Eminent Technology

Eminent Technology

Company type	Private
Industry	Audio electronics
Founded	1983; 42 years ago (1983)
Founder	Bruce Thigpen
Headquarters	Florida, U.S.
Key people	Bruce Thigpen
Products	Home audio, audio equipment
Website	www.eminent-tech.com

Eminent Technology is an American audio electronics company based in Florida, established in 1983 by Bruce Thigpen. Their first product was an air bearing straight-line tracking tonearm for phonograph playback, and was the first implementation of a captured air bearing for tonearm use.^{[citation needed]} It was followed by a more advanced version of the tonearm.

In 1985 the company began developing planar magnetic loudspeakers and in 1987 introduced the world's first full-range push-pull^{[clarification needed]} planar magnetic loudspeaker, the LFT-3. Another of the company's products is the Thigpen Rotary Woofer. Typical subwoofer products are inefficient at producing desired sound pressure levels at frequencies below 20 Hz,^[1] but the TRW is designed to cover the range down to 1 Hz of the sound spectrum.^[2] (The technical principle would allow even zero Hz.^[3])

In the 90s Eminent Technology developed a smaller planar transducer for automotive applications. This was adapted for computer speakers as the LFT-11, a multimedia speaker system,^[4] The company licensed the technology to Sonigistix and it appeared in Monsoon and other brands.^[5]

Currently five US patents have been granted to Eminent Technology products. The company manufactures most of its products at its own facility in Tallahassee, Florida.

References

1. Barstow, Loren. "Home theater subwoofers guide — How to choose the right size and power level". Crutchfield New Media, LLC. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
2. Atkinson, John (September 16, 2016). "Now That's a Subwoofer!". Stereophile. Archived from the original on December 10, 2010. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
3. "Eminent Technology TRW-17 Subwoofer Part I: The Only Subwoofer". International Audio/Video Review. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
4. LFT-11 planar magnetic multimedia loudspeakers by Gary Beard in the December 2003 issue of Positive Feedback magazine
5. History of Eminent Technologies, retrieved March 11, 2009

External links

• Rotary Woofer site
• International Audio Review site
• Sound and Vision review
• Stereophile discussion of Bruce Thigpen's contribution to turntable tonearm development, the linear-tracking tonearm
• Michael Fremer writeup on Eminent Technology and the Rotary Woofer breakthrough
• Eminent Technology website