This issue of Voice Coil is strongly focused on the loudspeaker supply chain, starting with an article by Mike Klasco (Menlo Scientific) discussing Audio Manufacturing in The Philippines - or as the industry is discussing today, China+1 strategies. As loudspeaker manufacturers multiply their efforts to make their supply chains more resilient, even for the most vertically integrated operations it becomes important to know alternative suppliers in multiple regions of the world. And among the established alternatives in the Pacific region, The Philippines has been a long recognized location for reliable companies, including some of the world's leading OEM/ODM suppliers. As an experienced consultant to the loudspeaker industry, with many decades of visiting the region, Mike Klasco explains how to do business there. And of course there is a small directory of Philippines audio factories.
And because this is the August issue of Voice Coil, there is a revised and updated Directory of Global Voice Coil Winders and Converters 2022, compiled by Nora Wong. This directory is divided by geographic regions and expanded with a list of dedicated Converters, Lead Out Wire, and Magnetic Fluid Suppliers.
A second dedicated directory in this issue advances what is typically the focus of the September edition of Voice Coil. Mike Klasco decided to compile a list of Magnet Vendors and Distributors in The Americas, because in this market, as he explains, "most of the developments have been in the US (for once!), and include neodymium (neo) manufacturing plants and neo recycling facilities as well as next-generation magnetics, such as Niron."
In Acoustic Patents, James Croft continues to explore the patents that have been filed and granted to Dutch company Mayht Holding B.V., the startup that was recently acquired by Sonos for $100 million. After reviewing previously reviewing one of the early Mayht patents covering their general bipolar, interleaved multiple motor structure architecture, James Croft now reviews the "Linear Motor Magnet Assembly and Loudspeaker Unit" patent (2022/0191621), which was granted to Timothy Ruben Scheek (Amsterdam, NL) on behalf of Mayht. This patent is the company's most recent US publication (June 16, 2022), which addresses the most dramatic claim for the Mayht transducer technology of the ability to allow a contravention of Hofmann’s Iron Law and provide a greater-than 10x reduction in enclosure volume, while maintaining the same efficiency and bandwidth as compared to the current state of the art.
For this month Test Bench, Vance Dickason measured and characterized the B&C Speakers DE111-8 1" compression driver, a new pro audio high-frequency solution from the Italian company. The DE1118 is an ultra-compact neodymium motor compression driver designed for use with 1" throat horns, and features a HT Polymer diaphragm driven by a 36mm (1.4") diameter voice coil wound with aluminum wire on a high Qm non-conducting former driven by a neodymium ring magnet. With a 1.2kHz recommended crossover frequency (second-order or higher high-pass filter), the DE111 also features an updated Ketone polymer suspension and dome, rated for 50W continuous power handling and 2.83V/1m 107dB sensitivity. This set of features makes this tiny driver universally applicable for a variety of small monitor and PA applications, ideal for lighter, more compact line arrays. The horn supplied for use with the DE1118 by B&C Speakers was the ME10v2.
The second driver in this month's Test Bench is one of the most intriguing high-frequency drivers from SB Acoustics' high-end Satori line, the MD60N-6 2.5” Dome Midrange. This is another product designed by Danesian Audio of Denmark, which has contributed to the excellent reputation for high-end home applications offered by Indonesian-based Sinar Baja Electric, marketed under the SB Acoustics Satori brand. The MD60N-6 is a soft dome midrange that features a non-resonant coated cloth 2.5" diameter diaphragm and surround, a 60.5mm diameter voice coil wound with round copper wire on a vented aluminum voice coil former. The motor system consists of a large neodymium ring magnet with a low carbon content steel return, incorporating a dynamic dome stabilizer and flow resistor, which takes the form of a 1mm thick perforated dome-shaped aluminum grille that sits underneath the soft-dome. There is also an injection-molded back-closed transmission line enclosure, filled with Thinsulate damping, mounted directly on the back side, covering its entire surface.
This August issue also details some key industry updates, including the recently announced partnership between Klipsch and Resonado Labs, and new drivers from Lavoce and Celestion, among other topics in Industry Watch.
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