The new solid-state xMEMS Labs Lassen micro speaker is a silicon micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) tweeter. It eliminates the need for a separate piezo amplifier while delivering premium sound quality in wireless earbuds, xMEMS Labs said Thursday. As the company’s latest tiny speaker, it could play a big role in next-gen buds.
“Lassen is a revolutionary design based on a proven platform,” said Mike Housholder, VP of Marketing & Business Development at xMEMS. “It will bring the benefits of 2-way earbud audio to a broader market by eliminating the extra cost of the piezo amplifier and minimizing the space and power required to deliver a truly immersive TWS sound experience.”
xMEMS Labs Lassen tweeter promises immersive sound without piezo amplifier in wireless earbuds
xMEMS Labs provides its silicon-based audio technologies to earbuds and headphones manufacturers. This latest innovation could soon play a part in next-generation earbuds coming from various makers, although xMEMS Labs hasn’t said if Apple and other major players are or could join its growing list of clients.
The Lassen micro-speaker represents an advancement in miniaturized audio technology. Operating in the crucial 6kHz to 20kHz frequency range — where much of the detail and clarity in music resides — the new tweeter can achieve sound pressure levels of up to 115dB from a standard 1Vrms audio output without requiring additional amplification.
For anyone used to the single- and dual-driver designs of AirPods and other popular models, this development could mean future earbuds alternatives offer substantially improved audio fidelity while maintaining even more-compact form factors. And with costs savings from the manufacturing process, some of new great-sounding buds might be quite affordable.
Size and power advantages
Photo: xMEMS Labs
Apple’s design philosophy has always emphasized miniaturization and power efficiency — areas where the new Lassen tweeter excels. Measuring just 3.2 x 5 x 1.15 mm and consuming only microwatts of power, the component addresses two critical constraints in wireless earbud design.
For context, true two-way speaker systems use separate drivers for high and low frequencies. They’ve long been the standard in high-quality home and professional audio equipment. Bringing this approach to wireless earbuds could significantly enhance the listening experience for music, podcasts and spatial audio content that Apple has aggressively promoted through Apple Music.
xMEMS Labs’ own previously developed Cowell and Muir MEMS micro speakers for 2-way earbuds require a separate piezo amplifier chip. Manufacturers like Creative Labs and Soundpeats use those silicon chips in their earbuds.
Cost reduction opens new possibilities
By removing the need for a separate piezo amplifier chip, the company claims to have reduced integration costs by approximately 25 percent. The cost reduction could enable more manufacturers to incorporate premium audio technology into mid-range wireless earbuds. That potentially offering Apple users alternatives that match or exceed AirPods’ audio quality at competitive price points.
While Apple has repeatedly refined its AirPods line with features like active noise cancellation and spatial audio processing, the fundamental speaker technology has not seen radical innovation. The solid-state MEMS approach from xMEMS may offer advantages in detail and clarity that are increasingly important for high-resolution audio streaming.
Like other xMEMS products, Lassen is manufactured in high-capacity semiconductor wafer fabs. That leverages processes similar to those used in other consumer electronics components. This approach offers superior quality control and scalability compared to traditional speaker manufacturing methods.
Photo: xMEMS Labs
xMEMS Labs Lassen tweeter: Market impact and timeline
While Apple continues to dominate the wireless earbud market with its AirPods, the company faces increasing competition. That comes from big brands like Sony and Samsung as well as smaller makers like Soundcore and EarFun. The availability of advanced audio components like the Lassen tweeter could accelerate this competition. It could enable smaller manufacturers to differentiate through superior sound quality.
Samples of the xMEMS Labs Lassen tweeter (TWS) are available now to manufacturers, with mass production scheduled for September 2025, xMEMS Labs said. This timeline suggests that Apple users could see new wireless earbud options the technology as soon as the 2025 holiday shopping season or early 2026.
Developments like the new Lassen tweeter may eventually force Apple to incorporate it or respond with its own audio driver innovations. That or risk losing the high-end segment of the market it helped create.
More Cult of Mac coverage of xMEMS Labs audio technology:
- xMEMS Labs drives faster adoption of solid-state micro speakers for earbuds
- New xMEMS micro speaker brings big sound to smartwatches, AR glasses and more
- xMEMS bets tiny silicon ‘fan on a chip’ will change mobile-device cooling
- First over-ear headphones with xMEMS solid-state micro speakers coming soon
- Creative Aurvana Ace 2 earbuds: A glimpse into portable audio’s future [Review]
- Noble’s swanky new earbuds use xMEMS’ advanced solid-state driver
- Coming ‘ultrasonic’ revolution could change wireless earbuds forever
