Driver construction

Hanji paper – the secret to our lightening fast drivers

Being obsessively averse to compromise, we took the bold step of producing our own compression drivers for the horn elements as well as, more recently, a mid-bass driver. In a moment of inspiration, we experimented with the ancient Korean technology of Hanji paper. Renowned for its exceptional strength, Hanji paper is produced in a complex process that ensures its unique qualities. For example, important historical documents made from such paper are still in excellent condition today, after more than a thousand years.

Developed and fitted to our compression drivers for the tweeter and mid-bass driver, Hanji paper produces a beautiful natural sound, free from any artifice. Being exceptionally light and stiff it allows the speakers to be lightning fast, so is ideally suited to both applications.

Most critical of all is the midrange compression driver. Unlike the tweeter unit, midrange drivers are required to produce considerable musical energy. They are much smaller than standard drivers, and consequently must work very intensively. After much experimentation we decided upon a titanium compound that could deliver the extraordinary dynamic shifts the AM23 and AM34 were designed to produce. The compound also delivers the neutrality and low distortion critical to midrange performance.

Seawave Acoustic’s drivers have enabled us to reach our design goals and to create a true horn speaker that we believe will attract a wide following through its neutrality and its modest size.