If you haven’t heard about him, you’ve most certainly heard the fruits of his labors. D. B. Keele Jr. , or “Don,” as his friends and family call him, attended BYU between 1969 and 1972 where he graduated with his Masters in Electrical and Engineering (MSEE) and a Minor in Acoustics. If you’ve ever listened to music on any loudspeaker, you’ve enjoyed some of his many contributions to the professional audio industry.
In his time working for JBL, Don invented the design for the Constant Directivity (CD) horn, which ensures consistent sound dispersion across frequencies, and improves sound quality in venues like concert halls and stadiums. His invention is the reason why you can enjoy a front-row sound experience from the cheap seats at a concert.
Don also developed software used by Tecron's TEF (Time-Energy-Frequency) Analyzer Analyzer that allows engineers to analyze loudspeaker performance and room acoustics with greater precision to ensure quality of sound.
Don also developed a mathematical method for designing vented-box subwoofers and woofers. A vented box has a hole or port that allows air to move in and out, which extends the bass response. But to make it work properly, the box size, port size, and speaker parameters all have to be perfectly matched. Instead of guessing where the vent needed to go, Don found the ratios needed for maximum sound efficiency especially in the bass range, and his contributions set a new standard for subwoofer and woofer design.
Among these accomplishments, Don has authored over 60 technical papers for the Audio Engineering Society and contributed over 80 detailed loudspeaker reviews for Audio Magazine (1989-2000), which was a popular consumer electronics magazine for over fifty years. He is a Fellow and Gold Medal recipient of the Audio Engineering Society, and devoted his time and expertise to companies like JBL, Electro-Voice, and Crown International.
Don has received numerous awards for his achievements in the professional audio industry, and was most recently inducted into the TECnology Hall of Fame in 2020. We are proud to see one of our graduates contribute so much to their field and embody our motto: “Enter to learn; go forth to serve.”
You can learn more about this alum at his website.