Ideal Microphone for Unpredictable Sound Fields

New Brüel & Kjær microphone ensures accurate measurements in free, diffuse and multi-field conditions

[UKPRwire, Tue Jun 30 2009] Brüel & Kjær has launched the world’s first multi-field measuring microphone - a unique ¼” transducer with the same low noise floor as a ½” microphone.

The 4961 multi-field microphone is the only ¼” measuring microphone in the world with a 20 dB(A) noise floor and sensitivity exceeding 60 mV/Pa – enabling it to take accurate measurements in free, diffuse or diverse sound fields. With its small design, the 4961 model is relatively insensitive to the angle of sound incidence, so it simplifies the process of making complex sound measurements and saves technicians valuable time during planning, set up and analysis of measurements.

With its optimised multi-field response, the 4961 multi-field microphone produces accurate measurements, in a wide range of sound field conditions, making it ideal for situations where the nature of the sound field is unknown - or could change over time.

It is also well-suited to complex spaces with non-stationary or multiple sources that need to be measured in one go. In effect, a single multi-field microphone can cover many measuring scenarios that would otherwise require more than one conventional ½” microphone. Typical applications areas include aircraft or vehicle cabins, and near-field measurements such as around engines - in fact, any situation where sound can arrive at the microphone from many different directions.

As with all Brüel & Kjær measuring microphones the 4961 models have been assembled in a clean room, which ensures that the microphones maintain their inherent low noise and high stability, even in environments where humidity and temperature are high.

With all-titanium construction, which guarantees maximum resistance to corrosion without any risk of interference from magnetic fields, the Type 4961 multi-field microphone is built to the same high levels of quality, robustness and reliability that have become the hallmarks of all microphones from Brüel & Kjær.

“Quite often the wrong microphone for a measurement task is picked due to the user’s lack of knowledge or a lack of equipment availability,” said Bruel & Kjaer UK Managing Director, William Egan. “Sound measurements vary greatly depending on the environment in which the tests are performed and the noise sources themselves affect the type of microphones to be used. The engineer would have to gauge the nature of the sound field – is it free field, diffuse or a mixture of both - to determine what type of microphone is most suitable. With a multi field microphone this is no longer necessary.”

For more information about Brüel & Kjær’s Multi-Field microphone please contact: heather.wilkins@bksv.com or visit: http://www.bksv.com/sites/Multifield.aspx

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About Brüel & Kjær
Brüel & Kjær is a world-leading manufacturer and supplier of sound and vibration solutions for use in a wide range of applications including: environmental noise measurements, building acoustics, vibration measurements and quality control for use in the automotive, aerospace and consumer industries, as well as by local authorities.

We design and manufacturer sound level meters, microphones and accelerometers, conditioning amplifiers, calibrators, noise and vibration analysers and software. To see our full range and for more information, please visit www.bksv.co.uk or contact our sales team: telephone +44 (0) 1438 739 000 or email: ukinfo@bksv.com

Brüel & Kjær also runs a variety of training courses throughout the year, from basic introductions on noise and it’s effects to more specialised classes teaching customers how to get the most out of their equipment. To see our full training course calendar, visit: http://www.bksv.co.uk/Courses/Training%20Courses.aspx

Free, online training courses - conducted by our expert engineers - run throughout the year too. For registration details and the latest planned web training sessions, visit: http://www.bksv.co.uk/Courses/Web%20Courses.aspx

Bruel & Kjaer UK has its own Service Centre which is UKAS accredited to the international standard ISO/IEC 17025, ensuring traceable or accredited calibration for equipment. To book a service or for more information, please contact our service department on +44 (0) 1438 739 100 or visit: http://www.bksv.co.uk/ServiceCalibration/CalibrationService.aspx

Brüel & Kjær has 900 employees and sales offices in 55 countries and is a subsidiary of UK-based Spectris plc (www.spectris.com). Spectris has annual sales of £787m and employs around 6,000 people worldwide in its 13 business units.

For additional information please contact:
Heather Wilkins
Marketing Coordinator
Bruel & Kjaer UK Ltd
Telephone: 01438 739 000
Web: www.bksv.co.uk
Email: heather.wilkins@bksv.com