There is not any scarcity of innovation within the audio trade, and one explicit driver of progress is the introduction of solid-state audio tech. Most earbuds use common audio drivers with a magnetic coil to generate sound, however the thought with silicon-based alternate options is that they use a piezoelectric drive along side ultra-thin membranes to make sound, and that is simply inherently cool.
Hardwired
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The model making these drivers is xMEMS, and it simply rolled out its newest product: the Sycamore. Whereas its earlier Cypress driver is utilized in a number of earbuds — together with the Artistic Aurvana Ace 2 — and is designed for in-ear choices, the Sycamore is aimed on the open-ear class as a substitute, and is coming to earbuds, XR glasses, and smartwatches.
The timing of the launch is fascinating, as a result of there was a gradual improve in open-ear merchandise, with Nothing and Bose catering to this area of interest. With the Sycamore, xMEMS is leveraging its “sound from ultrasound” design, and with the module coming in at simply 1.13mm and weighing 150mg, it’s thrice thinner than a daily driver and one-seventh the scale.
Forward of the launch, I had an e-mail interplay with Mike Housholder, VP Advertising and Enterprise Improvement at xMEMS Labs, to know how the Sycamore is totally different to the Cypress. Housholder famous that the brand new driver “represents the maturation of our ultrasonic transducer know-how,” and that modifications to the “design and effectivity of the MEMS structure” has allowed it to go from an in-ear design to open-air.
Sound high quality is a key metric in micro audio system, and I used to be curious about studying about how one thing as small because the Sycamore is ready to produce anyplace near the identical stage of sound as a daily dynamic driver. “One of many key traits of our ultrasonic, modulated air pulse era know-how is that it displays a 1st-order low frequency degradation to supply a strong low frequency response as in comparison with standard dynamic drive audio system which generally exhibit a 2nd-order (extra steep) low frequency degradation,” mentioned Housholder.
As such, the model is touting an identical mid-bass efficiency as common drivers, with as a lot as 11dB headroom within the sub-bass extension. The driving force comes with IP58 ingress safety, making it an honest alternative to be used in lively earbuds.
One other concern that is resolved with the Sycamore is designing the shell of the earbuds. With common audio drivers, manufacturers concentrate on the design and supplies of the shell, however Housholder famous that as MEMS audio system are usually not as vulnerable to again quantity because of the “stiff and inflexible silicon diaphragm,” this is not as huge a consideration. That is an enormous deal for an audio producer, and with the motive force itself not taking on anyplace as a lot room, it ought to liberate further area for a bigger battery or end in buds which might be smaller.
So when will we get to see merchandise with the brand new driver? Housholder famous that xMEMS will showcase prototypes at CES 2025, with mass manufacturing beginning in This fall 2025 and preliminary shopper merchandise debuting in 2026. Contemplating the variety of design wins the model managed with its earlier drivers, it should not have many issues with the Sycamore, notably on condition that it may be used with XR glasses and smartwatches along with earbuds.
