SAR Insight & Consulting Forecasts Technology and Market Potential for MEMS Speakers

MEMS microspeakers and earphone drivers could threaten incumbent audio technologies by 2025 as consumers desire smaller and less power-hungry devices. Four billion devices with seven billion speakers were shipped during 2020, it has been estimated, across multiple sectors, including automotive, mobile phones, home AV, and many others. MEMS speakers could revolutionize the audio industry, thanks to their small form factor and low power capabilities, according to market analyst SAR Insight & Consulting.

This contributed article by Hermann Schenk, and Lutz Ehrig describes a new transducer technology that promises to be a power efficient solution for wireless earbuds. Arioso Systems is a successful Fraunhofer IPMS spin-off company that is now launching an innovative sound transducer principle for miniaturized headphones, in-ears and hearables. The article describes how this new technology, and specifically the company's new MEMS topology can contribute to the next-generation of true wireless earbuds.

Celebrating 50 years of The Audio Amateur - the publishing company that started it all for us - and 20 years of audioXpress, we begin 2021 with a great - and expanded - edition. We discuss market and technology trends in Speakers and Transducers, a new MEMS transducer topology for wireless earbuds, and the latest innovations in haptic drivers and transducers. Perry Marshall details his unique dipoles speaker project, and renowned tube expert Menno van der Veen explains all the secrets of the latest Vanderveen Trans-SE10 amplifier. Now available in print and digital

USound, the Austrian company pioneering MEMS audio technology, has developed its next generation of MEMS speakers, surpassing market demands with its IPX8 water submersion resistance. Directly targeting wearable and hearable devices, these next-generation MEMS speakers withstand permanent submersion in water and are ready to power more efficient, low-power earbuds. USound also reports full bandwidth reproduction from a single MEMS speaker and competitive sound pressure level with no magnetic field or heat generation.

Following a year of private demonstrations of its novel MEMS speaker design, xMEMS Labs is now coming out of stealth mode with is first piezo-MEMS speaker. Montara is the name for what the company claims to be "the world’s first true MEMS speaker," using a monolithic process that eliminates calibration and driver matching, and is SMT-ready. Montara also offers full-bandwidth (20Hz-20kHz), and is fully water, dust and shock resistant.

The Fraunhofer IPMS spin-off company Arioso Systems GmbH has successfully completed its first round of financing. The company is launching an innovative sound transducer principle for miniaturized headphones, in-ears and hearables to the market. The company's new micro loudspeaker technology made from 100% silicon, is based on the patented Nanoscopic Electrostatic Drive (NED) principle developed by Fraunhofer IPMS. The technology can considerably extend the functional scope for true wireless earbuds and revolutionize the industry, Arioso believes.

MWC 2019 highlighted key areas where the audio industry should focus and from where it could gain it's most important benefits. A trade show vibrant in the presentation of audio technologies for voice interface solutions, smart and connected home and personal devices. I would never have dreamed that one day a trade show such as the Mobile World Congress would be part of my annual agenda. But now, traveling to Barcelona in February became an essential part of my duties for audioXpress every year.