Article: New car audio system surrounds with sound

A new car audio system being developed by Johnson Controls and OnActive technologies will surround passengers with sound by transforming the car's headliner into a single, giant speaker.

Top Down Surround Sound uses between two and eight paper-thin transducers glued to the car's headliner. The system requires a semi-rigid polyurethane headliner, specially designed by Johnson Controls, to work; fiberglass and other headliner materials do not exhibit the necessary audio qualities. The transducers have a maximum thickness of four-tenths of an inch, and weigh between one-half ounce and 5 ounces.

The transducers in the headliner handle mid-range and high frequencies, in the 200-20,000 hertz ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!