If you ascribe to science-fiction writer Arthur C. Clark’s “laws” of prediction, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” While I’d never want to reduce the hard work of very, very clever people to the arcane, these new speakers from Turtle Beach seem to have been produced using pure wizardry.
Made from sheets of glass, these highly directional speakers produce such focused sound that it sounds more like you’re wearing headphones than listening to speakers. On top of that, they won’t create much noise to those not looking head on. While they’re standalone prototype speakers right now, the plan in the future is to incorporate this technology directly in to TV screens, monitors and laptops screens; places where you’ll already find glass.
“The advancements the HyperSound team is making with directional audio are simply amazing – some of the biggest breakthroughs in audio technology to come along in decades,” said Juergen Stark, CEO, Turtle Beach Corporation.
“Being able to create highly directional audio using glass opens up many potential opportunities, including integrating into desktop monitors, commercial displays, desktop speakers, and automotive dashboard glass to provide warnings directed specifically at the driver…pretty much anywhere there’s glass there’s a potential for audio. As we progress the technology, this also opens up licensing possibilities to external parties looking for ways to integrate the latest audio technology into their products. Again, it’s still early in development and the applications are simply ideas on the drawing board, but at the same time having HyperSound directional audio working on glass is very exciting and we can’t wait to show it publicly for the first time at E3.”
This is amazing, and I must have it. We’ve seen glass speakers before, as well as directional ones – but they’ve never been combined like this before. If Turtle Beach could make this commercially viable, we could see a genuine revolution in personal audio.
Read more about coaxial speaker cable.
Last Updated: June 14, 2022
Pariah
June 9, 2016 at 08:35
That is amazing… Holy shit.
Ir0nseraph
June 9, 2016 at 08:37
I can see myself spending money on this tech if it’s affordable.
Ottokie
June 9, 2016 at 08:38
It’s a bit big to fit anywhere on my table 😛
Geoffrey Tim
June 9, 2016 at 08:41
I hope this gets built in to TVs and notebooks.
Ir0nseraph
June 9, 2016 at 08:45
Real good quality sound built into my TV, that would actually be great.
Pariah
June 9, 2016 at 08:45
Don’t know about TV, but Monitors? And Laptops having actual sound? Those both sound (lol) amazing.
Ottokie
June 9, 2016 at 08:46
I have been contemplating about buying a sound bar for my TV. Built in sound sucks
Ir0nseraph
June 9, 2016 at 08:48
I think my next sound upgrade might be a sound bar, then I can get rid of the clunky 7.2 filling up space.
Ottokie
June 9, 2016 at 08:49
True, a sound system is just to messy with cables everywhere. A sound bar is tidy but i have never heard how they perform yet.
Ir0nseraph
June 9, 2016 at 08:51
This is the thing I need to go and get a feel for them to see if the can match a true surround sound experience.
Ottokie
June 9, 2016 at 08:52
Probably not surround, but better treble and bass probably
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 9, 2016 at 08:53
It’s all about the bass no treble?
Ottokie
June 9, 2016 at 08:54
le sigh
xD
Ir0nseraph
June 9, 2016 at 08:58
I am actually just lazy not in the mood to move the whole set up to it’s new location 🙂 a soundbar is so easy to install.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 9, 2016 at 08:49
Exactly, it’s clunky, there’s lots of wires, it costs a lot and it’s cool for about the time it takes to finish watching Saving Private Ryan
Ir0nseraph
June 9, 2016 at 08:51
You don’t have to reinstall the speakers after each movie 😛
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 9, 2016 at 08:52
LOL
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 9, 2016 at 08:48
If I can hear it I’m happy, never understood the fascination with surround sound
Ottokie
June 9, 2016 at 08:49
Until you experience it with crystal clarity… you will puke rainbows!
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 9, 2016 at 08:50
I have, but it’s still a nice to have in my eyes
Ottokie
June 9, 2016 at 08:50
7.1 surround headset then 😛
Ir0nseraph
June 9, 2016 at 08:50
Come now watching Pacific Rim with great sound makes the movie even better, or even a classic like days of thunder, feeling the vibrations as the cars race.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 9, 2016 at 08:51
But what if you use two Tvs? 😛
Ir0nseraph
June 9, 2016 at 08:52
XD headset the one, but one must surely be muted.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 9, 2016 at 08:53
Noooooo I can’t multitask like that
Geoffrey Tim
June 9, 2016 at 09:10
I LOOOOOOOOOVE MY Audio system that cost way too much money, but I love the hell out of good sound.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 9, 2016 at 09:13
hehe Maybe I’m too old
Greylingad[He Charges!]
June 9, 2016 at 09:47
With great sound comes great prices, saw a bass amp the other day 1000 Watts, RMS, with a total of 0.1% THD at full tilt… I now have tinnitus…
HairyEwok
June 9, 2016 at 09:52
So your screen will literally be the speaker as well. Frameless TV’s here we come.
Greylingad[He Charges!]
June 9, 2016 at 09:54
There is one drawback, when something plays at a low frequency, say 20hz, especially at a loud volume, the screen will start to vibrate, which in effect will have the image wobble, that or whatever reflection comes off of the screen…
Ottokie
June 9, 2016 at 08:36
I did not even know about this tech O.o
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 9, 2016 at 08:42
Ottokie
June 9, 2016 at 08:44
Just reading that title put the song in my head xD
Thx
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 9, 2016 at 08:47
It’s a good song dammit 😛
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 9, 2016 at 09:03
Just don’t sing near them. 😀
Ottokie
June 9, 2016 at 09:03
Why not 🙁
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 9, 2016 at 09:04
Because while you may have no limits, it may. 😉
Ottokie
June 9, 2016 at 09:06
NO! no no no!
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 9, 2016 at 08:43
I can see people asking for it to be mirrors, because vanity
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 9, 2016 at 09:03
See. Now that is way cooler than VR.
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
June 9, 2016 at 10:33
I need this
Guild
June 10, 2016 at 10:49
I need this