ResonantLive Sound Archive

Equipment file · Theatre sound system

Mirrophonic system

Western Electric · 1935

Evidence status · documented

Identity and core specifications are documented; some historical fields remain unavailable.

Western Electric's Mirrophonic system of 1935 brought multicellular horns into multi-way theatre loudspeakers, typically with 15-inch woofers on an open baffle, large curved horns and small tweeters.

Introduced
1935
Category
Theatre sound system
Intended use
Motion-picture theatre sound
Production
Western Electric; licensed to Motiograph

Why it mattered

  1. 01

    It improved high-frequency coverage over the Wide Range system.

  2. 02

    Its shortcomings spurred the rival [[shearer-horn|Shearer Horn]] lineage.

Engineering record

Configuration
Three 15-inch woofers, curved multicellular horns and tweeters[2]
Introduction
Introduced multicellular horns to multi-way systems in 1935[1]

Original pricing

No reliable period price located

2026 equivalent

Not calculated without a reliable original price.

Public price evidence was not sufficient to publish a defensible original figure.

Use in the field

Installed via Motiograph in US and Canadian theatres, including the Capitol Theatre, Welland, Ontario[2]

Manuals & original documents

No authoritative manual or original document has been located for this profile.

Sources

  1. 11876–1946 Altec Lansing heritage timelineAudio Heritage · reference
  2. 2Northern/Western Electric Mirrophonic sound systemsCinema Treasures · archive · 2006

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