Global Speaker Driver Market By Device (Headphones/Earphones, Hearing Aids, Smart Speakers, Mobile Phones/Tablets, Loudspeakers), By Driver (Dynamic, Balanced Armature, Planar Magnetic, Electrostatic), By Size (Below 20mm, 20-110mm), By Application (Consumer, Professional/Enterprise, Medical), By Region, and Key Companies - Industry Segment Outlook, Market Assessment, Competition Scenario, Trends and Forecast 2021-2031

Speakers are machines that convert electrical audio impulses into sound waves for entertainment purposes, and this is achieved with the help of drivers. It should go without saying that speaker drivers are critical to speaker design and that we should know how they work.

Speaker drivers are the transducer parts of speakers that turn an audio signal (electrical energy) into sound (mechanical wave energy). Transducers are electronic devices that convert one type of energy into another. As previously mentioned, in the case of speaker drivers, this conversion transfers electrical energy into mechanical wave energy.

Audio signals are used to transmit electrical energy. This is channeled in the form of analog audio, specifically concerning Mort Sound waves, is the best way to describe mechanical wave energy. Although there are many different types of drivers, they always use a conductive element to move a diaphragm and produce sound.

When it comes to consumer-grade “digital” computer speakers or built-in computer speakers, the term “driver” can have a distinct connotation. The term “driver” could refer to the hardware audio driver in this scenario. This driver is a collection of files that communicate between a computer and audio devices, including speaker output devices.

Detailed Segmentation –

Based on Device Type:

• Headphones/Earphones
• Hearing Aids
• Smart Speakers
• Mobile Phones/Tablets
• Loudspeakers

Based on Driver Type:

• Dynamic Drivers
• Balanced Armature Drivers
• Planar Magnetic
• Electrostatic
• Other Driver Types

Based on Size:

• Below 20mm
• 20-110mm
• Other Sizes

Based on Application:

• Consumer
• Professional/Enterprise
• Medical
• Other Applications

Based on Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Market Dynamics –

Drivers:

The use of audio and video streaming services has increased as the popularity of Over-the-Top (OTT) solutions have grown exponentially, as has the number of subscribers, the growing trend of mobile video streaming, and greater levels of digitalization. The growing popularity of on-demand video streaming, as well as the increasing penetration of smartphones, and the availability of low-cost high-speed internet plans, are all factors contributing to the augmented use of audio/video streaming services.

Following the free transmission of TV and film material over the internet, the OTT market has gained a lot of traction. The widespread use of smartphones and high-speed internet technologies such as 4G and LTE networks have made media services for entertainment purposes more accessible. These services provide unrestricted access to millions of songs, as well as novel features such as personalized playlists and individual preferences. Therefore, the demand for headphones, earphones, and other devices with high-quality speaker drivers are subsequently increasing as well.

Restraints:

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly a billion young people throughout the world may be at risk of hearing loss owing to the adoption of harmful listening habits when using headphones or earphones. The main issue with headphones is the amount of loudness exposure they channel to each ear.

According to a study conducted by the New York City Health Department, continuous exposure to loud noise (through loudspeakers, headphones, etc.) can harm the sensitive inner ear cells, resulting in hearing impairments or complete hearing loss. Larger drivers typically produce louder sound outputs. These headphones drivers are capable of delivering extremely loud volumes of sound, putting the listeners ears at risk of permanent damage.

Opportunities:

The commercialization of 5G phones is accelerating with the implementation of 5G in many countries. In 2020, Xiaomi has revealed plans to release a 5G-enabled smartphone for under USD 300, which is likely to result in a significant increase in 5G phone sales over 4G phones.

Qualcomm and MediaTek’s announcements of 5G mobile chipsets are likely to provide expansion prospects for smartphone manufacturers to increase global sales volumes. Qualcomm revealed in 2020, that it plans to introduce 5G to its entry-level 4 Series chipsets, which are aimed at phones priced between USD 125 and USD 250.

Correspondingly, Mediatek revealed plans to release a new 5G mobile chipset for entry-level handsets in 2020. This will allow various smartphone manufacturers to acquire the largest possible proportion of the smartphone market, following the development of new 5G-compatible phones. Over the projected period, the advent of new 5G phones is anticipated to boost the demand for speaker drivers meant for these devices.

Trends:

The 20–110mm section of the speaker driver market is the biggest (volume) due to the increasing popularity of audio and video features on social networking apps such as TikTok, Dubsmash, and Funimate, which in turn, has raised the demand for smartphones. For example, in 2019, Instagram began testing a new feature called Reels.

Video conferencing has also become more widespread as people begin to isolate themselves to their houses and are mostly working from home. Zoom, Cisco Webex Meetings, and Microsoft Teams are just a few examples of video conferencing applications that have become more popular. Hence, high-quality speaker drivers for smartphones are subsequently expected to become more popular.

The hotel, travel, and tourism industries offer huge potential for smart speaker growth in the coming years. These can be used in the hospitality industry to control lighting in rooms, to play audio, learn about weather, receive travel updates, order room service and request housekeeping, phone reception, as well as check-out processes.

For example, at its InterContinental Beijing Sanlitun and InterContinental Guangzhou Exhibition Centre properties, the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) uses a customized version of Baidu’s DuerOS AI solution that includes voice assistant functionality and smart speakers, allowing guests to ask for information such as the current travel time to the airport, as well as other types of basic information.

Competitive Landscape –

• Sennheiser Electronic GmbH & Co. KG
• Samsung Electronics
• Sony Corporation
• Knowles Electronics
• Goertek
• Beyerdynamic GmbH and Co. KG
• Concraft Holding Co. Ltd.
• Eastech Holding Limited
• Fostex International
• Knowles Electronics LLC
• Merry Electronics Co. Ltd.

Recent Developments:

• In September 2020, Sennheiser introduced the CX 400BT True Wireless. It has 7mm dynamic drivers and produces high-fidelity stereo sound with deep bass, natural mids, and detailed treble.
• In May 2020, the HD 458BT wireless headphones were introduced by Sennheiser. It’s a limited-edition version of the company’s HD 450BT over-the-ear wireless headphones with bright red accents that elevate the simple design to new heights.
• In August 2019, Infinity by HARMAN was a lifestyle audio gadget brand launched by HARMAN in India. The company introduced 11 new audio items as part of this brand launch, including 6 Infinity headphones, 4 portable Bluetooth speakers, and a multimedia 2.1 Bluetooth system.

For the Speaker Driver Market research study, the following years have been considered to estimate the market size: