TDK has announced the Xa-Master (SP-XA160), a 2.1 surround speaker system using speakers combining a giant magnetostrictive material (GMM) and a rigid panel. This surround system consists of two satellite speakers for right and left channels and a subwoofer. The satellite speaker’s maximum output is 10 W, while that of the subwoofer is 20 W. But what exactly do they mean by GMM? The material involved actually either contracts or dilates in the magnetic field rather like acoustic panels. They’re close to Magnepan with increased power and speed.
By vibrating a rigid panel with a GMM, the speaker creates a 360-degree acoustic field around it, where acoustic pressures are almost equalized. This acoustic field creation technology is dubbed AAPS (Advanced Acoustic Panel System). Other standard speaker systems create acoustic fields, which only spread forward. TDK has placed a series of flat-panel speaker systems on the market in collaboration with New Transducers Ltd. of the UK. This product shows distinction in its mid-to-high frequency speakers (1.5 to 20 kHz) used for both right and left channels.
This product is exclusively available in Japan for now but we can expect to see it in Europe and the US pretty soon if it lives up to expectations.