Audio & Audio Product Design

The world of audio is a large and complex one. It is considered by some as simple, with a limited range of frequencies and outcomes that are readily achieved. Reality and the demands of performance that move on a scale from intelligibility to desirability mean that the subject is far from simple.

Hearing criteria

There is a PDF link below which takes you through some of the criteria required by humans to perceive a good outcome from audio equipment. The Kinshaw Pages including the ethos of Kinshaw will give a further insight into the premises on which audio designs are done. Rather than duplicate the audio matters covered in these pages and PDF, we will focus on the other aspects of audio product design.

Audio markets

In essence, quality audio design requires thorough understanding, a great deal of prediction and calculation coupled with the ability to measure the results. Hawkshead has covered the full range of domestic audio (including A/V), at levels ranging from mass-market budget through to high-end audiophile. The professional market has received designs for high powered amplification and quality mixing. Have a look at our Consumer Audio case study.

Hawkshead audio design is also to be found in trains, planes and automobiles. Often these are complete product and/or system designs which are subject to rigorous testing and acceptability criteria. The provision of noise cancelling in some of these applications is also the result of design work and characterisation from our offices.

Audio Design

Audio design makes full use of all the resources employed in regular electronics: simulation, schematic and PCB design. For certain applications FPGA expertise is used for signal management, conversion and Digital Signal Processor (DSP) duties. There is no doubt that Computer Aided Design (CAD) helps the commercial budget. However, there is also little doubt that in the world of audio, much is left to the capabilities, art and experience of the designer.

The end user

For all the prediction and calculation that is available, the final arbiter is a mixture of the human ear and substantial measurement capability. At Hawkshead both are present in terms of experience and the presence of an Audio Precision SYS 2722 measurement system. The audio test facilities offered by the Audio Precision are still considered to be the best in the world.

Non-human 'audience'

In addition to all that we have said, audio and audio-like signals abound in electronics where the primary goal has little to do with what humans hear or record. Hawkshead has designed a few specialist security systems whose primary signal lies in the audio band at microvolt levels. These systems are deployed in harsh industrial and field environments, which are prone to massive disturbances from power lines, lightning and other radio interference. Operation has to be utterly reliable on a 24/7 basis and deliver what amounts to high fidelity in spite of the challenges.

The realms of motor control and switch mode power supply are not strictly contained in the range of frequencies considered for "regular" audio design. However, knowledge gleaned from the comprehension of audio signals gives significant insight into the management and accurate control of signals in such systems.

Need to know more?

The most peculiar designs using audio-like signals are too shrouded in NDA to be able to give much insight. Perhaps all that needs to be said is that they have been done and the only clients to return are those who want more - the mysterious one-offs are commissioned, installed and silent only in the sense that they are not causing any problems.

Contact us today if you would like to discuss your project with us.

 Downloads:

Download PDF (1,065 kB): Sound reproduction, Human hearing & Drivers of design.