Loudspeaker Knowledge and Innovation in Voice Coil April 2024

In Voice Coil April 2024, Tom James reminds us about the importance of SPL Graph Data, and Mike Klasco revisits the fundamentals of speaker lead-out wire. As scheduled, there's an updated directory of Speaker Cable and Connector Vendors. James Croft explores a patent detailing a filter that may increase and extend the bass frequency response of a speaker. And for this month's Test Bench, Vance Dickason characterizes the Neotera Ultraflat UF 295 CBS 10" Subwoofer, followed by the SEAS W16NX005 5.25" Midbass Woofer with a metamodal TPCD diaphragm.

Back in 2020, Barry Vogel, the director of the Audio & Loudspeaker Technologies International (ALTI) Association called me excitedly about Niron Magnetics and about a new magnet material developed from research at the University of Minnesota. Iron Nitride (FeN) was perhaps the biggest news in magnets in 40 years. Composed of common elements — Iron and Nitrogen - the potential of permanent magnets from Niron could be a breakthrough and a game-changer for the audio industry.

Niron Magnetics, the company pioneering the world's first high-performance, rare earth-free permanent magnets, announced it has received $25 million in new strategic funding from Samsung Ventures, Allison Transmission, and Magna. This investment will strengthen Niron's ability to expand its production facilities, scale manufacturing capacity for exclusive customer programs, and accelerate the commercialization of Niron's Clean Earth Magnet technology.

This issue of Voice Coil is packed full of great knowledge for speaker professionals. The September 2023 issue features three Test Bench characterizations: the Fountek NeoCD2.0 Ribbon Tweeter, the SB Acoustics WO24TX-4 Satori midbass, and the SEAS L22ROY2 8" subwoofer. This issue also features our annual overview of Magnetic Materials for the Loudspeaker Industry. Peter Larsen (Loudsoft) concludes his FINE Circle tutorial with a passive crossover for his design. This issue of Voice Coil is now available in print, online, and in digital formats.

When a speaker development project is initiated, one of the first decisions is usually the magnet type — ferrite or neodymium — each one with its associated benefits, and problems. This article introduces the most promising alternative based on Iron Nitride (FeN), soon be available from Niron Magnetics, and offering the best characteristics of neo, without the supply chain drama, at a price point that rests somewhere between ferrite and neodymium. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, January 2022.