Product Design | Audio Electronics | Acoustics | DIY | Audio Innovations
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Fender Musical Instruments Corp. Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Presonus Audio Electronics |
Fender Musical Instruments Corp., one of the world’s largest guitar companies, announced it has signed a definitive agreement of merger with PreSonus Audio Electronics, Inc. The Baton Rouge, LA-based company is a leading designer and manufacturer of recording hardware and software, and professional audio live-sound solutions, popular in both the home studio and music PA markets. Read More
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Apple Introduces Beats Fit Pro Advanced Earbuds for Active Lifestyles |
Shortly after the launch of the Beats Studio Buds with ANC in June 2021, Apple shuffled the cards again with the introduction of the latest Beats Fit Pro advanced true wireless earbuds. The new product leverages all the technologies Apple developed for the AirPods Pro, including the H1 chip, and features an all-new flexible wingtip and a custom-developed acoustic platform, retailing for just $199.99. ANC, Transparency, Adaptive EQ, spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, and four different color schemes make these the new flagship. Read More
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Røde Introduces AI-Micro Ultra-Compact Dual-Channel Recording Interface |
Røde Microphones released AI-Micro, a new ultra-compact dual-channel interface for recording high-quality audio to a mobile device or computer. A great design for journalists, reporters, content creators, and anyone who needs to combine two microphones in a single recording device. In typical Røde fashion of launching products that not only solve practical problems, but do it in a way that make technology seem simple, the AI-Micro is another valuable product in the Australian brand's hardware and software portfolio. Read More
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McIntosh Introduces Updated MC3500 Mk II Inspired by the Iconic Amplifier Used at Woodstock |
McIntosh, the prestigious home entertainment and ultimate-quality audio brand for more than 70 years, announced the MC3500 Vacuum Tube Amplifier Mk II, a tribute to the original that inspired a generation of musicians and music fans alike. Originally used to power the sound system for Woodstock '69 among other formative music events, the iconic monoblock amp was recreated by McIntosh’s expert team of engineers and designers to include modern upgrades that celebrate the brand’s rich history. Read More
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Dear Reality Releases Virtual Acoustics and Spatial Headphone Compensation Monitoring Plug-In |
Dear Reality, the spatial audio and VR/AR audio software company that was acquired by Sennheiser in 2019, released dearVR MIX, a monitoring plug-in for headphone mixing, suited for all professional studio headphones. The solution features an exclusive Spatial Headphone Compensation feature, supporting the 44 most used professional studio headphones, and enabling reference listening in three virtual stereo mix rooms with four selectable loudspeaker positions and six additional, non-studio listening environments. Read More
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Outline Announces Revamped ET Series Acoustic Measurement Turntables |
A longstanding mainstay of Outline’s diverse portfolio of products, the company's ET System measurement turntables have received important new developments and refinements and are now available in two new models – the ET50-3D and the ET250R2-3D - to suit different speed and load requirements. Outline’s original concept of a high-precision, computer-controlled turntable capable of placing significant loads with perfect accuracy in a measurement environment is in daily use around the world. Read More
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Cadence Announces New Tensilica HiFi 1 DSP Optimized for Bluetooth LE Audio True Wireless Devices |
Cadence Design Systems announced the new Cadence Tensilica HiFi 1 DSP, delivering increased voice- and music-processing performance with optimal neural network capability in a compact footprint with ultra-low energy, improving the user experience and extending battery life. The Tensilica HiFi 1 DSP is now the smallest and lowest power member of the HiFi DSP family, developed for battery-constrained applications, such as mobile, hearables, wearables, automotive, and connected devices . Read More
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AES Audio Product Education Institute Promotes "Eyes on the Supply Chain" Webinar |
November 10 (12pm Eastern), the AES Audio Product Education Institute will present a webinar from its Supply Chain and Sourcing education pillar addressing Quality Assurance and Procurement in Asia. This online session explores how to deal with remote production and Q&A supervision, given the traveling restrictions. David Lindberg (DB Enterprises) and Mike Klasco (Menlo Scientific) invited Brad Poling and Steve Howell to share their experiences working with audio manufacturers to ensure product quality, factory relationships, and reduce returns . Read More
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Guest Editorial
Mike Klasco
(Menlo Scientific)
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MEMS Microspeakers Get Real
xMEMS Samples Ultra-Small Full-Range µSpeaker
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Back in January 2015, I gave a talk about MEMS loudspeakers at the ALMA International (now named Audio and Loudspeaker Technologies International or ALTI) Expo, and I have regularly written about MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) speaker progress. A half decade later, it seems we are finally now moving beyond the industry's joke that MEMS’ development progress can be measured in dog years - it takes 7 human years for each year of MEMS’ progress!
MEMS’ microphone development over the first decade was painful. However, MEMS mics became practical when they could be manufactured with high yields using integrated circuit (IC) fabrication and device packaging processes. Today, MEMS devices include microphones, accelerometers, vibration/shock sensors (e.g., burglar alarms and airbag sensors), gyros and now µSpeakers and earphone transducers. And different types of MEMS microspeakers are now entering production.
It took more than 20 years for the first billion MEMS microphones, and two years for the second billion’s production, compared with monthly production now reaching about 1 billion units. Today, MEMS microphones totally dominate smartphones, tablets, laptops, portable media players, speech recognition systems, personal computers, surveillance cameras, 3D cameras, radars, anti-theft alarms, headphones, smart speakers, music recorders, and various smart home voice command appliances, including air conditioners, refrigerators, and service robots. Compared to microphones, the implementation of Piezo-MEMS in microspeakers is daunting, due to the far higher excursion requirements.
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The side-firing Montara xMEMS microspeaker and the smaller side-firing Cowell in side by side comparisons. In the second "dime comparison" we can see Cowell side by side with an equivalent balanced armature receiver. |
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The big news is xMEMS Labs, a company founded in January 2018 and headquartered in Los Altos, CA ( click here for more insights), has announced it is now in mass production of its Montara, a monolithic MEMS “µspeaker” with a slim 1mm profile, already on its way to market. xMEMS now has 36 granted patents and more than 100 patents pending for its technology.
As audioXpress reported recently, xMEMS’ Taiwan fabrication partner, TSMC, is the world's largest semiconductor foundry (and partner for Apple's new SoC and SiP processors, found in AirPods, iPhones, iPads and MacBooks). Montara’s initial 1st tier design win is with Inventec Appliances Corp. (IAC), which selected it for the company’s flagship Chiline TR-X TWS Earbuds, powered by xMEMS Aptos, a Piezo-MEMS audio driver IC.
The µSpeaker and earphone driver market is valued at about $10 billion annually. Just considering the work needed to shift production lines, even automated speaker production line manufacturing, over to semiconductor foundries, the impact could be mind boggling. The titans of µSpeaker manufacturing typically have about 50,000 employees, while MEMS foundries producing similar quantities of devices have staff of less than 500. Yes, the wafers from the foundry will still need to be “packaged” but a few zeros in workforce numbers would be still lobed off. With the rising cost of salaries in China, MEMS microspeakers will have a dramatic impact on staffing along with other far-reaching implications.
But it is not just the fabrication of the transducers, but the promise of automated pick-and-place of Piezo-MEMS µSpeaker for surface-mount technology (SMT) board stuffing - rather than hand soldering of billions of speakers - that is bound to create the most immediate impact.
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Excellent frequency response consistency with smooth increase in amplitude for upper octaves. |
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There are quite a few steps in MEMS fabrication and getting high yields at every step always seemed to be another development phase away. Earlier-generation MEMS earphones and speakers were based on a two-step fabrication process where the “motor” was fabricated in a MEMS process, then sent for final assembly of the diaphragm/suspension into the package. The most recent generation of Piezo-MEMS earphone transducers are completely fabricated in the MEMS process resulting in a high yield, very tight uniformity, and the environmental robustness ideal for true wireless stereo (TWS) applications.
In full-range occluded (in-ear) applications, these transducers achieve smoother and more extended full-range response compared to balanced armatures. In two-way or higher designs with a dynamic “woofer” driver higher sensitivity is also achieved. Future smartphones will have ultra-wide band receivers and eventually MEMS for the hands-free speakerphone.
xMEMS’ Montara is the world’s first monolithic Piezo-MEMS µSpeaker. Monolithic, meaning the implementation of both actuation and diaphragm in silicon, resulting in superior part-to-part consistency in frequency response and phase. Montara’s fast mechanical response results in the industry’s lowest group delay and phase shift and can be seen in the smooth ultra-wideband response to beyond 70kHz. For manufacturers, these characteristics reduce calibration and speaker matching. The 1mm profile, SMT-ready package and IP58 rating for dust/water simplify system design, integration, and assembly.
All this makes piezo-MEMS microspeakers ideal receivers for over-the-counter (OTC) in-canal hearing aids and implantable hearing devices (cochlear and auditory brainstem implants). These applications have small “air pumping volume” required for adequate acoustic output due to the enclosed duct and close middle ear proximity.
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xMEMS has partnered with TSMC for mass production of its Montara monolithic piezo-MEMS microspeaker and has now confirmed the availability of Cowell, a second-generation ultra-small form factor full-range driver, measuring just 3.2mm x 1.15mm. |
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And There Is More...
This week, xMEMS announced Cowell, the world’s smallest monolithic MEMS µSpeaker. At just 1.15mm high and 3.4mm wide, the Cowell side-firing package only weighs 56 milligrams and delivers an impressive 110dB SPL at 1kHz. Cowell provides up to 15dB of gain above 1kHz for improved speech-in-noise performance and greater vocal and instrumental clarity versus electrodynamic and balanced armature µSpeakers. This is also the first Piezo-MEMS to use xMEMS’ second generation M2 speaker cell architecture, offering improved SPL/mm2, enabling increased loudness in smaller form factors. And Cowell engineering samples are available now, with mass production in early Q2 2022.
Cowell’s attributes will enable designers of TWS hearables unique benefits in high-res audio and immersive sound, as well as OTC hearing aids. For TWS applications, Cowell can be implemented as a full-range driver in occluded earbud architectures or as a small, high-performance tweeter paired with an electrodynamic woofer driver in non-occluded or leaky two-way solutions.
For hearing aid applications, Cowell is a full-range driver that is 45% smaller than an equivalent balanced armature receiver, making receiver-in-canal applications possible. The driver's superior high-frequency response, lack of in-band resonance peaks, and 15dB of gain above 1kHz make it ideal for addressing high-frequency hearing loss and improving speech intelligibility in noise. Lastly, Cowell’s speaker diaphragm is vented (front-to-back), enabling the relief of air pressure that may build up over time inside the ear canal, resulting in reduced fatigue with increased long-term wear and listening comfort.
The side-firing package and 1mm-thin profile provides for placement flexibility in the earbud making space for larger batteries and additional sensor components. And the SMT-ready package boasts an IP58 rating for dust/water, simplifying system design, integration, and assembly.
xMEMS has samples and evaluation kits ready for companies working on new designs. For more information, visit www.xmems.com
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Use Brüel & Kjær Instrumentation Microphones for Recording
By Scott Dorsey
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Learn how to convert a classic Brüel & Kjær measurement microphone system for use as a recording microphone. In this article, Scott Dorsey shares his unique experience-based tips for converting a classic Brüel & Kjær measurement microphone system into a valuable recording microphone. Vintage instrumentation Brüels (the ancestors of the DPAs) are great microphones that can be found on the surplus market and are appropriate to use for recording applications, if you know which ones and how to convert them. This article was originally published in audioXpress, July 2016. Read the Full Article Now Available Here
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The Zoltan Bay Loudspeaker Patent
By James Croft
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In this article, James Croft reviews a loudspeaker patent filed in 2012 and granted in July 21, 2015, to Zoltan Bay (Tiszaalpar, Hungary). The invention, which is the foundation for the BRS tweeter used in a remarkable series of Bayz Audio loudspeakers, basically describes a horizontally, omnidirectional loudspeaker transducer. The driver uses a multiple set of four to eight rolling, half-cylinder film diaphragms arranged in a circle to form a generally omni-directional radiator, with a voice coil attached to the junction of each pair of half-cylinders and the voice coil placed in a magnetic gap. A complex design (and description) that James Croft compares to existing prior art, and finds to be a significant evolution over previous devices using a similar radiator structure. An interesting read given how well this invention has now been implemented to the greatest acclaim by those who had the chance to enjoy a listening session. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, September 2015. Read the Full Article Now Available Here
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