Eminent Technology
Encyclopedia
Phonograph
The phonograph record player, or gramophone is a device introduced in 1877 that has had continued common use for reproducing sound recordings, although when first developed, the phonograph was used to both record and reproduce sounds...
playback, this was the first implementation of a captured air bearing for tonearm use and was followed by a more advanced version of the concept which became a market leader in the (Comparatively small) high-end tonearm market.
In 1985 Eminent Technology began developing planar magnetic loudspeakers and in 1987 introduced the world's first full range push-pull planar magnetic loudspeaker
Loudspeaker
A loudspeaker is an electroacoustic transducer that produces sound in response to an electrical audio signal input. Non-electrical loudspeakers were developed as accessories to telephone systems, but electronic amplification by vacuum tube made loudspeakers more generally useful...
, the LFT-3. Another of the company's products is the so called Thigpen Rotary Woofer
Rotary Woofer
The Rotary Woofer is a subwoofer-style loudspeaker which reproduces very low frequency content by using a conventional speaker voice coil's motion to change the pitch of a set of fan blades rotating at a constant speed...
. Typical subwoofer
Subwoofer
A subwoofer is a woofer, or a complete loudspeaker, which is dedicated to the reproduction of low-pitched audio frequencies known as the "bass". The typical frequency range for a subwoofer is about 20–200 Hz for consumer products, below 100 Hz for professional live sound, and below...
products are inefficient at producing desired sound pressure levels at frequencies below 20Hz. The TRW is designed to cover the zero to 20Hz portion of the sound spectrum.
In the 90s Eminent Technology developed a smaller planar transducer for automotive applications.
This was adapted for computer speakers as the LFT-11, a well-regarded multimedia speaker system. The company licensed the technology to Sonigistix and it appeared in Monsoon
Monsoon (speakers)
Monsoon is a brand of loudspeakers, originally automotive speaker systems and later computer speakers. Monsoon was originally associated with OEM-sourced automotive audio speaker systems, notably supplied on a number of General Motors products and then later expanded onto other manufacturers such...
and other brands.
Currently five US patents have been granted to Eminent Technology products. The company manufactures most of its products at its own facility in Tallahassee, FL.
External links
- Rotary Woofer site
- Internation Audio Review site
- Stereophile blog
- Ultimate AV Magazine
- Stereophile discussion of Bruce's contribution to turntable tonearm development, the linear-tracking tonearm
- Michael Fremer writeup on Eminent Technology and the Rotary Woofer breakthrough
- Eminent Technology website