A laminated composite panel-form loudspeaker consists of a peripherally
stiffened laminated composite radiating panel on which a preselected
number of transducers are mounted and a rectangular frame carrying a
flexible suspension device which supports the panel radiator. The
laminated composite radiating panel comprises a predetermined number of
orthotropic laminae with predetermined specific moduli and stacking
sequence. The peripheral edge of the laminated composite radiating panel
is reinforced with strips of which the rigidities are determined in such a
way that beneficial natural normal modes of the radiating panel are
excited and satisfactory operation of the panel radiator over a desired
acoustic frequency range achieved. The standing waves at the peripheral
edge of the stiffened radiating panel are damped out via the use of the
flexible suspension device. The transducers are situated at predetermined
locations in a preselected feasible region on the panel radiator so that
relatively high radiation efficiency and uniform spread of sound intensity
spectrum can be produced by the panel radiator over a desired operative
acoustic frequency range.