Ultra-thin Loudspeakers

[John Willett]

Just seen on the BBC in the UK.

See HERE.

[mohthom]

I read this too - but I'm calling BS until I see specs

Also, these be used as transducers (if not BS)? Anyone with the theory able to let us know? Website of the home company is Warwick Audio Technologies Ltd - Welcome to Warwick Audio Technologies

MohThoM

[John Willett]

I'm assuming that as it's the 1st April ..................................

[jnorman]

how are these different from the old magnaplanars?

[mohthom]

Originally Posted by John Willett

I'm assuming that as it's the 1st April ..................................

Actually, not until you said that - domain has been reg. since 2002, so unless it's a 7 year April Fools joke . . .

It was more their website;

It is important to note that by significantly improving the electrical to audio efficiency, we have broken the conventional link between the power rating and the loudness of a speaker.

[NorseHorse]

I read about this back in the fall, and figured you all must have already known about it. Saw a neat little video on how it works, but I can't remember what site I was on. The following is from Warwick Audio Technologies Ltd - Technology - How does it work?

"All speakers operate on the principle an electrical signal is converted into sound using a mechanical device. A conventional cone speaker takes the electrical signal, which in turn generates a varying magnetic field, in turn vibrating a mechanical cone, so producing the sound. All these energy conversions lead to a very inefficient speaker.

FFL technology produces sound using a far more efficient process. We directly apply the electrical signal to the laminate, which vibrates in time with the electrical signal. The laminate is composed of two conducting surfaces, called Membranes, separated by an insulating layer. Hence an electric field (rather than a magnetic field) forms over the laminate. The design and construction of the laminate is unique and protected by the Intellectual Property of Warwick Audio.

FFL are driven over the entire surface area, providing a near linear response at sound pressure levels suitable for many applications. By closely controlling the separation of the membranes, we achieve reduced active drive voltages compared to ESL.

It is important to note that by significantly improving the electrical to audio efficiency, we have broken the conventional link between the power rating and the loudness of a speaker. The loudness of cone speakers is often linked to the electrical power consumption. This is not a relevant relationship for the FFL."

[mohthom]

It's fine - I'll take the output equivalent of a 10k PA stack that only draws four watts please. After all,

The loudness of cone speakers is often linked to the electrical power consumption. This is not a relevant relationship for the FFL

Maybe I should stop being so facetious, and ask whether anyone knows what IS a relevant relationship for the FFL.

[MichaelPatrick]

I've heard people wanting to make these for decades. Like hydrogen powered cars and superconductors, no one has yet made a commercial success of it because the technology can't be configured to work practically for any large scale application.

[boojum]

There was an article in AUDIO about this between 10 and 20 years ago. The hope remains the same; the progress, too, it seems.