# KIMM researchers turn 100-inch display into 80-point speaker matrix

> **Key takeaway:** Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials researchers built a prototype 100-inch display with 80 voice-coil motors behind an aluminum panel, each capable of vibrating a specific section to localize sound to match on-screen sources.

**Published:** 2026-10-20T11:17:15+00:00 
**Source:** Hackster.io News 
**Category:** open-hardware 
**Canonical URL:** https://fosswire.org/news/kimm-researchers-turn-100-inch-display-into-80-point-speaker.html 

## Summary
The AX Convergence Research Center at KIMM has demonstrated a display that functions as a sectional speaker matrix. An LED film on aluminum serves as the radiating surface, with 80 individually addressable voice coils enabling sound positioning to any of 80 screen sections. The system uses machine learning-based real-time processing for source positioning and can combine multiple coils for low-frequency reproduction without a separate subwoofer. The team aims to scale the modular design from TVs to cinema screens and electronic billboards.

## How the modular acoustic radiation system works
- **80 voice-coil motors** arranged in a matrix behind a 100-inch aluminum panel with LED display film on the front surface
- Each coil vibrates its local section of the panel, creating **80 individually addressable speaker zones** rather than traditional left/center/right channels
- **Real-time ML processing** required on source audio/video to position each sound source to the correct screen section
- Multiple coils can be driven simultaneously to **reproduce low frequencies** without dedicated subwoofer hardware
- Prototype efficacy verified using an **acoustic camera** for measurement
- Design is **modular and scalable** from consumer TVs to cinema screens and large-format LED tile displays

## Why it matters
If commercialized, the technology could eliminate the need for separate soundbars or surround speaker setups in consumer displays, while offering more precise audio-visual alignment than channel-based mixing. The modular approach also suits large-format digital signage and cinema applications where conventional multi-speaker arrays become impractical.