Acoustic and Perceptual Consequences of Time Misalignments in Line Array Speakers

Corteel E, Epain N. Acoustic and Perceptual Consequences of Time Misalignments in Line Array Speakers. In: Convention Paper. Audio Engineering Society; 2026. Paper 464. Available from: https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=23381

@inproceedings{Corteel2026_23381,
  author = {Corteel, Etienne and Epain, Nicolas},
  title = {{Acoustic and Perceptual Consequences of Time Misalignments in Line Array Speakers}},
  note = {Paper 464},
  year = {2026},
  month = may,
  publisher = {Audio Engineering Society},
  url = {https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=23381}
}

TY  - CPAPER
TI  - Acoustic and Perceptual Consequences of Time Misalignments in Line Array Speakers
AU  - Corteel, Etienne
AU  - Epain, Nicolas
M1  - Paper 464
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/28
UR  - https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=23381
PB  - Audio Engineering Society
LA  - en
AB  - Variable-curvature line arrays achieve their intended directivity and spectral balance through phase-coherent summation across cabinets. Even small timing disparities between elements perturb the interference patterns that shape the array response, with consequences for both spatial coverage and timbre. In this work we quantify these effects end-to-end. Using simulations for a typical 12-element array, we examine how inter-element delays modify the frequency response across an audience area. We then apply an auditory coloration model to predict the perceived impact of those modifications and validate the predictions through controlled listening tests. We observe that delays in the tens of microseconds generate pronounced spectral coloration that listeners consistently judge as degraded quality, whereas coloration becomes detectable at delays on the order of one microsecond. These results translate into synchronization accuracy targets for high-fidelity line-array deployments.
ER  -