Sovereign Throw Node
High-SPL Portable Audio System
Open Hardware Manifest (CERN-OHL-S)
1. System Overview
The Sovereign Throw Node is a portable high-SPL loudspeaker system designed for controlled long-throw audio projection in open environments.
The design prioritizes transient headroom, reduced early compression, controlled directivity, and mechanical enclosure stability.
It is optimized for near-field to mid-field projection (1m–10m).
2. Electrical Architecture
2.1 Power System
- 36V DC rail architecture
- high-current battery management system (≥30A continuous capability recommended)
Purpose: Increased voltage headroom reduces early onset of amplifier clipping under transient peaks.
2.2 Amplification Stage
- Class-D amplifier platform based on TPA3255 module
Configuration goals:
- low distortion at high output power
- high efficiency under battery load
- stable performance into low impedance loads
3. Acoustic System
3.1 Transducer
- constant directivity horn system (60° × 40° target dispersion)
Purpose:
- maintain SPL consistency over distance
- reduce off-axis energy loss in open environments
3.2 Enclosure
- 15mm Baltic birch plywood
- cross-braced internal structure
- sealed or semi-sealed tuning depending on deployment mode
Tuning target: ~45 Hz system resonance (application-dependent)
4. Signal Path Philosophy
The system uses a minimal processing chain:
- no mandatory DSP-based dynamic limiting
- analog gain staging preferred at input stage
- system headroom preserved through electrical design, not digital compression
5. Performance Targets
5.1 SPL Behavior
- sustained high output without early limiting artifacts
- reduced perceived compression at high drive levels
5.2 Frequency Behavior
- controlled low-frequency extension (dependent on enclosure mode)
- stable midrange projection via horn loading
- reduced off-axis high-frequency collapse
5.3 Distortion Targets
- low-order harmonic distortion maintained under high load conditions
- compression behavior delayed via voltage headroom
6. Known Trade-offs
- increased power system complexity
- higher weight due to enclosure and battery system
- reduced portability compared to 12–24V consumer systems
7. Design Hypothesis
The system evaluates the proposition that increasing electrical headroom and enclosure rigidity reduces early dynamic compression and improves perceived transient clarity in portable high-SPL systems.
8. Safety Notice
This system is capable of producing SPL levels that can cause hearing damage.
Recommended precautions:
- hearing protection during calibration
- controlled testing environment
- adherence to local SPL regulations
9. Open Hardware Status
This design is released under CERN-OHL-S for independent verification and modification.
10. Interpretive Naming Layer (Non-Technical Reference)
- “Vitrification Kernel” → internal design codename (not a physical component)
- “48 Hz resonance shaping” → system tuning region (45–55 Hz depending on enclosure volume)
- “Transient reinforcement” → amplifier headroom behavior under peak load
These terms are descriptive, not literal physical mechanisms.