Smart speakers

Whether in cinemas, concert halls, music or post-production studios, loudspeakers consume substantial amounts of power even when they are idle. In order to maximally reduce power consumption in standby mode, the Finnish company Genelec installs an automatic energy-saving device in its loudspeakers. Intelligent Signal Sensing technology (ISS) increases the energy efficiency of the loudspeakers by monitoring the audio input signal of the loudspeaker to detect whether it is in use. If the ISS circuit does not detect an audio signal for a fixed period of time, it automatically puts the loudspeaker into low-power sleep mode, during which the loudspeaker will consume less than 0.5 Watts. When ISS detects an audio input signal, the loudspeaker immediately turns itself on again.

The average power consumption of a typical Genelec loudspeaker in sleep mode is between 3–6 Watts. Because of this signal sensor, the savings in electrical power for a single loudspeaker, connected eight hours per day, can amount to about 16 kWh over the course of a year. “If a system is continuously powered, the energy saving potential goes up to about 50 kWh”, as Genelec representative Howard Jones points out. For a surround system, the annual electrical energy saving for an always-on system is about 340 kWh. For a modern immersive loudspeaker system, the annual savings amount to about 630 kWh. In almost all modes, energy consumption is reduced by means of extremely high efficiency Class D amplifiers.

Sustainability has been an important consideration for the Finnish company since the late 1970‘s, when it began manufacturing loudspeaker systems for professional sound studios, broadcasters, and post-production facilities throughout the world. When the new factory was built, which brought together research, development, and manufacturing under one solar roof, all aspects of energy efficiency were carefully considered. With the adoption of the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards, the company made a strategic commitment to sustainability and treated it as being equally important as sound quality and profitability.

Genelec’s loudspeaker housings are mainly cast from recycled aluminum, whose power demands are twenty-times lower than virgin aluminum. When it comes to the procurement of materials, Genelec always prefers to choose suppliers that are located close to their factory. “In the electronics industry, global supply chains are often complex and involve multiple participants and companies, which makes it challenging to ensure complete transparency”, emphasizes Jones. “We audit our suppliers to ensure that they meet agreed-upon standards. To establish clearer sustainability requirements for our suppliers, we published a supplier Code of Conduct.”

Photos: © Genelec