Phononic Vibes Startup Reinvents the Silence with Patented Metamaterials

Italian startup Phononic Vibes, focused on developing innovative metamaterial solutions for noise and vibration reduction, and the company's efforts have been recently rewarded with the closing of a 2.3 Million Euros capital investment round. The startup had first raised capital in January 2019 with a first seed round led by Poli360 – a dedicated technology fund managed by 360 Capital – and with the participation of Pantecnica Spa, an Italian company focused on products and systems for vibration insulation and mitigation.

In this article for audioxpress, Ed Simon writes: "There seems to be controversy over what testing means in audio. Measuring a difference does not mean you can hear it. On the other hand, if my ears tell me there is a difference between two audio chains and I cannot measure it, that does not mean it is not there. Probably, I'm just using the wrong method to determine audio differences." And after trying to measure all sorts of things to compare which ones sounded fine - or not - he decided the next step would be to build a dedicated more sensitive measurement. This article was originally published in audioXpress, November 2009.

Voice-enabled devices are quickly becoming commonplace in nearly every region and for every consumer demographic. Whether making cloud-connected or offline products, OEMs need to understand what’s driving this demand for voice. Unlike some new product features, adding a voice interface requires product architects to make a number of highly-impactful, interconnected design decisions. Development teams don’t have it easy either, as integrating microphones in a product introduces another layer of complexity.

Free Field Technologies, the Belgium arm of MSC Software that is now part of Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, a global engineering software company, announced the Actran 2020 design and simulation software suite comprising new acoustic, vibro-acoustic and aero-acoustic technologies that enable manufacturers to build more accurate noise prediction models of their designs, with optimizations into their processes.

Tektronix announced the expansion of its scalable DPO70000SX Series Performance Oscilloscope to include new 13 GHz and 16 GHz models. The new offerings allow engineers to take advantage of the high sample rate and low noise floor of Tektronix’ highest performance family of oscilloscopes at lower bandwidth levels and more affordable price points. The new models offer key advantages for working with high-speed serial standard interfaces in consumer, automotive, and military/aerospace applications.

With the audio market increasingly using digital data interfaces for the most demanding applications, Wireworld Cable Technology, one of the world's most respected brands of high performance audio and video cables, announced the release of their second generation Ethernet patch cables. The new “Series 8” patented flat design uses higher density triple-layer shields and quieter Composilex 3 insulation to maximize audible and visible performance.

Sound and vibration specialist Brüel & Kjær has released the new B&K 2245 class 1 sound level meter, providing a complete solution for basic noise measurements, while combining functionality, ease-of-use and versatility. The latest in Brüel & Kjær’s range of iconic sound level meters was designed to instill confidence in professionals whose work involves noise measurement tasks, providing the reliability associated with the brand, while offering the flexibility to work in combination with dedicated mobile apps.

In this article for audioXpress, Jonathan Novick explains why the use of external attenuators are an effective and cost-effective way to measure signals above the maximum input voltage of an audio analyzer. Novick explains why there needs to be some consideration of the topologies and different attributes offered by such components for audio noise measurements. He compares the impact different attenuators’ thermal noise will have on measurements of distortion. This article was originally published in audioXpress, March 2019.

Noise distraction is the number one complaint for open plan office workers according to a recent study from Oxford Economics. Robert Manassero provides a fascinating account of how, after experiencing its own challenges with noise in an open office, Plantronics tested and developed its own solution to noise and distraction using biophilic acoustics or acoustics based on elements from nature. This article was originally published in audioXpress, August 2018.

Apparently, a large percentage of the population is looking for a solution to be able to get more hours of quality sleep without hearing city noise, neighbors or a snoring partner... So, you use earplugs, right? Well, not so fast. According to Bose, earplugs are not enough. You need an active system that fits in your ear comfortably when you are in bed and at least one of your ears is pressed against the pillow. That's why Bose designed the noise-masking, launched its very first campaign on Indiegogo (amassing an impressive $450,320 USD), and now made it available worldwide.