Tymphany Volume
Tymphany Volume 1: September 2005

Smashing the Subwoofer Mold
Tymphany Linear Array Transducers provide the power and bass experience of larger conventional woofers in an innovative slim design, making it possible to squeeze great sound into small packages.

Feeling the bass, but not seeing the speakers? That sound you hear is coming from Tymphany’s ground-breaking Linear Array Transducer (LAT) technology, a truly new and innovative way of taking subwoofers to the next level of performance and design.

Not only has Tymphany delivered its first products based on the patent-pending LAT technology, but Alpine Electronics, the world’s leading automotive specialist for premium sound systems, announced two new products powered by the Tymphany LAT.

New Solution to an Old Problem
The Tymphany LAT 500 and Tymphany LAT 700 represent the first significant breakthroughs in subwoofer technology in many decades. The 500 provides the power and bass experience of two conventional 10-inch cone transducers, and the 700 packs the power of two conventional 12-inch cone transducers in a much narrower and shallower space, combined with a sleek new design.

The Tymphany LAT 500 slims down double 10-inch drivers into a unique tube-shaped 5-inch profile, while the Tymphany LAT 700 brings two conventional 12-inch subwoofers down to just 7 inches. These versions of the Tymphany LAT offer great bass sound in a form factor that works especially well within the confines of a car, truck or SUV. It’s no longer necessary to fill the entire trunk or backseat with the bulk required for a traditional subwoofer. The compact size and small profile of the Tymphany LAT gives car audio manufacturers both quality bass and unprecedented design flexibility, making it possible to put more bass into less space.

In addition to the small form factor, the Tymphany LAT 500 and Tymphany LAT 700 are virtually vibration free. The Tymphany LATs use opposing end motors that cancel out structural vibration, so the transducer does not shake and will not transmit vibrations to critical circuitry. By eliminating this mechanical vibration, the Tymphany LAT actually contributes to system stability and reduces the potential for the rattle and buzz that spurious vibration can cause in audio systems.

Because of the Tymphany LATs unique form and appearance, OEM vendors can significantly differentiate and aesthetically enhance their consumer and professional audio offerings.

More Bass for Alpine Customers
High-performance mobile electronics manufacturer, Alpine Electronics, has introduced two products based on the Tymphany LAT. Alpine is using both 500 and 700 size LATs in its PLT-5 and PLV-7 Powered LAT Subwoofer Systems, which are ideal for space-constrained vehicles.

“We believe the Tymphany LAT technology is helping to revolutionize our subwoofer product offerings, and especially products for trucks and SUVs – vehicles that typically have little or no space to devote to large, traditional cone-shaped subwoofers,” says Stephen Witt, Alpine’s vice president of Marketing. “When we branded our product, it made sense to incorporate the name of this technology because the Tymphany LAT forms the foundation of this new class of subwoofer systems.”

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) named the Alpine Powered LAT Subwoofer as an Innovations 2006 Design and Engineering Showcase honoree in the Vehicle Audio category.

Innovation from Collaboration
The Tymphany LAT is the result of a partnership among the company’s teams around the world. Initially an R&D project based out of Tymphany’s California research labs, the production LATs were engineered by the company’s Danish design group and manufactured at Tymphany’s new, state-of-the-art facility in China. Produced on one of the world’s most advanced woofer production lines, the introduction of the Tymphany LAT is truly the result of bringing together the best from technical teams in Denmark, California and China.

Tymphany will work with OEM customers to optimize the new Tymphany LAT 500 and Tymphany LAT 700 platforms for their specific applications. Additional versions of the Tymphany LAT are scheduled to be announced and available throughout 2006.

How Do You Pack Powerful Bass into Constrained Spaces?
 


How does the Tymphany LAT work? The Tymphany LAT is a very different kind of loudspeaker driver, although it shares its roots with more conventional electrodynamic drivers. Long and cylindrical, the Tymphany LAT contains not one “cone” but many, connected by a balanced set of piston rods. Multiple acoustic vents pump the surrounding air to provide sound radiation, and the push-pull operation of the diaphragms cancel distortion and mechanical vibration. The space-to-base improvement is greater than 300 percent over conventional drivers, making it possible to turn a flat panel television into a high impact home theater or a bookshelf speaker into a truly full-range monitor.

In addition to the obvious benefits of size and form factor, the Tymphany LAT has some other subtle benefits, including lower harmonic distortion, reduced mechanical vibration and reduced cone breakup. The Tymphany LAT operates as a push-pull device. Its two motors move in opposite directions, and each is responsible for actuating alternating sets of radiating diaphragms. This push-pull operation cancels certain types of even-order distortion. In contrast to a conventional subwoofer, this balanced operation allows the Tymphany LAT to produce very high SPLs in the listening environment without transmitting mechanical vibrations to its enclosure.

Resources
Learn more about the Tymphany LAT.

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