Paul47 Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 Just noticed this article about transparent flat panel speakers using piezo actuators that "microflex" a clear membrame in front of the screen. Anyone heard of this before? Wonder what the quality would be like - not great I suspect. http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,28348,26122879-5014239,00.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 I'd have to hear it but it seems to have many constraints, none the least frequency range. In fact are you sure the whole thing isn't a prank ? Also not sure of the point ....TV speakers do a reaonable job for their size and location. "I can't see it catching on" - Swiss watchmaker when shown the new digital watches in the mid 60s. Why do the Arabs have the oil and the Irish the potatoes? Because the Irish had first choice. (Sorry O'phool) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul47 Posted September 25, 2009 Author Share Posted September 25, 2009 Could be a prank, but they won some award supposedly (of course that could be part of the prank). Would be more suspicious if it was April !! Imaging would be a problem for sure, but I guess thats not important for TV !! But I can't imagine how they could get surround sound out of it for DVD's etc. So probably not much of a threat to traditional speaker manufacturers for a while yet. If it works though it could be good on PC's (esp laptops) - depends how fragile it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 Definitely not surround. Panels beam straight at you. Two stereo speakers touching doesn't sound like stereo to me. I presume it is for very near field listening, like a desk. My guess is high mids and up only. With panel speakers thay are tensioned, where as i don't see this in this case. I'm very sceptical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hifiplus Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 Sounds like same technology used in NXT panels. Andrew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fury Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 (edited) Something different? www.stealthacoustics.com Edited September 25, 2009 by fury Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nada Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 (edited) I think Andrew got it as NXT looks like the technology from a Wikipedia search I just did. I want a house built from it all wired up to a fast computer. The windows and outer walls can then do noise cancelling so noise doesn't come in and music doesn't leak out. The inner walls and ceiling could form a continuous music emitting environment with true surround sound capable of conquering room dynamics and reproducing specific audio signatures of famous concert halls. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The distributed mode loudspeaker (DML) is a flat panel loudspeaker technology in which sound is produced by inducing uniformly distributed vibration modes in the panel through a special electro-acoustic exciter. Distributed mode loudspeakers function differently than most other loudspeakers, which typically produce sound by inducing pistonic motion in the diaphragm. The technology is developed by NXT. Exciters for distributed mode loudspeakers include, but are not limited to, moving coil and piezoelectric devices, and are placed to correspond to the natural resonant model of the panel. Advantages Broad frequency range (100 – 18000 Hz for 0.6m2 panel). Less fading with distance. (For example, at 3.5 meters distance, whereas fading would be 4dB for a DML, a comparable dynamic moving coil loudspeaker would exhibit 11dB fading, compared to the signal level at 1 meter.) The air radiation resistance is small and constant with frequency. This means that directivity is not affected by size of speaker.[1] Bipolar (radiates sound in 2 directions), but may be made forward directed. Flat, may be produced in different shapes, may be decorated etc. Some DML units are designed to be plastered into walls and completely hidden. Don't require enclosing. Disadvantages Problems radiating low frequencies. Increase in size makes it possible to radiate sound with lower frequencies.[2] Low directivity and slow fading may lessen impression from stereo because sound from same speaker in one ear almost doesn't differ from sound in other ear [edit] Applications NXT licenses two classes of distributed mode loudspeaker: SurfaceSound for traditional flat-panel applications, and SoundVu for applications in which sound is produced directly in front of the display (either through a projection screen which functions as a DML or a transparent DML overlaid on the display). SurfaceSound technology has been incorporated into a number of novel products such as school equipment,[3] portable folding cardboard speakers (SoundpaX, an OEM product manufactured by a number of different companies), and high-end musical greeting cards.[4] Aside from projection screens, SoundVu has been integrated into computer and mobile phone displays. NXT also licenses the Balanced Mode Radiator (BMR), a hybrid technology that blends DML technology with that of traditional pistonic-action loudspeakers.[2] According to NXT, the resultant speakers feature the low-frequency performance of a traditional loudspeaker, but with a wider directivity and shallower profile, as well as the mid-range and high-frequency performance of a DML. The two types of BMR offered are: the Audio Full Range (AFR), a full-range optimized circular speaker; and the High Aspect Ratio Panel (HARP), a long and thin form factor for use in narrower spaces.[5] Some DMLs are compatible with traditional amplifiers.[6] Initial testing by researchers at the Delft University of Technology concluded that DML panels are good potential candidates for use in wave field synthesis applications, as they are light and can be placed close to walls.[7] [edit] References ^ Mapp, Peter (1999-08-01). "A flat response". Sound & Video Contractor. Penton Media. http://svconline.com/mag/avinstall_flat_response/. Retrieved 2007-02-10. ^ a b Azima, Henry (2004-08-05). "Flat speaker delivers volumes of sound". EDN (magazine). Reed Business Information. http://www.edn.com/article/CA438300.html. Retrieved 2009-02-10. ^ "MeadWestvaco lines up major marketing campaign for new NXT-based products". NXT plc. 2007-07-17. http://www.nxtsound.com/index.php?id=335&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=400&cHash=a12665342e. Retrieved 2009-02-23. ^ Everard, Andrew (2008-10-11). "Hong Kong: What NXT did next…". What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision. Haymarket Media Group. http://whathifi.com/blogs/industry_insider/archive/2008/10/11/hong-kong-what-nxt-did-next.aspx. Retrieved 2009-02-23. ^ "Balanced Mode Radiator". NXT plc. http://www.nxtsound.com/index.php?id=420. Retrieved 2009-02-23. ^ "Official FAQ". NXT plc. http://www.nxtsound.com/index.php?id=480. Retrieved 2007-02-10. ^ Marinus M. Boone; Werner P.J. de Bruijn. "On The Applicability of Distributed Mode Loudspeaker Panels for Wave Field Synthesis Based Sound Reproduction". http://www.soundcontrol.tudelft.nl/Personnel/Rinus%20Boone_files/RB_AES2000.pdf. Retrieved 2007-02-10. "Hence, it can be concluded that the DML speakers are worth to be further investigated for WFS-applications." Edited September 26, 2009 by Nada Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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