A speaker (20) includes a cabinet (21) extending along a longitudinal axis (X) between a first and a second end (21a, 21b). The cabinet (21) includes a side wall surrounding an internal volume and provided with an opening to place the internal volume in communication with an outside environment. The speaker (20) also includes a sound transducer (22) and a connection circuit (23) configured to receive a signal and to transmit the signal to the sound transducer (22). The speaker (20) also includes a first and a second passive resonator (24, 25) each including a vibrating panel (24a, 25a). The vibrating panels (24a, 25a) are positioned in the internal volume, with respective first faces facing each other and respective second faces opposite the first faces. The internal volume includes a first, closed air volume (V1) delimited by an inside surface of the cabinet (21) and by the second faces of the vibrating panels (24a, 25a). The internal volume also includes a second air volume (V2), delimited by the first faces of the vibrating panels (24a, 25a) and open towards the outside environment through the opening.

A modular speaker (100) includes a main module (200) defining a speaker (20) and including a cabinet (21) extending along a longitudinal axis (X) between a first and a second end (21a, 21b), a sound transducer (22), provided at the first end (21a) of the cabinet (21) and a connection circuit (23), provided at the second end (21b) of the cabinet (21). The modular speaker (100) also includes a rear module (300) selectable from a plurality of rear modules (300) and connectable reversibly to the second end (21b) of the cabinet (21) and a front module (400), defining an acoustic accessory selectable from a plurality of front modules (400) and connectable reversibly to the first end (21a) of the cabinet (21).

In at least one embodiment, an apparatus for providing a virtual sound effect in a listening environment is provided. The apparatus includes at least one controller and an audio playback device. The audio playback device includes the at least one controller that is programmed to receive an audio input signal from an audio input source and to apply a head related transfer function (HRTF) to the audio input signal. The at least one controller is further programmed to apply crosstalk cancellation to the audio input signal and to generate an audio output signal after applying the HRTF and the crosstalk cancellation to the audio input signal for playback by at least one loudspeaker that is invisible to a listener in the listening environment.

A system is disclosed for safely and efficiently removing or returning a radio microphone from a mounting surface. The system includes a first magnet attached to the rear side of a radio microphone and a second magnet located at a desired mounting position on the mounting surface. The second magnet preferably includes an outer vinyl layer to prevent breaking or cracking of the first second magnet when returning the radio microphone to its mounting position.

A sound masking system according to the invention is disclosed in which one or more sound masking loudspeaker assemblies are coupled to one or more electronic sound masking signal generators. The loudspeaker assemblies in the system of the invention have a low directivity index and preferably emit an acoustic sound masking signal that has a sound masking spectrum specifically designed to provide superior sound masking in an open plan office. Each of the plurality of loudspeaker assemblies is oriented to provide the acoustic sound masking signal in a direct path into the predetermined area in which masking sound is needed. In addition, the sound masking system of the invention can include a remote control function by which a user can select from a plurality of stored sets of information for providing from a recipient loudspeaker assembly an acoustic sound masking signal having a-selected sound masking spectrum.

A device is configured to be mounted to a planar mounting panel, including, for example, a wall or ceiling of a home or other building. The device includes a housing, a fastener, a dogleg tab and a friction inducing member. The housing is configured to be received in an aperture in the mounting panel and includes a housing aperture. The fastener is disposed in the housing aperture. The dogleg tab is operatively coupled to one end of the fastener. The dogleg tab is configured to be disposed in a retracted position and to be disposed in an engagement position, in which engagement position the dogleg tab is disposed to engage an inside surface of the mounting panel. The friction inducing member is fixedly attached to the housing adjacent the housing aperture and friction-fit to the fastener.

Embodiments include a microphone assembly comprising an array microphone and a housing configured to support the array microphone and sized and shaped to be mountable in a drop ceiling in place of at least one of a plurality of ceiling tiles included in the drop ceiling. A front face of the housing includes a sound-permeable screen having a size and shape that is substantially similar to the at least one of the plurality of ceiling tiles. Embodiments also include an array microphone system comprising a plurality of microphones arranged, on a substrate, in a number of concentric, nested rings of varying sizes around a central point of the substrate. Each ring comprises a subset of the plurality of microphones positioned at predetermined intervals along a circumference of the ring.

Voice responsive in-wall devices are provided. In one example implementation, a power switch includes a housing mountable on or at least partially within a surface. The housing can have a front panel. The power switch can include an interface element disposed on the front panel and operable to receive a user input. The power switch can include a power interrupter operable to control power delivery to the powered load based at least in part on interaction with the interface element. The power switch can include one or more microphones operable to obtain audio input. The power switch can include one or more speakers configured to provide audio output. The power switch can include a communications interface operable to communicate data associated with the audio input over a communication link.

A fixed speaker system comprising a speaker housing mountable in or to a ceiling, wall or floor; at least one speaker for outputting audio content, wherein each speaker comprises at least one speaker input and at least one speaker output; a processor configured to receive the or each speaker input and generate the or each speaker output; an amplifier coupled to the processor and configured to drive the speaker; a DC power input configured for direct electrical coupling with a mains power source; a power-over-ethernet (POE) interface module, comprising an interface housing that is removably connected to the speaker housing, wherein the module is configured to input power from a POE source to the DC power input.

A flat plate audio transducer. A front panel and a back panel are connected via a frame. One or more electromagnetic actuators are mounted between the two panels. Voice coils are used as the actuators in some embodiments. Stiffening braces are preferably run between groups of actuators to prevent unwanted resonance phenomena. In some embodiments an actuator array moves both the front and back panels. In other embodiments only one panel is moved.