Wave Speakers - How do they work?

[amsci99]

Found these on the website Takeshi Teragaki (of the Epson-Seiko Sigma series of turntables fams). Pardon my poor japanese but they are referred to as wave speakers. Anyone has any idea how they work. They seem to me to behave like resonators as used in acoustic string instruments.

????? of ????Official Website

???????? of Teragaki-Labo?????????????????TERRA???????????

[LineArray]

Those look like bending wave loudspeakers ...

http://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/...595aaf5ec7.jpg


They seem to be rather sophisticated ones, any member here who can
translate japanese ?

[LineArray]

pics:

http://www.teragaki-takeshi.jp/_src/...081015_052.jpg

http://www.teragaki-takeshi.jp/_src/...081015_053.jpg

http://press.onbiz.yahoo.co.jp/image...96_PR000000001

[david yost]

Here is some good info:

Manger Bending Wave Transducer - Soundlabs Group

At current exchange rates, these are about US$2000/pair of raw drivers.

[LineArray]

Originally Posted by amsci99

They seem to me to behave like resonators as used in acoustic string instruments.

Yes, that is the working principle, bending waves propagating on
a board / foil or curved 3D structure.

"Utilize what you cannot avoid" (i tried to translate) is one of the
marketing slogans from the manufacturer "German Physics" for
their Walsh based 'DDD' bending wave transducer.

That slogan meets the idea quite well IMO.

[LineArray]

http://mikamir.web.fc2.com/seminar/t...C00008_JPG.htm

Mr. Teragaki seems to be on the bending wave drug ... serious case.

I like his japanese style craftsmanship ...

[theAnonymous1]

Those wooden contraptions look like they would refuse to play anything but classical music.

[LineArray]

Would be nice to see, how spectral decay looks like.

At least the appplication of conventional tweeters in
some of his models points towards him beeing not
fully satisfied with the upper end of some of his
wood panels. Maybe some of them are intentionally
designed as midrange panels.

Some of his models show very solid frames for
supporting panels and motor, thereby involving
expensive metalwork.
Hard to believe a skilled person undertaking such
an effort for optimizing a deficient transducer ...

They invoke the impression of being built for
classical music by their classical handcrafted look,
the materials chosen and the finish.

I personally would rather like to listen to them,
with all kinds of music of music of course, than
judging by its looks.

Although i could very well imagine some audiophile
writing "most beautiful strings i ever heard", when
i see the picture only.

Would be nice to have some excerpts of the text
translated.

One comment found here, though not very informative:

http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/01/19...re-japan-only/
"
You probably missed a zero when you typed the price. The cost, per pair, is JPY 2,940,000, which at the moment is roughly $30,000. But, believe it or not, they’re worth it. If I had the money, I would own a pair. They work like nothing else out there, and they sound like nothing else. Worth a trip to Tokyo if you have the money and interest in very high-end audio.

Teragaki did not do just one record player for Audio Technica, he’s done over ten different players with the support of such companies as Audio Technica, Seiko Epson, Ricoh, Luxman and Pioneer. His finished record player is as revolutionary as his speakers; the only analogue player in the world with no mechanical tolerances – except in the cartridge, of course. You can hit the record – hard- during play with no audible result! Amazing engineer, and he’s done all his audio work since he retired. He’s now 84, and still going strong!
"

[LineArray]

Trying babelfish on his website:
"
The temple fence military affairs lecture, are usually recognized “sound it is wave motion”, that “the sound wave of light and shade of the air (longitudinal wave) (the roughness and fineness wave of the air)” it develops the speaker which pays attention to the sound wave other than. The method that sound being transmitted through the hypothesis that “, sound is transmitted through the molecular vibration of the air,”, is named “wave motion” “de Broglie wave”. “Wave motion (the de Broglie wave)” development of the temple fence speaker which it occurs efficiently is continued from 1980. The temple fence speaker in order the speaker which used the former cone paper to express the sound field which is different completely, is appraised as the speaker which expands the pleasure of audio largely. It was the rule of thumb mark, the research which catches “wave motion” scientifically by Professor Buto of the celebration 應 justice private school university it is advanced. “The temple fence speaker is different from the usual speaker, strange sound is put out”, that when Professor Buto who bodily sensation is done the result of research, the sound wave which has come out from the temple fence speaker, the existing sound wave (not only longitudinal wave), “the sound wave of the surface wave” has come out, it observed.
"

[LineArray]

babelfish again:
"
Desire it receives the audition of our company product, is grateful truly. Just whichever with interest receiving also to convey doing even when, there being a reputation around in word, because sound after all until really you hear, lowers every kind of judgment the potato the shank. Until now, it just has counted 6000 or more, the audition we have received the temple fence speaker. Various ones doing to meet distantly, it is very much pleasant to speak, we have become also encouragement of my everyday life. In the future as much as possible, I stand together in the audition of the product, it is fortunate. We enjoy that we can meet to everyone.
"