Distributed Mode Loudspeakers (DMLs), as other electroacoustic transducers with electrodynamic excitation, are susceptible to the occurrence of nonlinear distortion. The literature on nonlinear distortion in DMLs is scarce. The vibrations of the DML panel are very small in amplitude, thus the coil excursion of the exciter is low, which is a favorable condition for low nonlinear distortion. The scope of this paper covers investigation of harmonic and intermodulation distortion, occurring in the DML. The harmonic distortion was examined with two methods and the intermodulation distortion – with three, including one author’s proposed method. The result indicate, that nonlinear distortion in DMLs may be a bigger problem than those in diaphragm loudspeakers.

Distributed Mode Loudspeakers (DMLs) are characterized by properties, which make them significantly different from conventional electrodynamic loudspeakers. Such differences occur due to the design assumptions of the DML. In this work, a series of SPL measurements of DML in a reverberation chamber has been carried out, which were compared with those for an electrodynamic loudspeaker. Sound power level was determined from the results of conducted measurements for both types of transducers. It was calculated in 1/3 octave bands, for the pink noise excitation. The sound power level obtained with these two different types of loudspeakers is not significantly differing between each other.