All items in category Magazine Articles
R&D Stories: Audioscenic From Vision to Product
by Marcos Simón

R&D Stories: Audioscenic From Vision to Product

This article details the journey of British company Audioscenic, an innovative 3D audio beamforming technology company spun off from the University of Southampton. Marcos Simón shares how through a remarkable example of perseverance, Audioscenic realized its forward-thinking approach, from crosstalk cancellation systems to full 3D audio reproduction with speakers. In 2023, Audioscenic achieved its first commercial implementation to implement its unique 3D audio beamforming technology. This article was originally published in audioXpress, June 2023.
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Fresh From the Bench: RødeTest FuzzMeasure Audio and Acoustic Measurement Software
by Luke McCready

Fresh From the Bench: RødeTest FuzzMeasure Audio and Acoustic Measurement Software

This audio measurement software creation from Canadian software designer Chris Liscio was sold to Røde in 2018. FuzzMeasure is the very first product of the new RødeTest division of Røde Microphones, a subsidiary of Freedman Electronics, also the owner of Aphex, Event Electronics, and SoundField brands. FuzzMeasure audio measurement software stands out for its high-quality graphs and for tucking an immense amount of control into a sleek, minimal interface. This article was originally published in audioXpress, May 2020.
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Book Review: An Exploration of Rock and Pop Venues, Acoustic and Architectural Design
by Richard Honeycutt

Book Review: An Exploration of Rock and Pop Venues, Acoustic and Architectural Design

In its regular Sound Control column, Richard Honeycutt explored this book by Niels Werner Adelman-Larsen., first published in 2014. This review covers the second edition, published in 2021, which is available in e-book, softcover, and hard-cover. The book was referenced in previous Sound Control articles and details an interesting study of the acoustics for rock and pop concerts and the differences in the acoustical requirements for these types of music. An important and updated perspective on modern acoustics. This article was originally published in audioXpress, June 2023.
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Patent Review: Two Pioneer Patents. Same Speaker Invention
by James Croft

Patent Review: Two Pioneer Patents. Same Speaker Invention

This article reviews two patents titled simply "Speaker Device" from four Japanese inventors, on behalf of Pioneer Corp. of Japan. The original and expanded patent describes a flat speaker device capable of emitting loud reproduced sound, using a mechanical structure that converts a linear voice coil motion in one axis to an orthogonal mechanical diaphragm displacement. The system functions much like a scissor-jack you would use to raise your automobile to change a tire. The linear motion of the threaded rod coverts the axial force to a 90° lift movement.
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Patent Review: Knurled Speaker Diaphragm
by James Croft

Patent Review: Knurled Speaker Diaphragm

This patent, granted to MrSpeakers, the company from San Diego, CA that is now Dan Clark Audio, was granted in the same month that this review was published in Voice Coil. The patent details a headphone driver that should also be of note for the speaker industry. As Croft notes, the patent office initially rejected the claims due to prior patents, eventually accepting the inventor's arguments, in 2016. The review provides the historical context for planar magnetic transducers, and explains why this is an important patent.
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Book Review: Learning Audio Testing and Measurements
by Jan Didden

Book Review: Learning Audio Testing and Measurements

For those who need to refresh their knowledge or learn about audio test and measurements, Jan Didden reviews a great - and big! - book on the topic. Audio Tests & Measurements by Igor S. Popovitch is one of the many self-published works by this proficient writer based in Australia, also the author of several popular books on vacuum tube amplifiers. This particular book runs about 180 pages, but that is deceiving as the book’s format (A4 size) is about twice the size of most soft cover books.
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Patent Review: An Advanced Loudspeaker System
by James Croft

Patent Review: An Advanced Loudspeaker System

This article examines a notable patent from VUE Audiotechnik, describing a loudspeaker system with one driver providing a direct radiating output from the front, and a second driver on a ported side chamber, sharing a ported common chamber, where at least one port of the ported common chamber exits the front of the loudspeaker system. As Croft notes, this is an innovative advanced system - that was patent-pending at the time - and provides a unique combination of technology, offering real-world advantages. The patent was granted in 2021.
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Fresh From the Bench: The Hypex NCORE NCx500 Amplifier Module - Doubling Down on a Flagship
by Stuart Yaniger

Fresh From the Bench: The Hypex NCORE NCx500 Amplifier Module - Doubling Down on a Flagship

The new NCx500 amplifier board from Dutch manufacturer Hypex Electronics is the first of a new NCOREx family of modules that evolves from the extremely popular NCORE Class-D amplifier technology, one of the most successful options among high-end audio and studio monitor brands. Stuart Yaniger was able to spend a few weeks with this next flagship for OEM applications. How will this improved NCOREx technology measure up? And will it deliver the "x" times improvements over the proven NCORE? Stuart shares all the juicy details.
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Book Review: Burkhard Vogel’s Slopes and Levels. Spice Models to Simulate Vintage Op-Amp Noise
by Marcel van de Gevel

Book Review: Burkhard Vogel’s Slopes and Levels. Spice Models to Simulate Vintage Op-Amp Noise

Interested in accurately simulating the noise of op-amp circuits? Audio electronics expert Burkhard Vogel wrote a book that addresses this relevant topic for any audio circuit designer that doesn't want to rely just on manufacturers own models. In this review, Marcel van de Gevel explored the full book after he read Vogel's introduction, explaining that some manufacturer-supplied simulation models are way off.
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Voice Coil Focus: A Fresh Take on Green Audio 2023
by Mike Klasco

Voice Coil Focus: A Fresh Take on Green Audio 2023

Good intentions for sustainability, circularity, or simply reducing your carbon foot-print in the development or manufacturing stages not always produces the intended results. Mike Klasco reminds us how things are not always as simple as we would like, and that having good intentions and throwing empty claims might work on paper, but not actually work in the real world.
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