Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

New Products

Velodyne Designing Green Subwoofers Since 1995

566700.jpg

In 1995, long before reducing the carbon footprint entered the public consciousness, Velodyne Acoustics, Inc., the world’s leading manufacturer of powered subwoofers for home theater and consumer audio, developed a patented Class D digital switching amplifier. This new design gave birth to an amplifier that used energy more efficiently, generated less heat, required no large transformer and improved reliability.

David Hall, founder and CEO of Velodyne, designed and developed the Energy Recovery System (ERS) Class D amplifier that was first used in the company’s F-1800 subwoofer and patented in 1999. Class D amplifiers typically run at 90% – 95% efficiency compared to Class AB amplifiers that operate at below 78% efficiency. In addition to the Class D design, Velodyne’s ERS amplifiers recover some of the energy wasted by the speaker’s voice coil and reuse it, thus driving efficiency even higher, up to 97%.

Many past and present Velodyne subwoofers utilize the Class D design including Digital Drive, Optimum, DEQ-R, SubContractor, MicroVee, MiniVee, and the flagship Digital Drive 1812 Signature Edition. The Impact Series is also moving from a Class AB platform to Class D.

Extending the company’s green initiatives to other areas within design and manufacturing, Velodyne is moving to a higher grade MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard) in the production of subwoofer cabinets that complies with the new CARB (California Air Resources Board) standard, which is the toughest production standard in the world and assures that Velodyne subwoofers will exhibit low formaldehyde emissions. For product packaging, Velodyne is currently conducting drop testing on a single carton solution for shipping its subs, which will result in an earth-friendly solution in the reduction of the amount of materials needed.

“We have a long history of commitment to the environment and energy efficiency and it’s an important consideration in everything we do,” said Bruce Hall, president of Velodyne. “Our Class D amplifiers are just one part of a multi-faceted approach to improve the performance of our subwoofers and protect the environment as well.”

Velodyne products are fully RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliant. RoHS is a European directive aimed to control the use of certain hazardous substances in the production of new electrical and electronic equipment. In effect since 2006, the directive restricts the use of mercury, lead, hexavalent chromium, cadmium and a range of flame retardants.

Velodyne is also working towards an ENERGY STAR rating on its subwoofers and implementing a 1 watt standby mode to comply with European standards. ENERGY STAR is a joint program started in 1992 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy as a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The EU’s Ecodesign of Energy-using Products (EuP) Directive mandates standby power consumption limits and is designed to improve green performance and ban the worst performing products from the EU market.

Reducing its carbon footprint remains a priority at Velodyne and extends well beyond the design and manufacturing process. To help decrease emissions and energy usage, Velodyne worked with the California Public Utilities Commission’s AirCare Plus program to reduce energy consumption in their HVAC units, installed sensor lights in all offices and restrooms, and skylights were built in the manufacturing area. A watchdog program was instituted to make sure all lights and computers are turned off at the end of each day. Cardboard, paper, old computer monitors and printers, and metals like copper are recycled. Recycle bins for paper are located in each work area and bins for aluminum, glass and plastic are located in the company cafeteria. As desktop computers become obsolete, they are typically replaced with laptop versions which use less energy.

About Velodyne
Velodyne Acoustics, Inc., founded in 1983, is universally recognized as the leading manufacturer of high-performance, low distortion, powered subwoofers at all price levels. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, the company’s technically innovative audio products are available through a select group of authorized dealers, custom installers, and distributors worldwide.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

Latest Products

Soundcore Boom 3i portable Bluetooth Speaker floating in water

New Products

Rugged, floating Bluetooth speaker built to survive saltwater, drops, and your worst outdoor mishaps. Expect serious bass, 16-hour playtime, and an emergency alarm that...

Beyerdynamic AVENTHO 100 Wireless Headphones Lifestyle Beyerdynamic AVENTHO 100 Wireless Headphones Lifestyle

New Products

Beyerdynamic AVENTHO 100 wireless headphones offer retro style, German-engineered sound, ANC, and travel-friendly features at a competitive price in 2025.

Focal Diva Mezza Utopia Loudspeakers Focal Diva Mezza Utopia Loudspeakers

New Products

Focal’s Diva Mezza Utopia is a $70,000 high-end wireless speaker system with Naim Class A/B amps, UWB streaming, and app control—no separates required, no...

KEF XIO Soundbar in Silver Grey mounted on-wall KEF XIO Soundbar in Silver Grey mounted on-wall

New Products

KEF XIO Soundbar brings Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and hi-res streaming to a sleek 5.1.2 system with premium design, VECO bass tech, and wide connectivity.

LG OLED evo M5 Wireless TV Lifestyle Gaming LG OLED evo M5 Wireless TV Lifestyle Gaming

HDTV 4K & 8K TV

Top-of-the-line LG OLED picture technology in a 77-inch screen size with zero cable clutter for a sleek home theater or gaming setup.

Orange Amplifiers O Turntable Angle Lifestyle Orange Amplifiers O Turntable Angle Lifestyle

New Products

With a $699 tag, the O Turntable is belt-driven and comes with a pre-installed MM cartridge and a built-in phono preamp for easy connection...

Gift Ideas?

Amazon Prime Day is July 8-11, 2025

Daily Deals

Amazon Prime Day is a four-day shopping event from July 8-11, 2025 offering the biggest discounts of the year on consumer electronics.

You May Also Like

Advertisement

ecoustics is a hi-fi and music magazine offering product reviews, podcasts, news and advice for aspiring audiophiles, home theater enthusiasts and headphone hipsters. Read more

Copyright © 1999-2024 ecoustics | Disclaimer: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.



SVS Bluesound PSB Speakers NAD Cambridge Audio Q Acoustics Denon Marantz Focal Naim Audio RSL Speakers