Test Bench: SB Acoustics’ MW19TX-8 Home Audio TPCD (TeXtreme) Cone Midbass Driver

The Satori MW19TX-8 TPCD cone 7.5" woofer is the fourth TPCD diaphragm transducer to be explicated in Test Bench, the first being an Eminence compression driver and the remaining all woofers from SB Acoustics. The high-end MW19TX-8 has a substantial feature set with similar features as the rest of Satori series with TPCD cones, impressing immediately by its distinctive cosmetics and subjective performance, which this characterization illustrates.

This article details the Composite Sound journey that led to the extensive use of TPCDs for loudspeaker applications and the company's second-generation Metamodal technology. This new engineering approach allows designing loudspeakers tailored for an intended purpose, realizing a physical representation of a TPCD computer-simulated model that is only achievable through the company's unique proprietary production process. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, February 2022.

TPCD is the acronym for Thin-Ply Carbon Diaphragm, which is essentially the technology developed in Sweden by Oxeon to create a new-generation material with properties that are now well-proven for speaker cones and domes. The Satori MW13TX-4 TPCD cone 5” woofer is the fourth TPCD diaphragm transducer to be explicated in Test Bench, and this one has a substantial feature set, including a single piece bowl-shaped TPCD cone and NBR surround. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, January 2022.

The February 2022 edition of Voice Coil is now available and brings the latest information about speaker diaphragms and all the innovations in cones, domes, and surrounds. Martin Turesson tells the story of Composite Sound and its second-generation Metamodal TPCD technology, while Mike Klasco discusses advancements in materials and processes for speaker diaphragms and surrounds. And in Test Bench, Vance Dickason characterizes the latest Satori MW19TX-8 midbass woofer by SB Acoustics using TPCD (TeXtreme) technology, before addressing the latest Industry updates.

We're off to a great start in 2022. Starting with details about the promise of Iron Nitride (FeN) magnets, followed by an article about Liquid Injection Molding Silicon for Next-Generation Headphone Surrounds. Next up, James Croft reviews a surround speaker patent granted to Klipsch, and Vance Dickason characterizes the Satori MW13TX-4 TPCD-cone woofer from SB Acoustics and the high-power WF275BD01 10.75" woofer from Wavecor. All articles now available to read online, PDF and print.

Perlisten Audio, the audio company founded by an all-star team of audio industry professionals in direct cooperation with THX Ltd., the audio and video certification and technology company, announced the seventh model in its cutting-edge lineup. With the new S7i (SRP: $7,495 each), Perlisten introduces the world's first in-wall speaker to achieve THX Certified Dominus status. The new speaker, scheduled to ship November 2021, features the same advanced technologies as the company's flagship S7t tower speaker.

This Test Bench article characterizes the SB Acoustics Satori MW16TX-8 TeXtreme Cone 6.5” Woofer, the third diaphragm transducer in Test Bench using this material, following the Eminence N314X-8 compression driver, and the SB Acoustics TW29TXN-B-4 dome tweeter. TeXtreme diaphragms are definitely finding acceptance among loudspeaker manufacturers. The MW16TX-8 is part of the SB Satori line of high-end transducers and has a substantial feature set. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, June 2021.