Loudspeakers

Graphene is a one atom-thick lattice of carbon, a two-dimensional structure that not only demonstrates remarkable thermal and electrical properties but also lays claim to be the toughest material on the planet. It was first isolated in 2004 by two researchers at The University of Manchester – the Nobel prize-winning Professors Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov – by stripping a one-atom thick layer from a graphite block.

The material takes the form of a carbon 'sheet' with groups of atoms arranged in a hexagonal 'chicken wire' pattern [see inset picture]. This lattice offers a combination of lightness and stiffness that's necessarily brought it to the attention of loudspeaker designers, including Magico, looking to reinforce the substrate of their driver cones (a pure Graphene cone is impractical). Weighing just 0.77mg/m2, a single 'sheet' would cover the area of a football pitch and still weigh less than 1g. Moreover, its Young's modulus is higher than titanium (116GPa) or beryllium (285GPa) and comparable with synthetic diamond at ~1100GPa. Without graphene, Magico's 'Nano-Tec' bass and mid cones would not possess the extended bandwidth they currently enjoy.