The Israeli tech community is better known for its advancements in biotech, autonomous vehicles, drones, irrigation, communication platforms that we have all used, and mobile computing — but what few people know is that some of the more successful loudspeaker companies have also come from the State of Israel. Morel and Magico are two that come to mind almost immediately.
Magico began in Israel and relocated to the United States where it has become a global powerhouse in the $10,000+ category.
EIC Ian White has visited Morel’s factory in Nes Tziona (outskirts of Rehovot along the coast) to watch how they manufacture their OEM drivers for home and car audio brands and came away very impressed.
Driver innovation is a big focus of Israeli speaker companies and SonicEdge, which is based further up the coast closer to the ancient (and very expensive) city of Caesarea, in the town of Binyamina-Giv’at Ada, has something very unique that could change how TWS earbuds are made going forward.
The company is also based in Denmark, where it conducts its ASIC development.
As a speaker shrinks in size, how it handles resonance becomes a more complex challenge and that can lead to the sound quality being compromised. To address this issue, SonicEdge has developed a technology that generates ultrasound from multiple micro-sized speakers, each no wider as a strand of a hair.
This assembly transforms the ultrasound to audible sound using a patented acoustic-mechanical frequency transformer. These speakers can be used in a variety of small form factor applications, the SonicTwin is another variation on this concept.
What SonicTwin Is
SonicEdge claims that SonicTwin is the world’s smallest integrated speaker-microphone combo within a single 8 x 4 x 1 mm housing undesigned for True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds and headphones.
Using SonicEdges’s take on modulated ultrasound technology, SonicTwin eliminates mechanical vibrations, enabling the seamless integration of speakers and sensors. This results in high Sound Pressure Levels (SPL) in an ultra-compact form factor, making its uses in TWS earbuds very practical.
From Moti Margalit, CEO and founder of SonicEdge: “SonicTwin is a game-changer,…It unlocks immersive, integrated audio solutions and sets a new standard for wearables and beyond. Its ultra-compact size enables true in-ear canal integration, providing unmatched performance, comfort, and active noise cancellation (ANC) for TWS earbuds and headphones. With SonicTwin, manufacturers can design smaller devices or allocate more space for larger batteries, offering unprecedented freedom in product design.”
Noise Cancelation Enchancement
Traditional noise cancelation systems (ANC) performance is limited by speaker microphone placement. SonicTwin provides three ANC advantages in this area:
- Zero physical offsets between sound generation and sensing
- Elimination of mechanical interference between components
- Ultra-low latency in noise detection and cancellation These factors together enable more precise and effective noise cancellation.
From Ari Mizrachi, CTO and co-founder of SonicEdge: “SonicTwin reduces latency and enables better ANC…Our modulated ultrasound technology replaces traditional voice coils, resulting in higher efficiency, superior sound quality, and co-packaged sensors—all in size once thought impossible.”
Air Pumping
SonicEdge’s modulated ultrasound technology acts as an air pump working hundreds of thousands of times per second, changing how low frequencies are generated. While traditional speakers rely on large membrane displacement to move enough air for low frequencies, SonicEdge replaces membrane size with pump speed.
By operating at ultrasonic frequencies, tiny silicon membranes can move air as effectively as much larger conventional speakers. This approach enables full-spectrum sound reproduction, including deep bass, from a dramatically smaller form factor than conventional speakers.
Acoustic Advantages
Traditional earbuds often struggle with acoustic coupling to the ear canal due to their size and placement limitations. The ultra-compact form factor of SonicTwin enables optimal positioning deeper in the ear canal, providing:
- Better acoustic seal for improved bass response
- More effective noise isolation
- Reduced power requirements to achieve the same perceived volume
- More consistent audio performance across users
Design Highlights
Pure silicon MEMS technology is designed to deliver exceptional performance. Modulated ultrasound supports high SPL levels from extremely small form factors, while an electrostatic drive mechanism provides precise control and high efficiency. This combination enables SonicTwin to push the boundaries of what’s possible in micro-speakers, from standalone units to integrated solutions like SonicTwin.
SonicTwin’s Ultra-Compact design facilitates the following advantages:
- True in-ear canal integration for better acoustics and comfort
- More space is available for batteries or additional features in TWS devices
- New form factor possibilities previously impossible with traditional components
- Simplified manufacturing with fewer components
Simplifying Production
By reducing the number of components, SonicTwin minimizes production complexity which is the time needed to get to market. As part of SonicEdge’s MEMS-based product portfolio, SonicTwin paves the way for next-generation integrated speaker-sensor solutions that can power applications in environmental awareness, health monitoring, and beyond.
Device Applications
In addition to TWS earbuds, SonicEdge is looking to use SonicTwin in other devices such as:
- Hearing aids and medical devices
- AR/VR headsets
- Smart glasses
- Environmental sensing devices
- Biometric monitoring systems
- IoT devices requiring audio capability
The Bottom Line
With the increasing popularity of smaller electronic devices, such as earbuds, smartwatches, smart glasses, and more, the need for micro-sized speakers and microphones is becoming more important.
SonicEdge doesn’t sell directly to consumers but provides its technologies to brands that make appropriate products.
However, SonicEdge is not the only company in the micro-sized speaker space. We have also reported on xMEM’s Labs whose own technologies are implemented in several products including the Creative Aurvana Ace & Ace 2 Wireless Earbuds and Noble Audio FoKus Triumph Wireless Earbuds.
Availability and Pricing
Engineering samples of SonicTwin will become available to select earbud makers in 2025 and is expected to reach consumer audio products in 2026.
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