As gaming grows ever more competitive, the quest for an edge moves beyond GPUs and high-refresh monitors. Audio is emerging as a critical performance factor, and solid-state speaker technology might just revolutionize it. We spoke with Pierce Hening, Field Applications Engineer at xMEMS and lifelong gamer, to explore how their cutting-edge tech could change esports forever.
To start off, can you briefly introduce yourself and your role at xMEMS? How did your background in gaming influence your work with solid-state audio?
I have a strong background in professional audio engineering, specializing in developing and optimizing acoustic and DSP solutions for cutting-edge audio technology. My expertise spans algorithm development, spatial audio processing, and system design for high-performance audio applications. Beyond my professional work, I am a passionate hobbyist gamer, exploring the latest gaming technologies and audio-driven gaming experiences. My combined interests in sound engineering and gaming fuel my drive to enhance immersive audio solutions for both professional and consumer applications.
I’m currently a Field Applications Engineer at xMEMS, and I also take on responsibilities that align closely with an Acoustic Engineer. My role involves working closely with customers to integrate our solid-state speaker technology into their products, providing both technical support and acoustic tuning expertise to ensure optimal audio performance.
I’ve been a lifelong gamer, which has been surprisingly influential in my approach to audio, and specifically spatial audio. Gamers tend to be very sensitive to spatial audio cues, latency, and sound design in general, things like localization accuracy, dynamic range, and immersive soundscapes. That sensitivity has sharpened my ability to critically evaluate audio experiences from a user perspective and has helped me understand what really matters in terms of audio performance, not just from a lab-measurement standpoint, but in real-world usage. That knowledge has translated directly into how I work with customers and guide design decisions at xMEMS.
What exactly are solid-state micro speakers, and how do they differ from traditional coil-and-magnet drivers used in most gaming headsets today?
Solid-state microspeakers replace traditional coil-and-magnet designs with thin-film piezoelectric actuators embedded on a single piece of silicon. Instead of moving a voice coil and diaphragm, the silicon surface vibrates to create sound. This approach eliminates many of the mechanical limitations of conventional drivers, no magnets, no coils, no surrounds, resulting in much faster, more accurate sound reproduction.
For gaming, that means players get audio that’s clearer and more precise, with nearly zero delay between the action on-screen and the audio. In comparison, traditional dynamic drivers have more inertia and slower response times, which can muddy directional cues and blur sound detail, especially in fast-paced environments.
Your technology claims to offer ultra-precise 3D spatial audio with virtually zero latency. Can you explain how that works in layman’s terms for our gamer readers?
Imagine audio is like a human reflex. With traditional speakers, there’s a small delay, like a slow reflex, between when a sound is triggered in-game and when a player actually hears it. xMEMS’ solid-state speakers have a snap reaction, meaning that when a sound is triggered, the speaker responds instantly, without needing to “ramp up” or “cool down” like conventional drivers do.
That ultra-fast response allows the speakers to reproduce directional sounds like footsteps, gunshots, and enemy callouts with far greater precision. It helps players’ brains form a more accurate 3D map of the action where they aren’t just hearing where a sound is coming from, but pinpointing its exact location with better clarity and speed.
How critical is accurate sound localization in competitive esports? Can you give an example of how your speakers enhance gameplay situations like clutch moments or close encounters?
Accurate sound localization is crucial in competitive esports and can determine the outcome of make-or-break moments. In fast-paced scenarios where visual information is limited, players rely heavily on precise audio cues to locate opponents, anticipate movements, and react in real time.
To validate how our solid-state speakers impact that kind of gameplay, we conducted lab studies where participants used various headphones, including xMEMS-equipped models, to pinpoint the direction of sound sources in a 360-degree field. We measured their localization accuracy, speed of response, and confusion rate.
The results were clear: xMEMS-enabled headphones consistently delivered localization accuracy on par with, or even exceeding that of, high-end professional models. Users were able to detect sound cues faster and with greater directional precision, thanks to reduced sound spread and superior clarity. That level of accuracy helps players lock onto an opponent’s position quickly, a critical advantage in high-stakes moments where every millisecond counts.
What challenges do traditional headsets face in high-stakes gaming scenarios that solid-state audio aims to solve?
The biggest challenge is speed and clarity. Traditional coil-and-magnet drivers take time to respond to changes in audio, and that latency, even if it’s just a few milliseconds, can muddy positional cues. There’s also distortion at high volumes or when too many sound elements are layered on top of each other, which is common in gaming environments.
Solid-state drivers address both problems by offering nearly instantaneous impulse response and maintaining clarity across a wide dynamic range. So, when multiple sounds are happening at once like footsteps, reloads, comms chatter, and environmental noise, solid-state speakers help ensure no information gets lost or smeared. It’s built to keep players locked into the action without audio distractions or confusion.
From a hardware standpoint, how does silicon-based speaker construction improve durability, efficiency, or audio quality?
Because xMEMS’ speakers are manufactured entirely from silicon, they are far more consistent and rugged than traditional speakers made from multiple components. The monolithic construction also helps reduce manufacturing variability, and makes it easier for manufacturers to tune and deploy at scale with more reliable quality control.
From an efficiency standpoint, solid-state speakers are more power-conscious and generate less heat, which is helpful for both battery-powered and thermally sensitive devices.
And in terms of audio quality, the solid silicon diaphragm maintains extremely low distortion across low, mid and high frequencies, which translates to cleaner treble, better detail, and sharper spatial awareness in gameplay.
Esports players often deal with long hours of wear. How does solid-state tech impact comfort and listening fatigue over extended sessions?
First, because our drivers are monolithic and silicon-based, they’re much thinner and lighter than traditional coil-based speakers. That allows for slimmer and lighter headset designs, which directly improves physical comfort, less clamping force, less weight on the ears and head. We have received a significant amount of feedback that users feel like they could listen for hours on end without getting any ear fatigue.
Second, from an acoustic perspective, xMEMS speakers have a much faster impulse response. That means the audio is cleaner, more accurate, and less fatiguing over time. You’re not getting that subtle distortion or ‘muddiness’ and resonances that can wear on your ears during long sessions. Instead, the detail and clarity stay consistent, which helps with things like spatial awareness and reaction time, both of which are crucial in esports.
Lastly, because our tech doesn’t rely on components like voice coils and diaphragms that generate heat, there’s less thermal buildup over time, which can also subtly contribute to comfort during long wear.
This technology isn’t yet on the market. What’s the timeline for commercial launch, and will we see these integrated in mainstream headsets soon?
Consumer headphones with xMEMS technology will start shipping later this year.
How are professional teams or developers reacting to this innovation? Have any esports organizations or game publishers shown interest or tested the tech yet?
I’ve had the chance to speak with a few gaming companies and professional audio engineers, and the response to our technology has been overwhelmingly positive. There’s a lot of excitement around its potential, especially in gaming.
We’re really interested in connecting with professional esports teams to demo our solutions firsthand. There’s been a noticeable trend in major tournaments where players use IEMs under noise-canceling headsets, and we see that as a great fit for our technology.
In addition to our over-ear solutions, our IEM reference designs offer a level of clarity, speed, and precision that, in my opinion, surpass anything currently on the market. I’d be thrilled to work with a team and let them experience the difference our solid-state audio can make in a competitive setting.
Looking ahead, how do you see solid-state audio reshaping the future of competitive gaming and player performance?
I believe solid-state audio is going to unlock a new era of performance-first headsets. Gamers at every level, from amateur to professional, are looking for any edge they can get, and audio is often the most underutilized part of the setup.
As solid-state technology becomes more widespread and hits affordable price points, a new class of esports-focused headsets will emerge that prioritizes speed, clarity, and positional accuracy, not just bass and volume. That shift could level the playing field and elevate game sense for a broader range of players.
Ultimately, I see solid-state audio as a foundational change in how gaming headsets are built and how players experience in-game audio.
This conversation with Pierce Hening makes it clear: audio is no longer just about volume or bass, it’s becoming a true competitive differentiator. As xMEMS rolls out its solid-state technology to mainstream headsets, gamers at every level could soon experience the kind of clarity and speed once reserved for pro-tier setups. It’s an exciting time for esports audio, and we’ll be watching closely as this technology hits the market and starts reshaping how players train, compete, and win.