Following the recent and successful DesignEx Expo held in Sydney, a number of new and exciting residential technologies were launched giving both consumers and integrators a peak into where technology is taking the AV industry.
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| Frontal in-situ view of Stealth Acoustics invisible speaker system |
According to Len Wallis from Len Wallis Audio, even though the actual technology has been around for some 15 years, the potential for the new application of this technology is “enormous”. “This is a totally invisible solution that looks like its actually part of the wall”, says Wallis, adding, “we have some fairly big numbers in terms of orders for these speakers already in the system”.
In terms of changing the position of the speaker or removing it entirely, Wallis notes that this is not a problem, as the system comes with a template which is used to cut section out of the wall. If a speaker has to be taken out of one section, the cut-out gyprock piece is simply replaced and painted over. Furthermore he says his company gives a 10 year/ $6000 on-site warranty to ensure that any speaker changing is done with minimum cost and annoyance, giving a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘out of sight, out of mind’.
The two main overseas suppliers of in-wall speakers are Stealth Acoustics of the US and Amina of the UK, who both promote this as the future of home sound technology.
According to Stealth Acoustics, their concept is known as “invisible speakers” and Amina, who have branded their version as SoundUnseen- adding that it is a “loudspeaker which is plastered in-wall where you would have ‘regular’ loudspeakers.
Not only do all visual signs of a sound source completely disappear, but the resulting audio quality is astonishing leaving minimal technological impact to create a stunning interior design”.
Amina goes on to say that “The product can also be used within special rooms such as curved spaces, and once plastered in become completely ‘invisible’ to humidity and other solvents. It is therefore ideal for wet areas such as pools and bathrooms and for clean rooms where walls and ceilings need to be regularly washed or wiped down”.
According to Mike Wilson, Sales Manager for AV distributor Ultralift Australia which carries the Amina brand, “the speakers are based on NXT technology, and the sound produced actually resonates from the wall itself rather than from only the speaker”. He says that this producs an non-directional sound unlike most people have experienced previoulsy.
Martyn Shirley from Melbourne-based Qualifi, a Stealth Acoustics distributor says the concept has been “very well received from architects as well as interior designers”.
From a technical point of view says Shirley, the speakers can provide the full audio range from 40Hz to 20 kHz, adding that the techonology even allows the full 20 Hz of subwoofer sound to be experienced.
Moreover, says Shirley, there has been a swathe of enquiries from people who have smaller houses and “want the home theatre experience but not the clutter of wires”. He says that although his company has only started to promote this concept, he sees this as “the future of home sound systems”.
