Violin high-frequency radiation is directional once wavelength approaches instrument size

Evidence

Studies of the directionality of the sound radiation from violins shows it to be very nonuniform, especially above 500 Hz, where the wavelength starts to approach the size of the violin. High frequencies are very directional indeed. — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 1785

In the case of the violin, low frequencies in this context are those up to approximately 500 Hz, and high frequencies, which tend to radiate outward from the top plate, are those above approximately 1000 Hz. The position of the listener’s ear or a recording microphone is therefore an important factor in terms of the overall perceived sound of the instrument. — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1131

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines the frequency split above which violin sound radiates directionally rather than uniformly.
• CANDY: A neat fact: high and low violin notes literally travel differently from the top of the instrument.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 1785; David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1131