Technology

Removing the vibrations, revealing the music

Vibrations create music. Pressure deviations cause particles in the air to vibrate, cascading with each other until the sound wave reaches our ears, which our brains process as music. The precise delivery of these vibrations is essential for the true enjoyment of music.

Along with the sound waves coming from our loudspeakers, other sources of vibration surround our systems and listening rooms. Those vibrations can and do mask and distort the music we love. Our company mission is to remove the unwanted vibrations, leaving only the pure and precise musical vibrations that the artists we love wanted us to hear.

Removing vibrations is a multi-faceted engineering challenge. The goal is to remove multiple vibration frequencies and avoid pushing vibration into different frequency ranges, which alter the music. Removing vibration reveals more texture, improving timing and spatial location.

Stack Audio’s understanding of vibration control has led us to focus on three areas of technology and engineering expertise in the pursuit of enhancing the musical performance of hi-fi systems and bringing music to life. We use technologies that enable the fast dissipation of vibrations a more effective way than simply using mass to absorb and slowly release them. Manufacturing precision, rigidity, shape is key to ensuring these technologies perform to the highest level.

our Technology

AUVA

AUVA is our patent pending technology that integrates a phenomenon called particle impact damping. This quickly transforms vibration energy into heat through friction and collision between particles, dissipating energy quickly and efficiently.

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CSA

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PRECISION, RIGIDITY AND SHAPE

Precision, rigidity and shape are absolutely integral in our product design and manufacture. Vibration takes the path of least resistance, and the shape and rigidity of components directly influence the flow of vibration.

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AUVA

AUVA is a patent pending technology that utilizes a phenomenon called particle impact dampening to effectively reduce audio vibrations and enhance sound quality. It is integrated into our Loudspeaker & Equipment Isolators. The technology absorbs vibration energy and converts it into heat, through friction and collisions between particles.

To visualise this process, imagine a ball thrown onto a hard surface and one thrown into a sandpit. The ball thrown at the hard surface bounces repeatedly only coming to rest when all the kinetic energy from the throw (and gravity) has been dissipated. The ball thrown into the sandpit stays where it has landed as the grains of sand dissipate the energy quickly and efficiently with no aftershocks.

Designing vibration absorbers that work in an audio system requires them to be effective on vibrations from multiple directions and over a wide range of frequencies. The AUVA isolators uses a multi-chambered, tuned vibration absorbers that use materials like tungsten to absorb the broadest range of frequencies. transmitted and dissipated efficiently. The carefully designed precision-machined body vibrates passing the energy through to the particles which are excited and collide absorbing the vibrations.

CSA

CSA stands for Custom Silicone Absorber. Not all silicone is equal, and the specific molecular properties of the silicone used in CSA play a critical role in its ability to absorb vibrations effectively. We worked closely with a silicone specialist to ensure that each CSA is fine-tuned to meet precise performance specifications. If the molecular properties are not tightly controlled, even small deviations can lead to a drop in performance.

The CSA forms an air pocket that acts as a spring while the air holes provide extra compliance. The shape has been specifically modelled to absorb particular vibration ranges which are harmful to the purity of the Audio Signal. We chose Silicone due to its versatility and unique property traits:

Visoelasticity: Silicone combines both viscous and elastic characteristics, allowing it to deform under stress and then gradually return to its original shape, which helps dissipate energy.
High damping capacity: Silicone’s internal structure allows it to absorb and dissipate mechanical energy, making it excellent at reducing vibrations and shock.
Temperature stability: Silicone remains effective across a wide range of temperatures, retaining its damping properties in all environments.
Durability and longevity: Silicone resists wear, fatigue, and degradation over time, making it reliable for long-term vibration abosrption.
Low compression set: Silicone maintains its shape and properties even after repeated compression, helping to continuously absorb vibrations.

PRECISION,
RIGIDITY AND
SHAPE

Vibration takes the path of least resistance, and the shape, rigidity and the precision of the sum of parts directly influences the flow of vibration. Carefully designed structures allow vibrations to flow quickly through to the vibration absorbing technology, dissipating the vibration near instantaneously and avoiding the detrimental smearing of sound from vibration echoes without effecting the rigidity of the shape.

For all Stack Audio products, choosing the right materials and shape at the design stage is essential. The machined aluminium cases of the AUVA isolators are designed to provide the most efficient flow of vibration through to each of the multiple particle-dampening chambers whilst still maintaining the structural integrity of speakers.

Similarly, the precision machined aluminium case and perfectly sealed enclosure of the SmoothLAN ensure the pockets that isolate the electronics are fully shielded, with no gaps to compromise performance.

Precision and critical tight tolerances in the manufacturing stage is essential to ensure all products work as intended and maintain their performance over a lifetime.