Simple Explanation

A chart that provides a summary of measurements, particularly in terms of how they are perceived by listeners.

Concise Technical Definition

Spinorama, popularized by Dr. Floyd Toole, refers to a type of chart used to represent audio measurements in a way that aligns with human perception. These charts, based on the CEA/CTA-2034 standard, provide a summary of a speaker’s performance across different frequencies, showing how the speaker's sound is perceived in a real-world setting. Spinorama charts allow for a more intuitive understanding of audio measurements by representing the data from a perceptual perspective, focusing on how listeners will experience the sound in a typical listening environment.

Layman-Friendly Analogy

Imagine you're looking at a map of a city, but instead of showing streets, it shows how a speaker’s sound changes in different directions. A Spinorama chart helps you understand the "landscape" of a speaker’s sound, telling you how it might sound to you from different angles and at various frequencies.

Industry Usage Summary

Spinorama charts are widely used in audio testing and speaker evaluations, especially in research and development of loudspeakers. These charts provide a clear visual representation of a speaker’s performance from the listener's perspective, making it easier for audio professionals and enthusiasts to assess how speakers perform in real-world listening conditions. The Spinorama is especially useful in comparing the tonal characteristics and dispersion of different speakers, helping engineers design products that align with listener preferences. It is commonly used in conjunction with other measurements like frequency response and directivity to optimize speaker designs.

Engineering Shortcut

A chart summarizing a speaker’s performance from a perceptual perspective, popularized by Dr. Floyd Toole.

Full Technical Explanation

The Spinorama is a graphical representation of a speaker's performance that summarizes measurements in a way that reflects human auditory perception. Developed by Dr. Floyd Toole and popularized in the CEA/CTA-2034 standard, Spinorama charts typically display data such as frequency response, directivity, and other acoustical characteristics, but with a focus on how these factors will be perceived by listeners in typical listening environments. These charts help to bridge the gap between raw measurement data and real-world listener experience, providing a more intuitive understanding of a speaker's sound quality. Spinorama charts are valuable tools for both designers and consumers, offering a perceptual overview of how a speaker’s sound may be experienced in various listening conditions.