Panasonic to Launch Industry's First Bamboo Plant Opal Loudspeaker

Panasonic Corporation announced that it has developed a loudspeaker using a diaphragm that is made with plant opals [1] in bamboo leaves for the first time in the industry*1 to improve sound quality. The new Bamboo Plant Opal Loudspeaker can deliver according to the original sound by reproducing clear sound with low distortion, thanks to the use of the hard, plant opal materials occurring in bamboo for the diaphragm. Samples of the new loudspeaker, which is suitable for automotive and home audio systems, will be available on March 1.

The new Bamboo Plant Opal Loudspeaker has a diaphragm made with plant opals in bamboo leaves to achieve high-fidelity reproduction with clear sound in a wide range of frequencies.

There is strong demands for high- sound quality audioboth at home and in cars. So, audio loudspeakers need to reproduce highsound quality with low distortion in wide frequencies range for meeting such demand. Therefore, loudspeaker diaphragm materials are required lightweight and highly rigidity for improving acoustic velocity as well as preventing unnecessary resonance.

Panasonic has satisfied these demands by using diaphragms made of resin containing bamboo fibers and bamboo charcoal. The diaphragm in the new loudspeaker now uses an additional bamboo-derived material - hard, needle-shaped plant opals in bamboo leaves, resulting in according to original sound with clearness and less distortion compared to the company's existing loudspeakers.

With this Bamboo Plant Opal Loudspeaker, Panasonic will help automotive and audio manufacturers for creating a finely-tuned sound, and contributing to improve sound quality in audio devices.

Features of the Bamboo Plant Opal Loudspeaker

• Industry's first*1 loudspeaker diaphragms made from resin mixed with bamboo fibers, bamboo charcoal and bamboo plant opals to offer high-sound quality
  (High rigidity) Flexural modulus: Approx. 40% improvement on previous Panasonic products*2
  (Wide frequency response) Acoustic velocity [2]: Approx. 10% improvement on previous Panasonic products*2
  (Clear sound) Internal loss [3]: Approx. 20% improvement on previous Panasonic products*2
• Creating a finely-tuned sound to meet the needs of automotive and audio manufacturers
• Use of materials derived from fast-growing bamboo with little impact on the environment

Notes:

*1) As of February 25, 2014, for a loudspeaker diaphragm according to a Panasonic survey

*2) Loudspeakers using diaphragms made of resin mixed with bamboo fibers and bamboo charcoal

Explanation of terms:

[1] Plant opal

Amorphous hydrous silicates (SiO2 . nH2O) that fill plant cell. Also called plant stones, plant opals have a Mohs hardness of 5-6.5 o equivalent to that of opal stones.

[2] Acoustic velocity

Velocity at which sound transmits through a substance. In loudspeakers, a diaphragm having a higher acoustic velocity means a wider frequency resonce.

[3] Internal loss

An indicator of material performance, referring to the material's ability to dissipate kinetic energy applied from external vibrations, etc. High internal loss means a reduced unnecessary resonance and better sound quality for the loudspeaker.

ORIGINAL: Panasonic

Feb 27, 2014