LG’s new ‘invisible’ speakers could revolutionize car audio
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LG Display has unveiled a ground-breaking new “invisible” speaker technology for cars, featuring a flat-panel system that fits easily into car headrests and dashboards.
Developed as a direct replacement by the South Korean technology giant for traditional in-vehicle loudspeakers Thin actuator sound solution (opens in new tab) system does away with the regularly protruding voice coils, cones and magnets found in most loudspeakers and instead uses a film-like exciter diaphragm.
These can vibrate from panels and various materials in the car interior, with LG claiming it can produce a “rich, immersive 3D sound experience”.
The panels measure just 5.9 x 3.5 inches and, crucially, only one-tenth of an inch thick, weighing in at a featherweight 1.4 ounces, “without compromising sound quality,” according to LG.
That sleek design means the speakers can be placed almost anywhere in a vehicle’s interior, with the tech giant suggesting they can be hidden in headliners and pillars, as well as in headrests and dashboards.
The flat speaker system seems to be based on the CSO (opens in new tab) (Cinematic Sound OLED), which LG Display has shown in an OLED TV where the screen vibrates to generate audio without the need for special speakers. A similar innovative vibrating panel system is also used in Sony’s high-end TVs, including the Sony A95K.
LG has nevertheless stated that Thin Actuator Sound Solution was developed with an unnamed “global audio company”.
LG Display says it expects the speakers to appear in new car interiors in the first half of next year, with the general public hearing for the first time when the technology is showcased at CES 2023 in Las Vegas in January.
Analysis: Nothing flat about this breakthrough in car audio
This new development from LG Display follows NTT’s recent announcement of its leak-proof open earphones and signals that we are entering a new era of how to consume audio.
If the speakers sound as good as LG claims, we’d expect automakers to adopt the technology soon, as the benefits seem crystal clear.
Makers would have more space to play with in the cockpit and dash, while also making room for slimmer door frames in the passenger compartment as they would no longer need to integrate a cone-shaped speaker. Their feather-light structure would also provide significant weight savings and therefore vehicle efficiency.
The most exciting prospect for us is that the Thin Actuator Sound Solution will also enable a wider range of loudspeakers to be placed generously around vehicle interiors. While LG didn’t mention it in its release, we’re really curious to see if the technology works when placed in the ceiling – if it does, it could offer some really interesting multi-speaker support for spatial audio and Dolby Atmos.
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