About The Company

Distributed Mode Loudspeaker (DML) technology has its early roots in the bending wave equations developed by Sophie Germain and Lord John William Strutt Baron Rayleigh. In The Theory of Sound, Rayleigh describes the mathematics of their groundbreaking work to be “of considerable difficulty.”

The next leap in bending mode design originated through the UK Ministry of Defence’s research to introduce composite materials into airframe construction. The materials used provided significant weight saving while maintaining or increasing the airframe’s structural rigidity. Unfortunately, the materials also converted vibrations in the airframe into sound. Recognizing the phenomenon’s potential as a loudspeaker technology, a team of engineers gained the intellectual property (IP) and formed NXT, an audio company that researched, developed, and commercialized this bending wave approach to loudspeaker design.

In 2013, Tectonic Audio Labs acquired the rights to NXT’s DML technology. The fundamental architecture of the Balanced Mode Radiator (BMR) and DML technology was born after years of research into materials and more differential equations than most would like to compute. Our unmatched technology uses a complex arrangement of optimally spaced bending wave modes in a flat, composite panel to produce the sound, which breaks the strong link between a loudspeaker’s size and bandwidth.

Tectonic has two flourishing segments. One focuses on original equipment manufacturer (OEM) solutions featuring our proprietary BMR designs, notably used in products from companies such as Bentley Motors, Valve Corporation, and Audioscenic. The other segment focuses on the DML technology for sound reinforcement and public address.

Our headquarters are in Woodinville, WA, USA. We also have offices in Great Britain, Hong Kong, and Subic Bay in the Philippines