🔈 3D-Printed Lens Sharpens Sound Focus

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania made a 3D-printed cover that narrows sound to a spot under 5 cm wide. A microphone there picks up clear music, while moving 5 cm away cuts volume by 50 decibels.

It works with parametric speaker arrays (PAL) using ultrasound to form tight beams. The 3D-printed acoustic metasurface focuses the beam about 10 cm from the speaker and boosts bass down to 38 Hz without big subwoofers.

This lens only works with PAL systems, solving issues like beam reflection and weak bass by concentrating sound in a small area.

📊@tech