB

L-Acoustics cardioid configuration

L-Acoustics offers a plug-and-play solution for controlling the directivity of a subwoofer array. The omnidirectional
subwoofer pattern can be easily switched to a cardioid one by reversing one cabinet and setting the cardioid factory
preset on the amplified controller, as follows:
— Array of 4 subwoofers with one reversed cabinet
— Cardioid preset ([SBxx_xx_C]) with reversed sub on OUT1
The cardioid configuration is efficient in the subwoofer bandwidth, and the maximum rejection occurs at about 45 Hz.
Difference between the front and rear frequency response of a SB28 cardioid configuration,
measured at 4 m from the array

Fr eq u en cy (Hz)
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100
0

-2

-4

-6
SPL (d B)

-8

-10

-12

-14

-16

-18

1 Cardioid configurations technical bulletin (en) version 2.0

Introduction

Physical deployments for cardioid configuration

Key points:
— The greater the size of the array, the more directional the system
— The rejection is on the reversed subwoofer’s side
Single driver subwoofer (SB15m, SB18, SB18i, SB18m)

horizontal block vertical

Dual driver subwoofer (SB28)

on-end block vertical

Cardioid configurations technical bulletin (en) version 2.0 2

 Introduction

Limitations

Distance between direct and reversed acoustic centers

When the path difference between the direct and the reversed acoustic centers becomes excessive, it reduces the overall
level in the audience as well as the noise rejection at the rear of the system. Therefore, a horizontal array of SB28 should
not be done in cardioid configurations.
Horizontal deployment

SB1x on-end SB1x SB28 on-end SB28

Vertical deployment

note: should not be done horizontally either

Minimum distance from walls

For full efficiency of the cardioid configuration, the subwoofer array should be at least 1 m from the wall. Below 1 m, a
cardioid configuration would reflect more energy against the wall than a standard configuration.

min. 1 m

3 Cardioid configurations technical bulletin (en) version 2.0