Tectonic Audio Labs returns to CES 2024 (January 9-12) to show the results of the company's extensive R&D and engineering efforts. The innovative Seattle-based loudspeaker company, now under the leadership of chief executive officer Fuat Koro, will once again showcase its OEM solutions that can be found in products across consumer, automotive and enterprise markets.
Tectonic continues to launch new generations of drivers that leverage its patented Balance Mode Radiator (BMR) technology and new designs that match the requirements of today's audio products for different market segments. Always reflecting the intense work of the Tectonic team of engineers that consistently introduce creative solutions and audio innovations.
Among the new drivers that Tectonic will unveil at the show is the new "Basalt”, a high aspect ratio (3:1) Mid-HF Balanced Mode Radiator featuring a narrow 32mm total width drive surface. Ideal for applications such as in soundbars, this new BMR stands-out for its directivity over both long and short axes.
The other new driver is "Andesite," a Symmetric Drive Woofer with a low profile, and just 38mm of total height including its excursion envelope. According to Tectonic, this new force balanced design eliminates vibration transmission, which is essential in portable and very slim designs. To illustrate applications for these new drivers, Tectonic prepared a reference design for a TV display with astonishing sound.
Over the last decade, TVs have evolved to be bezel-less and ultra-slim. While this improved aesthetics, the audio performance has become "squeezed" in both dimensions. The narrowing of bezels and chins have forced speakers into a down-firing configuration compromising high-frequency output and consistency. The slim form factor has also contributed to the lack of lower frequency extension, with designs that make it impossible to get good bass performance with conventional woofer technologies.
Tectonic combines two driver innovations to address the challenge of subpar TV audio. Together, the new drivers deliver soundbar-level performance directly from the TV – all without increasing the depth of the TV or altering the bezel aesthetics.
When a soundbar is the preferred (or the only) solution, Tectonic is also bringing a new reference design to CES 2024, of an ultra-slim, all-in-one soundbar.
Over the last 10 years, soundbars emerged as the practical alternative to the more complex 2.1/5.1/7.1 home theater systems, quickly becoming the favored external audio solution for TVs. While current soundbars excel in providing seamless connectivity, they often compromise aesthetic appeal. Notably, they fail to integrate seamlessly beneath the TV – occasionally obstructing the TV's IR receivers or clashing with the visual aesthetics of wall-mounted TVs. And in many cases, they still require an external bass box.
For manufacturers, the homogeneous industrial design of soundbar models poses a challenge for brands striving to stand out in a crowded marketplace where visual differentiation is key. Tectonic believes there is a way to craft a redefined soundbar solution – one that not only enhances industrial design, but also delivers exceptional bass and spacious audio from an all-in-one package.
For the past years, Tectonic has been perfecting its HARP (High Aspect Ratio Panel) technology that is perfect for soundbar applications. Following the presentation of the concept at CES 2023, Tectonic will unveil a new reference design that matches the two new drivers, Basalt and Andesite, to deliver a strikingly thin profile soundbar that can be fitted on-wall under the TV, while maintaining a wide and consistent stereo soundstage.
Tectonic’s new HARP BMR leverages bending modes in the panel to provide consistent energy off axis at the high frequencies. Delivering this level of performance in a thin soundbar, with a wide, full range frequency output is only possible with the HARP technology. For the lower frequencies, the Basalt units are seamlessly crossed over to the integrated low-profile subwoofer with force balanced passive radiator that perfectly complements the HARP drivers.
"Tectonic is positioning itself to become the go to audio transducer solution for challenging industrial design requirements and where premium performance is still required. We're extremely excited about these two products and their reference designs that will inspire TV and Soundbar brands to think differently about audio," says Fuat Koro, Tectonic's CEO.
Tectonic will be at the Venetian, Suite 29-320 for CES 2024.
www.tectonicaudiolabs.com
