About Menlo Scientific
Menlo Scientific is a 25 year old specialist audio consultancy, usually working for three types of firms.
- American technology suppliers (materials, parts and Intellectual Property
like DSP code)
- Large Asian manufacturers who buy US technology
- Brands with global distribution who buy from Asia
American Technology
We have introduced many new technologies and materials directly
to Asian factories looking for a competitive edge in the market.
Menlo Scientific worked with Ferrofluidics Corporation (now FerroTec)
for many years - and still does. We worked for years with
DuPont, helping them bring various new grades of Kapton (polyimide)
film to the speaker market. We now work with new film vendors
whose products may be formed into speaker cones as well as
enclosures (Propex's Curv). We have worked with companies selling additives
needed to make high quality paper cones. We currently work with Audyssey
Labs, whose DSP room correction systems improves the sound of consumer
receivers, and an early stage wireless home theater startup.
Offshore Manufacturing
Menlo Scientific began working directly with the owners of large
speaker and audio electronics factories in Korea in the 1980s, and
before then with US vendors. We have followed the industry as
it moved away from the US: Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, and now China. We have the personal relationships with the
management and staff of factories building everything from enclosures, to crossovers, amplifiers, and of course the ever popular speaker cone.
Global Brands
We have been fortunate to work with some of the world's best
known brands - such as Microsoft (XBox headsets, webcam audio),
Apple (first AV Monitor), Cisco (transducers on their first VoIP
business phone),
as well as more specialized suppliers of unique products, materials
and technologies: Armstrong (iCeilings) in commercial sound, Brush-Wellman (foil
for beryllium
tweeter domes), Ferrotec (ferrofluid). We also work with
Monster Cable, the leading provider of audio and video
interconnects and speaker cable, developing new products.
Industrial Design
We have worked with Pentagram (SF office) for the last two years, and currently work with Ammunition Group. We have worked with IDEO Design (Cisco project), frog design (Acer project), GVO and others, including in-house designers at many firms.