The first unit, known as Harding, serves as xMEMS’ reference design for 2-way True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds, while the other is for high-quality full-range in-ear-monitors (IEMs). Both reference designs are available for a limited time and in extremely limited quantities, with the goal of providing interested audio brands and manufacturers with accelerated time-to-market leveraging xMEMS' patented designs.
According to xMEMS VP of Marketing and Business Development Mike Housholder, by making these reference designs available for purchase, the company is giving brands the best possible starting point so the and their customers can immediately begin reaping the benefits of the world’s first all-silicon, monolithic MEMS micro speakers.
According to xMEMS VP of Marketing and Business Development Mike Housholder, by making these reference designs available for purchase, the company is giving brands the best possible starting point and immediately begin reaping the benefits of these all-silicon, monolithic MEMS microspeakers. Reference designs are also a way for development teams to get familiarized with its specific performance metrics, enabling experimentation with target curves and tuning possibilities.
"As we continue to build momentum and awareness around our MEMS-based technologies that deliver a better sounding speaker with greater production efficiency and uniformity, we’re doing everything we can to support every customer who understands the value of making MEMS speakers part of their future product story," Housholder says. "That’s why we’re making available for purchase a limited number of our TWS earbud and IEM designs to any forward-looking brand or manufacturer seeking a roadmap for the fastest possible adoption of xMEMS technology."
In addition to the design itself, those who make a purchase will be able to request the complete xMEMS design files for each solution, including their acoustic, mechanical and electrical components.
The Harding 2-way TWS earbud design delivers superior high-frequency response and clarity featuring Cowell, the smallest MEMS microspeaker from xMEMS and also one of the world's smallest drivers for these applications. In this reference design, Cowell serves as the tweeter for highly realistic mids and highs and is paired with a custom-designed 9mm dynamic driver that delivers the bass extension. This ANC-ready design embeds a Qualcomm Bluetooth audio SoC and three microphones per earbud for noise canceling.
"All told, Harding is a turn-key ODM design that's fully integrated with all the needed components and expertly tuned acoustics to enable a seamless transition from legacy coil speakers to all-silicon micro speakers in TWS earbuds," adds xMEMS.
The Montara Plus, the highest output MEMS microspeaker from xMEMS, is the ideal full-bandwidth transducer for an IEM reference design that delivers sound pressure levels up to 120dB @ 200Hz. The USB-C IEM reference design now available from xMEMS embeds a hi-res audio DAC from Synaptics and a voice microphone for phone calls and interactions support.
The lightning-fast transient response and wide bandwidth (20Hz to >40kHz) enabled by the Montara Plus MEMS drivers results in the highest fidelity and clarity in a simplified, single speaker IEM, creating a path to smaller, lighter, simpler IEM designs without the phase alignment and design complexities of multi-driver IEM implementations.
"We’re seeing demand for xMEMS speakers grow exponentially as brands all over the globe try to stand out in the market and streamline their production efforts. By selling these reference designs, we’re doing our part to ensure the switch to MEMS speakers is as smooth and efficient as possible so more brands, manufacturers and their customers can soon benefit from xMEMS’ industry-changing innovations," Housholder concludes.
Founded in January 2018, xMEMS Labs has over 150 granted patents worldwide for its MEMS microspeaker technology. The innovative, monolithic transduction architecture implements both actuation and diaphragm in silicon, eliminating spring and suspension recovery of coil speakers. Reference designs are a way to offer a turnkey ODM design that’s fully integrated with all the needed components and expertly tuned acoustics to enable a seamless transition from legacy coil transducers to all-silicon microspeakers.
The two new xMEMS reference designs are available to purchase online here for a price of $988 per unit. The Harding 2-way TWS reference design features one xMEMS Cowell MEMS tweeter (XSC-2100) and Aptos2 amplifier (XAA-2000), plus a custom-designed 9mm DD woofer per earbud, implemented with a Qualcomm QCC5171 TWS SoC. The set comes with a USB-C charging case. All design files (acoustic, mechanical, electrical) are available upon request.
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