Press release

HiWave’s 8W high aspect ratio drivers create new applications for high quality audio design

Cambridge, UK, June 24, 2011: HiWave Technologies (LSE:HIW), the provider of electronic and transducer solutions for audio and haptic touch, announces the first in a family of High Aspect Ratio Panel (HARP) speaker drivers. Its HIBM110H08-8 Balanced Mode Radiator (BMR) speaker driver uses the company’s Bending Wave Technology to create a high audio quality, full-range speaker driver shaped to open up new audio applications. This high aspect ratio form factor adds flexibility to the location of speakers. It’s ideal for flat panel televisions, sound bars, monitors, PCs and portable AV devices, and any other active or passive speaker system that needs to be compact. It offers speaker system designers an extra dimension of creativity when developing novel ‘look and feel’ for consumer electronic equipment.

Measuring just 110mm x 20mm x 20mm, and weighing less than 40g, the HIBM110H08-8 delivers a sound level of 8W RMS, despite its small size. This is achieved by using twin voice coils to precisely excite the acoustic panel fabricated from ultra-light honeycomb material. HiWave’s patented BMR technology controls bending waveforms in the flat panel and combines pistonic movement for low frequency audio; this HARP BMR delivers room-filling sound dispersion from below 200Hz to above 20kHz, with a natural, clear sound.

Although easy to drive with any standard audio amplifer, the electromagnetic motor design is optimised for use with HiWave’s ultra-efficient Audium amplifier chips.

HiWave is sampling its key customers now, and the HIBM110H08-8 is ready for mass production. The price for quantities of 100pc is $12.