Harman - Ferrari

"JBL Professional Audio System for Ferrari 458 Italia" ALumaprene[1] - ..."Notably, and reflecting this audio expert’s experience, different materials were used for different speakers. The mid-range speakers are made with Alumaprene diaphragms, which are extremely stiff and with excellent damping characteristics to provide a wide frequency response without distortion. In the 458 Italia, there are three of these, one in each door and one in the center of the dash." EDPL & Acoustic Lens (WaveBender) - ..."The 458 Italia’s engine location presented a special challenge in delivering clear, powerful mid-range and high-tone frequencies in a precisely defined space. The driver and passenger are sitting just a short distance in front of the 562 horsepower engine, which delivers carefully tuned induction and exhaust sounds. JBL Professional’s solution was the Electrodynamic Planar Loudspeaker (EDPL), an array of four ultra-flat speakers installed just behind and above the seats in the headliner. An acoustic lens, known as a wave bender, measures sound transmission and adapts it precisely to suit the occupants."

Comment: As far as I know, this is the first press release to mention the 'acoustic lens' (US 7316290). Since their release, it's taken Harman 5 years to recognize that the acoustic lens is one of the most powerful attributes of the EDPL. Technically, the acoustic lens definition in this press release and some other Harman spray[2] is not exactly accurate. The lens does indeed modify directivity for "improved" sound in the listening zone, but that's just a function of aperture dimensions vs. acoustic wavelength.

[1] As far as we know, ALumaprene is not a registered trademark as it was not listed in the USPTO last checked.

[2] http://www.automotive.harmankardon.com/en/innovations/metalmatrix.aspx