Why the star shape?

The star shaped absorber, nowadays a hallmark of the Manger® sound transducer. It's form follows its function and means design in its primary meaning.
The outward moving waves must be dampened at the edge of the diaphragm. The star absorber acts like a reed belt along a river bank, which prevents the waves being bounced back to add to the oncoming waves - a necessity of a true point-source.