Automotive Audio: Audio Objects as Platform Technology in Vehicles

This article describes a new workflow comprising the rendering of audio objects for the production and tuning process, as well as the implementation on resource-limited hardware, for immersive entertainment and personalized sound staging of automotive audio. Since the object-based audio is independent of the loudspeaker setup, this significantly reduces the complexity of the tuning processes for car manufacturers. This article was originally published in audioXpress, September 2022.

Longstanding audioXpress author Gary Galo reviews the latest Sumiko Olympia and Wellfleet phono cartridges, and RS78 78 rpm stylus. The new RS78 is Sumiko's first 78 rpm solution, meeting the needs of many vintage recording enthusiasts and can be installed on many of the brand's cartridges. In this review, Gary discusses the merits of these versatile and high-quality cartridges while exploring his personal collection of 78 rpm recordings. This article was originally published in audioXpress, October 2022.

James Croft explores patents granted to Mattias and Timothy Scheek, on behalf of Mayht Holding B.V. Our readers will recognize the name from the April 2022 announcement of the acquisition by Sonos of Mayht Holding BV, for "$100 million in existing cash on hand.” Having followed their work through a number of patent publications, Mayht's technology triggered Croft's curiosity, for its unconventional structural designs, appearing to represent fresh thinking. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, July 2022.

James Croft reviews another patent of a concept ignoring abundant prior art, which apparently wasn’t scrutinized by industry experts - as it should. The patent "Dynamic Acoustic Waveguide," was awarded to William Eugene Wheeler (High Ridge, MO) as inventor and assignee, and describes a “loudspeaker and a method of operation that allow for the production and emphasis of extremely low bass tones.

In this article, Zami Schwartzman shares his personal journey to design and perfect his own accelerometer-based motion feedback desktop subwoofers, including plate amplifiers with MFB control, crossover and voice coil thermal protection that can be matched with any low frequency MFB driver. The proof of concept demonstrated the ability to perfectly complement popular active nearfield monitors, mitigating the effects of room reflection. This article was originally published in audioXpress, September 2022.

Sometimes James Croft reviews patents that are hard to understand how could they possibly have materialized. This patent describes a “System and Method for Improved Audio Perception” and was granted to Yair Raz (inventor) on behalf of Innovo IP, LLC (Aventura, FL). The “invention” describes “methods of Audio Signal Personalized Enhancement for optimal listening to music using a combination of hearing test, audio signal compensation, and signal processing algorithms. A description that could easily be applied to dozens of currently available products. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, November 2016.

This article provides a valuable overview of the latest Thin-Film Coatings and Treatments solutions that are available in the market. Highlights include a new a state-of-the-art REACH-compliant CVD coating process from Oerlikon Surface Solutions, applicable on multiple substrates, such as aluminum, titanium, PEEK, and composites, and Nanovate, a metallurgical nano-coating technology based on electrodeposited nano crystalline structural metal from Integra. The report also highlights Antiviral/Antimicrobial Coatings from Integran, Kastus Technologies, and Nanowatt, among others. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, July 2022.

Many product designers and manufacturers in the audio industry the world over have been making huge leaps forward in hardware, software, and interoperability that they have been largely unable to show off thanks to a disruption to live events. Following the return of trade shows in 2022, the lid has been lifted on a whole host of innovations in the pro audio space, and among them Holoplot has emerged as a standout with its X1 Matrix Array sound system. This is an inside account about how the Holoplot team has been pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the pro audio space.

This article offers a valuable inside perspective about developing new diffuser solutions, and lessons learned while designing countless critical listening rooms around the world. A journey that lead to the creation of the PolyFlex diffuser, which will scatter either horizontally or vertically, depending on the orientation, and improve clarity in speech and spatial focus without making a room sound dead and/or small. The author was actively involved in multiple acoustics standards committees, including for testing procedures.

Renowned tube expert Michael Boele offers his long-term review of a pair of 2021 new production 300B directly heated power triodes. For 10 months, Boele had the opportunity to live with and extensively use a pair of these 300Bs and his impressions and extensive testing could be directly contrasted with his considerable collection of 300B tubes - Chinese, Russian, Czech and Slovak clones, as well as several pairs of Westrex/Western Electric reissues, and two “old stock” Western Electrics. This article was originally published in audioXpress, May 2022.