Product Design | Audio Electronics | Acoustics | DIY | Audio Innovations
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McIntosh Announces MCD85 SACD/CD Player for Serious Music Lovers |
McIntosh has introduced the MCD85 SACD/CD Player. A perfect companion to McIntosh's similarly styled amplifiers and preamplifiers, the new MCD85 SACD/CD Player is the ultimate music source that any serious music enthusiasts will be proud to own. The MCD85 is designed as a companion piece to McIntosh's monoblock MC830 Solid State Amplifier and C8 Vacuum Tube Preamplifier, introduced in September 2020. But even on its own, this is a versatile player providing a myriad of format and connectivity options. Read More
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Webinar to Explore Computational Platforms for Automotive Audio |
The Audio Product Education Institute (APEI), an initiative of the Audio Engineering Society, will host the second in a series of webinars on Automotive Audio on Tuesday, February 23 (12:00pm EST): Computational Platforms for Automotive Audio. As auto manufacturers continue to push the limits of existing processing platforms to meet the increasing complexities of automotive systems, this online session will discuss the features that are common to all kinds of processing, and the ones that are unique to audio, identifying the distinctive characteristics for automotive audio applications. Read More
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DSP Concepts Opens Advanced Design Center in Mexico |
DSP Concepts, maker of the Audio Weaver platform and a leading company in embedded audio development, announced it has opened a design center in Queretaro, Mexico. The center is host to a team of engineers that is focused on audio for automotive and consumer electronics, with an emphasis on customer engagement, product development, and test and validation. DSP Concepts plans to double the headcount in Queretaro by the end of 2021 . Read More
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Bold North Audio Expands Range with New Carbon Fiber Cone Woofers |
American audio solutions manufacturer MISCO announced the introduction of the BWF-6503, a 6.5" red carbon fiber woofer, and the BMW-4001, a 4" carbon fiber mid-woofer, to its growing line of premium and performance-based drivers. The two new designs are Klippel Verified and manufactured under the Bold North Audio brand at MISCO’s facility in St. Paul, MN. Both the BWF-6503 and the BMW-4001 are now offered on MISCO’s website, with international distribution available for manufacturers and designers outside the US. Read More
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Focal Unveils Clear MG Professional Open-Back Headphones |
Focal announced another new headphone model, this time in its Focal Professional range. The new Focal Clear MG Pro is a flagship professional mixing solution that evolves the design and aesthetic of its original Clear Pro model. The Clear MG Pro circumaural open-back headphones use Focal's unique 40mm full-range drivers with M-shaped magnesium inverted domes to deliver a precise and detailed sound. The physical design ensures maximum comfort and introduces a new honeycomb grille, which opens the cup enclosure to allow improved soundstage. Read More
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Sennheiser Repositions Its Business Units to Grow Independently |
Sennheiser has announced a new strategic direction for the company. Sennheiser plans to focus on its Professional business in the future and aims to secure a partnership to strengthen its market position in Consumer Electronics. According to Andreas and Daniel Sennheiser, co-CEOs, with this decision to build greater independence for its business units, Sennheiser will be better prepared to continue on its course. The search for a potential investor in the consumer division is now open . Read More
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AMS Launches Smallest Proximity Sensor to Enable Integration of New Functionality in Space-Constrained Wireless Earbuds |
AMS launched the TMD2636, a fully integrated proximity sensor, which occupies 30% less space than currently available solutions, and delivers transformational added value to manufacturers of True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds. The new TMD2636 fully integrated proximity sensor module is supplied in an ultra-low-profile 0.35mm package and occupies a volume of just 0.7 cubic mm. This means that an earbud can now accommodate multiple proximity sensors to increase reliability or add new features and still save power when the earbud is not in use . Read More
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StreamUnlimited Announces Feature Updates for StreamSDK |
StreamUnlimited's StreamSDK is a flexible software solution, portable to various classes of silicon, which enables the application of streaming audio functionalities to consumer electronics devices. Even under the current circumstances, the Austrian company has expanded its software stack to support highly desirable features, spanning from Apple AirPlay2 and Amazon Micless-MRM, Tidal Connect, expanded voice assistant support and new immersive audio integrations . Read More
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Guest Editorial
Mike Klasco
(Menlo Scientific)
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Cracking the Jack
JackSavior: A Better Connector
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For most wired audio products, the dominant factor in returns and service calls are caused by issues with the cables and connectors. Intermittent connections in the strain relief or cracked jack plastic casing or failed over-molded strain relief are usually the culprits.
In researching an upcoming article on cables and connectors for the April issue of Voice Coil magazine, it seems that any developments for audio I/O mechanical interface remain digital and optical. USB-C and Lightning have not made inroads in audio for most consumers - as wireless is increasingly becoming the mainstream option on mobile devices. Yet existing audio connector hardware is perceived as legacy stuff without any further possible development – all the while these connectors dominate consumer audio products.
While the speakON connector for high power speakers is an innovation example that comes to mind – but that was actually introduced more than 30 years ago – the venerable jack connectors we are all familiar with – the 1/4" or 6.35mm jack – were invented more than 140 years ago for use in telephone exchanges. The also familiar RCA (Radio Corporation of America) connector was introduced in the 1930s, while the miniaturized 3.5mm (1/8") jack version was designed in the 1950s, as was the XLR, invented by James H. Cannon (Cannon Electric).
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JackSavior prevents jack failure problems for brands, and the company is ready to scale production, focusing on incorporating the JackSavior plug into millions of products. |
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Meanwhile, there has been a significant development quietly conducted but is just about to achieve some well-deserved traction. Enter "the Jack Savior," which is actually something old that is new again ( if you allow me to quote from “All That Jazz,” song by Peter Allen) with a flexible and stronger audio jack - the JackSavior connector design.
Trying to establish a new connector standard is problematic with all the audio products already out there, but this innovation is actually intended for the existing audio connection universe. Founded by Bouwy van Sambeek, a Dutch fellow during his Mechanical Engineering studies at the Delft University of Technology, JackSavior is now ready for scaling to mass production. This solution is applicable for audio jacks for phones, computers, speakers, and microphones for consumer and pro-audio.
Initial development in 2016 was funded through a Kickstarter campaign ( the first one from a time when smartphones still had audio jacks) and was reinforced in a succession of three more crowdfunding campaigns, providing the means to perfect the tooling and manufacturing process. The technology is now being brought into the OEM/ODM supply chain. Using industry standard fabrication processes, a better-quality assembly can be produced at the same cost as conventional construction. |
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Sketch of soldering wires outside (left) and connecting inside (right). Since the wires are inside the plug and don't move constantly, durability is considerably improved. |
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Audio jacks are most vulnerable between the wires and the plug. In the JackSavior technique, the wires are connected inside the plug, enabling a smaller, higher break-strength jack. The outside of the plug is flexible and unbreakable which means fewer product returns and more freedom of movement for the customer. The innovation enables a stronger yet thinner transition from the (standard) plug to the cable with higher RF interference rejection.
This new approach actually fits more products, as the flexible transition to the cable is also more comfortable, with this internal connection isolating external forces from touching the connection and preventing jack and plug failure. Initially focusing on 3.5mm and the smaller 2.5mm jacks, JackSavior has introduced 1/4" jack connectors for musical instruments in its latest Kickstarter campaign.
While physically stronger than legacy construction, plugging and unplugging pull strength is the same. Also, users often tend to disconnect from the flexible part of the jack (the finger holding area), and this can be done safely in JackSavior cables without stressing the assembly.
Stay tuned for news from the OEM/ODM connector supply chain.
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JackSavior successfully validated the concept, used it in mass production, and can now offer proven production solutions. |
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The Capacitance Multiplier
By Bill Reeve
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In this article for audioXpress, Bill Reeve helps us to make sense of a misunderstood circuit. A capacitance multiplier is useful as a power supply low-pass filter. It is commonly said that, like Miller capacitance, the capacitor’s value in this circuit is “multiplied” by the transistor gain (β) to lower the filter’s pole frequency. The transistor-enhanced filter does that and more, as the article explains in detail. This article, an excellent tutorial on analog circuit design, was originally published in audioXpress, August 2012. Read the Full Article Now Available Here
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Better Microspeakers Utilizing Hiperco Alloys
By Md Mehedi, Ph.D. (Carpenter Technology)
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This Voice Coil Spotlight article by Aminul Md Mehedi (Senior Application Development Engineer at Carpenter Technology) explains how the Carpenter-developed high-performance Hiperco 50 and Hiperco 27 soft magnetic alloys can contribute to better performing microspeakers and earphone drivers, improving "decibel (dB) density" in miniaturized consumer electronic devices. According to Mehedi, Hiperco-based drivers are more sound pressure level (SPL) dense and require less current to operate relative to a 1008 steel-based magnetic assembly. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, November 2020. Read the Full Article Now Available Here
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