Acoustics

Phi gives superior acoustics

It is believed the Greeks used Golden Section to achieve the wonderful sound and "ideal acoustics" that Golden Proportion rooms have.  Many cathedrals also use the Golden Section, in part, for the same reason. The Golden Section not only minimizes acoustic resonance, it also imparts a very musical quality to the remaining sound.

Phi gives superior performance and acoustics in the design of musical instruments

Stradivarius used the golden section in the design of his masterpiece violins that are sought out hundreds of years later for their exquisite tonal qualities.  The Fibonacci series is directly related to western musical scales, as described on the Music page.

Jody Espina of JodyJazz.com has applied phi in the design of his premier saxophone mouthpiece, the JodyJazz DV, where DV stands for Da Vinci.  Per Jody:

"Every measurement was analyzed with Phi in mind and used when applicable.  This included the length of the bore, the width of the shank walls, the beak of the mcp, the depth of the bore at the facing and others.  The amount of harmonics in the sound, and therefore the projection of the mouthpiece, is huge. This eliminates the annoying shrillness that is associated with loud, bright mouthpieces."

The results have been astounding, with artists saying that it's brighter, louder, fuller and easier to play than even the best mouthpieces they had used before.  More information HERE.

Using phi in sound studio design

The Recording Institute Of Detroit built a "Golden Section Studio" to phi proportions.  They report that:

"The result of using the Golden Section in studio construction is a remarkable "even" quality with regard to frequencies. Your voice has pretty much the same frequencies present when you talk in any part of the room, the reverb has the same frequency spectrum as the direct sound. Drummers love the way their drums sound and record in this room. There is only approximately 33% of the surface area treated for acoustical absorption making this room quite live.  It is a great room to record a distant mic on a lead guitar."

The studio design is as follows:

Reference and image source: Recording EQ Magazine

Phi gives superior acoustics in speaker wire design

Cardas Audio uses a patented design (U.S. Patent Number 4,628,151) for speaker wires that is based on the golden section.  Each strand is in a phi proportion to the others.

According to Cardas:

"Alternating current can shake a wire like a guitar string. The signal's cyclic effect causes all the wire in the system to vibrate and ring to the resonance of the alternating current.  Each and every strand in a cable has its own note or beat.  Two or more wires of the same mass and tension have common resonating points and share the same note. 

There is only one way to eliminate the harmonic or resonant effect produced by the conductor itself. Create a multiple strand conductor, where the individual strands share no common mathematical node or resonant point and in effect absorb or cancel the noise they each create.  

The infinitely indivisible progression known as the golden section is the key to resonance control.  No other cable geometry, no other conductor design, can create the listening magic of Golden Section Stranding.  In Golden Section Stranding, strands are arranged so that every strand is coupled to another, whose note is irrational with its own dissipating conductor resonance. This creates a silenced conductor, allowing Cardas cable to produce the purest possible audio signal. No other cable geometry, no other conductor design, can create the listening magic of Golden Section Stranding."

Reference and image source: Cardas Audio