TDK Corp. is exhibiting the "SP-NX701," a new internal amp speaker system to be marketed in October (see photo), at the World PC Expo 2001. The speakers are made of glass fiber material. This makes it possible for the same sound quality to be heard in front of the speakers and behind them, even though they are flat-type speakers. The price for a twin flat speaker system with sub woofers will be slightly under 20,000 yen. (117.13 yen = US$1)

TDK originally had no intention to develop new speakers. The firm was developing vibration-damping materials that could be use in the internal walls of helicopters. In order to try and make helicopter rides a little quieter, TDK was developing soundproofing materials capable of absorbing vibrations that occur in the internal walls of helicopter cabins.

The company came up with a material with exactly the opposite properties to those required in helicopters. A TDK spokesman said: "Development work on non-vibrating materials was being carried out, but the result was a new material with excellent properties in terms of resonance. So we looked around for a suitable application and decided on audio speakers."

Caption: The SP-NX701 speakers will go on sale in October. The speakers are made using material originally intended for use in soundproofing helicopters.