Hear the sound of the universe from the conch
As we all know, people cannot hear sound in the vacuum environment of the universe. But that you cannot hear it doesn’t mean it does not exist. Imagine that, what kind of sound would a satellite orbiting the earth make? In 2016, NASA and architectural design firm STUDIO KCA built a conch-shaped structure outside NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.
It’s actually an “orbit pavilion” used by NASA to display satellite orbits. When visitors enter it, they can see the movement trajectories and states of 19 satellites, and can also hear beautiful music and a sound that simulates the operation of satellites in space, which is a veritable “sound of the universe”.
Just playing the sound, so why make the building this unique conch shape?
This is because the architects took advantage of the “Helmholtz resonance phenomenon” created by the structure of the conch shell.
Everyone is familiar with the phenomenon of resonance, but what is this “Helmholtz” that sounds like a mantra? Is it Hogwarts?
In fact, it refers to the discoverer of this resonance phenomenon, the German physicist Hermann von Helmholtz. He found that air in a certain container can cause a magical resonance. In his 1862 book On the Sensations of Tone he described a special type of vessel, the Helmholtz resonator.
And the most common “Helmholtz resonator” in our life is the so-called “sound of the sea” heard by putting the conch close to the ear. It also comes from the Helmholtz resonance. In fact, what you hear is only amplified by the conch. Just some ambient noise.
Later, people learned through calculations that natural multi-chamber structures like conch shells can induce Helmholtz resonances of various frequencies, so they also brought inspiration to architects. They designed the NASA orbital pavilion in the shape of a conch, which can not only effectively block external noise by using Helmholtz resonance, but also enhance the frequency of the sound played in the building, making people feel more immersive.
The lillte resonance has big use.
Don’t underestimate this resonance phenomenon, its effect can be great.
As early as in ancient Rome, the famous “Vitruvian Man” prototype, the architect and engineer Vitruvius, recorded in his book “Ten Books of Architecture” a kind of method by placing brass in the theater. Bottles to enhance reverberation, these brass bottles act as Helmholtz resonators.
In the far east, the ancient stage of Longtian Temple in Shanxi also adopted the same method to amplify the sound. Many pottery pots are inlaid in the wall around the stage, which can amplify the voice of the actors on the stage through resonance and let the audience off the stage. The elders and villagers heard more clearly.
Aside from architectural design, the biggest use of Helmholtz resonance is sound attenuation. When sound hits an object, part of it is reflected back, and another part is absorbed by the object and converted into kinetic energy and internal energy. Using Helmholtz resonance, we can maximize the dissipation of noise at a specific frequency.
For example, there is a special Helmholtz resonance chamber in the exhaust pipe of some cars and motorcycles, and its size has been finely adjusted to reduce most of the noise during the exhaust process.
Helmholtz resonance also plays a huge role in aircraft that are also plagued by noise. “Acoustic lining” made of Helmholtz resonance principle is widely used in civil engine nacelles. It has a honeycomb structure, which can not only absorb fan, turbine and jet noise, but also reduce wing additional surface resistance.
In our life, Helmholtz resonance can also be seen everywhere, and many of our common musical instruments are made of this resonance. For example, the two F holes on the surface of the violin are specially made to make the whole body form a Helmholtz resonator. If there is no opening, the sound of the piano will be very dull. The size and position of the F hole are very particular, and can even determine the tone of the violin.
There is also the ocarina, which is essentially a Helmholtz resonator: plugging different holes with your fingers while playing can generate Helmholtz resonances at different frequencies.
In addition, the Helmholtz resonance phenomenon is also used in musical instruments such as the jaw harp, the hand dish, and the West African tambourine.
It can be seen that in playing music, the experience of the predecessors who made musical instruments coincides with the laws of physics.
It is in the audio field that the Helmholtz resonance is brought into full play. In 1993, the hall-level music brand Baohua Weijian launched the Nautilus top speaker. Its shape simulates the shape of a nautilus, and this carefully tuned spiral channel utilizes Helmholtz resonance to eliminate distorted high frequencies in music and present the sound in a true and perfect way. At the same time, it also solves the problem of sound from the rear of the traditional speaker driver. The tapered tube on its head can absorb scattered sound waves and greatly reduce unnecessary resonance.
This speaker has become a classic as soon as it was launched. Although it is expensive, it is still the benchmark for high-end audio after more than 20 years. If you can buy one and put it at home, it will not only have an artwork-like shape, but also a super high sound. The effect is definitely a status symbol, synonymous with high-end.
Today, the technology of Nautilus Nautilus speakers has also been used in almost all other BAUER & W&K products, greatly improving the sound quality.Cars become mobile theaters
Bring a new sound experience
At this time, some bigwigs will ask: Can such a good sound only be placed at home? Can you let me take it out for a show?
Good question! High-end brands will satisfy your needs in no time!
Now, this top-of-the-line audio can not only let you take it out, but also let you run on the road at a “speed of 70 miles”!
This is the new S90 model jointly launched by Volvo and Baohuawei Jianqiang, which integrates the audio system with the cockpit design, making the car a mobile opera house.
Volvo×Bowers & Wilkins, making the car incarnate the mobile opera house
From the very beginning of the design, Volvo is determined to present the most authentic and pure music to users, so from the tuning of each sound mode, the configuration of each speaker, to each seat, and each piece of glass, it has undergone meticulous attention to detail. design.
Volvo S90 luxury interior design, creating an immersive experience
There are 19 loudspeaker in the car, and all the tweeters use the Nautilus technology of B&W, which reduces the vibration caused by the collision between sound waves through resonance, and restores the true and non-destructive treble.
In addition, the sound basin of Volvo S90 audio adopts the newly developed polymer fiber diaphragm, which is lighter and stronger, and has good damping, which makes the midrange performance more stable. In addition to the lossless treble and stable midrange, Volvo S90 is also equipped with the original fresh air subwoofer ventilated subwoofer, which is installed above the rear wheel arch and perfectly integrated with the body, bringing a shocking and full bass effect.
In addition to the hardware part, Volvo S90 has also made great efforts to adjust the audio software. In order to present the interior space of the car like a golden position in the opera house, Volvo and B&W specially formed a team of thousands of people to collect a large number of sound samples, allowing you to switch between them with the touch of a finger. A variety of sound effects environment, full of realism. Such high-end equipment and adjustments are now integrated into one vehicle. Originally you just wanted to buy a stereo, but Volvo has to give you a car, which is too much!
It’s not just the audio, the Volvo S90 is full of details elsewhere too. The high-reduction sound and laminated sound-insulating acoustic glass can ensure that the occupants in the car can hear the clean and elegant music even when driving in the downtown area. In addition, in order to make the car have a green and pure space comparable to the natural forest, the Volvo S90 specially designed the unique Orrefors crystal shift lever, and the materials are safe, natural and hypoallergenic, and can pass a variety of intelligent purification and ventilation systems, continuous CLEANZONE® clean cockpit for in-car air purification. Using a variety of high-end operations, it is committed to bringing users the ultimate driving experience.
Having said that, is it superfluous for us to pursue the ultimate so much?
Let’s imagine that when our ancestors picked up a shell from the beach and put it to their ears, does the sound of the mountain and tsunami also occupy the soul that is not yet full?
For thousands of years, we have been shocked by the subtlety of natural creations and indulged in the clear sound of mountain springs and flowing water. In order to feel nature, we use every cone cell to see the beauty of the world; we perceive every vibration of the eardrum, listen to pleasant sounds, and convert all of these into electrical signals, walk in the cerebral cortex, traverse every synapse. We have evolved bright eyes and smart ears, so why not make the most of them? If there is no obsession to pursue the ultimate, then technology will lose its direction and will not be able to develop. In the process of pursuing the ultimate, every effort we make may push technology to an unprecedented new height.
So, please enjoy the new sensory experience brought by technology. When the external sound is too noisy and makes you upset, you may as well calm down, turn on the stereo, immerse yourself in high-quality music, turn yourself into a Helmholtz resonator, eliminate the noise, and listen to the inner voice.
Comments