Following its launch at the recent Prolight + Sound 2012 in Frankfurt, VUE Audiotechnik has announced a development partnership with Materion Electrofusion, the world-leading supplier of beryllium and other advanced materials for high-end acoustic applications.
VUE Audiotechnik and Materion are currently developing a family of compression drivers based around Materion’s Truextent acoustic beryllium.
Extremely stiff and lightweight, beryllium offers a unique combination of properties that dramatically reduce mechanical deformation (breakup), shifting the resonant frequencies inherent in more conventional materials outside the audible range.
VUE Audiotechnik’s unique application of beryllium will first appear in a family of 4-inch down to 1-inch HF transducers—- all specified to deliver significantly lower HF distortion at higher outputs than titanium or aluminum solutions available today.
“Materion shares our commitment to expanding the boundaries of loudspeaker performance through the application of advanced technologies at all levels,” explains Ken Berger, CEO of VUE Audiotechnik. “Their Truextent beryllium is the result of significant research and development efforts to move beyond the limitations of more traditional materials. We’re extremely excited to deliver this technology and its unique performance advantages to VUE customers.”
VUE Audiotechnik’s proprietary beryllium-based compression drivers will be the “crown jewels” in a range of premier loudspeakers debuting as early as this spring. At the same time, Materion and VUE are also exploring future applications of beryllium, including its benefits beyond HF reproduction alone.
“We’ve been looking for a development partner to bring our technology to the sound reinforcement market worldwide with the right combination of fresh thinking, nimble manufacturing, and a global distribution network,” notes Steve Willenborg, Truextent product manager at Materion Electrofusion. “VUE Audiotechnik is the perfect partner to showcase Truextent acoustic beryllium through the development and deployment of a wide range of professional loudspeaker systems that greatly exceed current performance benchmarks.”
Go here for more about beryllium for high performance acoustic design and upcoming beryllium-based products from VUE Audiotechnik.