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Industry & Product News
New DALI KORE Flagship Loudspeakers Start Shipping
It was one of the most spectacular announcements at the 2022 High End show in Munich. The leading Danish speaker designer and manufacturer introduced a new flagship loudspeaker, the DALI KORE. Designed, crafted, and built by DALI at the company's facilities in Denmark, this new powerhouse of a speaker incorporates all new DALI technologies resulting in an outstanding sound performance. It's also a big, heavy speaker, worthy of a flagship product, and a statement of its artistry. Learn More Here
Apple Announces Second-Generation Better AirPods Pro
Apple announced its highly anticipated update to its best-selling AirPods Pro true wireless earbuds. We don't know which model Apple sells the most, if it is the updated "loose-fit" standard AirPods, or the in-ear and more expensive noise cancelling AirPods Pro. The AirPods third-generation were launched in October 2021. Nearly a year after that, the flagship AirPods Pro were announced, delivering 2x better Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), longer battery life, better drivers, and a new improved charging case. Read More
Improved Noise Reduction. Bose Introduces QuietComfort Earbuds II
As anticipated, Bose announced its new Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II. As the brand that brought us noise cancelling headphones as a consumer product, this announcement is extremely important for the Massachusetts company as it claims to offer "the world’s best noise cancellation" thanks to its CustomTune sound calibration technology, which allows personalized performance. The design is also refined and much more elegant than any previous Bose product in the category. Read More
AtlasIED Bolsters Loudspeaker Business with Addition of Three Industry Veterans
AtlasIED has strengthened its expertise in commercial audio with three additions to the company, including Graham Hendry, VP of Loudspeaker Strategy; Mike Ulrich, VP of Specialty Acoustic Projects; and Riccardo Balistreri, Director of Acoustical Engineering. The new hires are part of a strategic initiative that will focus on product development, strategy, design, and positioning of new products for the premium loudspeaker marketplace across a variety of industries including hospitality, specialty commercial, corporate, and entertainment. Read More
YOLE Group Offers a Snapshot of MEMS Sensors and Actuators Market and Projects Trends for 2023
2021 was an exceptional year for MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) companies, says YOLE Group, the international market analysis firm, which has just released its latest MEMS market report. The MEMS industry is expected to exceed the $22 billion mark five years from now, growing annually at about 9% between 2021 and 2027, the firm predicts. Interesting findings in the report indicated that Bosch continues to be the overall MEMS leader, while STMicroelectronics and TDK sales grew significantly in 2021. Read More
JBL Introduces Four New Dolby Atmos Soundbars Including Flagship JBL Bar 1000 System
When it comes to new home audio designs, IFA 2022 was once again the soundbar show, with all major brands showcasing new models. Among those brands, Harman introduced four new soundbars, including the feature-packed JBL Bar 1000, which delivers a true home cinema experience without wires. Marketed as 7.1.4 channel system, the JBL Bar 1000 effectively uses four up-firing drivers to create an enveloping sphere of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X 3D surround sound. The JBL Bar 300, the JBL Bar 500, and the JBL Bar 800 join the JBL Bar 1000 to complete the all-new JBL Bar Series. Read More
CEDAR Unveils New DNS 4 Real-Time Voice Cleaner
When we mention a company that has revolutionized itself and remained a leading name in the world of audio restoration, dialogue noise suppression, and speech enhancement, it becomes obvious that we are talking about CEDAR Audio. The Cambridge, UK-based company was the first to create hardware-based, real-time audio restoration systems, and still does to this day, even though it is now more widely recognized for its software tools. For situations where only real time makes, sense, CEDAR is now introducing its latest DNS 4 portable dialogue noise suppressor. Read More
Sonical Partners with Dolphin Design to Develop the Silicon for Open Hearables
Sonical, the Silicon Valley, CA company developing an open software platform for hearables, announced a partnership with Dolphin Design, a leading edge computing and embedded AI silicon IP company, and a subsidiary of Soitec, an industry leader in designing and manufacturing innovative semiconductor materials. Together, the two companies are working on a heterogeneous computing platform to design ASIC/SoCs with an innovative operating system that will change the end-user experience with hearables. Read More
Audio and Loudspeaker Technologies International (ALTI) Association Promotes Hospitality Suite at CES 2023
What if there was a place to find all key audio technology companies and source suppliers at CES? Well, now there is. Members of the Audio and Loudspeaker Technologies International (ALTI) Association will be able to benefit from a new hospitality suite during CES 2023, January 4-8, in Las Vegas, NV. Companies that are not yet ALTI members may apply now and will be able to set up a table to promote their business and services, organize meetings, relax and reorganize between meetings, and network with other key audio companies during the show. Read More
Guest Editorial
Mike Klasco
Dr. Kurt Müller Anniversary!
100 Years of Loudspeaker Innovation
I recently received an invitation from Daniel Ebers, Managing Director of the Dr. Kurt Müller (DKM) cone company to attend its 100th year birthday party at the company's headquarters in Krefeld, Germany. Most readers know of DKM for its high-grade cones, domes and spiders as well as its appetite for researching a wide range of innovative materials.

The celebration took place this past Saturday, September 3, 2022 with a celebration for more than 200 guests at the company premises in Krefeld, Germany (near Dusseldorf). There was food, drinks, and great music, as well as guided tours of DKM’s production facility and an opportunity to meet the members of the DKM team.
Dr. Kurt Müller GmbH & Co. KG celebrates its 100th anniversary. Today, the company delivers loudspeaker parts of the highest quality standards to more than 200 loudspeaker manufacturers worldwide.
Perhaps the oldest surviving cone factory in the world and certainly one of the most advanced, DKM was originally founded in 1922, in Berlin, as “Pappenguß Gesellschaft für Zellstoffabrikate mit beschränkter Haftung“ (which could be very loosely translated to Cellulose Pulp Cardboard Molding Manufacturing Company LLC). In 1938, its division "Pappenguss-Membranen Dr. Kurt Müller", was supplying products to important customers those days such as Siemens, AEG, and Loewe.

In 1945, after the war, DKM transferred its production from Berlin to the Hannover area of Germany and started to produce cones made out of used paper. During this same period, Dr. Kurt Müller’s old friend Heinz Ebers joined the company as a partner; and both families continued to manage the company until 2009. In 1947 the company relocated to its current location in Krefeld, and also exhibited at the very first Hanover Fair.

Grundig was one of DKM’s first customers when World War II ended. Company owner Max Grundig visited DKM’s factory in Lachendorf by train. In postwar Germany, money had no value so Grundig promised to exchange completed radios for cones and other driver parts. Following this agreement with DKM, Grundig visited all the other component suppliers with similar barter arrangements and finally produced his first radio called the "Heinzelmann."

Parallel to its cone production development, DKM modified its manufacturing process to produce even stronger parts for glove boxes, door panels, and other cellulose-formed parts for the automotive and television industries. Based on this modified process, DKM founded a separate company, which is now part of Johnson Controls.
A waterproof seamless speaker membrane from Kurt Müller is demonstrated in 1950 at the Hanover Fair.
Quality control at the Dr. Kurt Müller Krefeld factory in Germany, in 1956.
In the fities, DKM expanded its production range to include cones, suspensions, dust caps, and surrounds. At the same time, DKM created its own paper production process. Plastic materials, textile, rubber, foam, aluminum, and titanium components also were introduced with virtually all the parts production done using equipment and tooling developed and produced in-house.

In 1970, the company extended its product range and bought the company Pulsonic Ultrasonics Limited, now known as Kurt Mueller UK Ltd. (UKM), headquartered in High Wycombe, near London. The new subsidiary specialized in supplying speaker assembly parts to pro sound and guitar loudspeaker manufacturers. UKM currently supplies large, air-dried paper pulp cones up to 24" in diameter.

The next expansion came in 1995, with a Czech Republic affiliate for high-quantity manufacturing cones for the automotive industry. Today, more than 80% of DKM’s production is exported worldwide to customers that produce loudspeakers for hi-fi, automotive, pro sound, radio, and television as well as other specialized applications.
Research and development department at DKM in 1971.
Cone production at Kurt Mueller Ltd, the UK subsidiary of Dr. Kurt Müller GmbH & Co.KG.
Matthias Ringpfeil, DKM’s director of engineering and a transducer engineer, provides new technology development. For readers unfamiliar with DKM, I should mention that this company has an extremely strong brand reputation in the loudspeaker industry for superior consistency, which is due at least partially to DKM’s highly automated production.

Somewhat unique for a cone company, DKM offers its customers scientific R&D consulting for developing cones, dust caps, and suspension parts. Its close association with Loudsoft (FINEcone), Klippel (3-D Laser Vibrometer), and other engineering solution providers can be an enormous advantage for customers with challenging requirements. In addition, the company has developed its own proprietary measurement protocols for testing the various mechanical parameters of its loudspeaker parts.

Dear DKM – We wish you a Happy Birthday and congratulations on your first 100 years!

For more information about the company, visit www.kurtmueller.com
Matthias Ringpfeil at the Audio and Loudspeaker Technology International (ALTI) Symposium and Expo in 2019.
Dr. Kurt Müller GmbH & Co. KG at the High End show in Munich, this year.
Development and Design
How Signal Processing and Filter Bank Design Impacts Sound Quality in Hearing Aids
By Dana Helmink (Widex USA)
When digital audio processing is performed in hearing aids, it’s meant to have a demonstrable impact on wearers’ lives. Therefore, doing it well is important. This article discusses the nuances of signal processing and filter bank design, exploring the most impactful decisions in filter bank types specific to hearing aids, and how ultimately each approach helps dealing with the hearing challenges that people face. This article was originally published in audioXpress, June 2022. Read the Full Article Now Available Here
Voice Coil Test Bench
FaitalPRO 2FE24 Pro Sound 2.5" Full-Range
By Vance Dickason
The focus for this Test Bench is the 2FE24 2.5” full-range driver from FaitalPRO, an interesting small diameter full-range design suitable for pro audio applications such as PA line source speakers. The 2FE24 is built on a proprietary injection-molded polycarbonate four-spoke frame, and the cone assembly consists of an uncoated paper cone and dust cap, low loss half-roll NBR surround, and elevated cloth spider. Powering the cone assembly is a neodymium ring magnet and a milled return cup fitted to a 19mm diameter voice coil wound with aluminum wire on a Kapton former. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, May 2022.  Read the Full Article Now Available Here
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