SST

Sealed Suspension Technology (SST) is a technique used to maximise the sound quality of Uni-Q driver arrays in very small enclosures. SST eliminates the unwanted noise created by turbulent airflow around the tweeter when the speaker is played at high volumes, an effect unique to Uni-Q driver arrays in very small enclosures. A specially developed flexible membrane seals the air gap between the tweeter and the mid range drive unit stopping turbulent airflow around the tweeter and preventing unwanted noise. Even at high sound volumes, SST enables the benefits of Uni-Q technology to be fully utilised in the most compact of enclosures.

In a Uni-Q driver array the midrange cone must be free to move around the centrally mounted tweeter – typically there is a 1mm cylindrical air gap between them. Because of the pressure changes inside the speaker enclosure as the cone moves inwards and outwards, air is pushed and pulled through this air gap, and at high volume levels some noise can be generated due to turbulence. For normal sized enclosures the internal acoustic pressure is not sufficient to cause any turbulence – it only noticeable when the enclosure is very small and the required maximum output level is high – such as with the premium KHT3005 system. SST involves placing a flexible membrane between the cone and the tweeter housing, which allows freedom of movement for the cone but prevents the air-flow through the gap – thereby eliminating the source of the noise.