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An “ultrasonic sound gun” is a handheld parametric speaker: it sends audio toward a chosen direction by modulating sound onto ultrasound and projecting it through an array of ultrasonic transducers. The result can make music seem concentrated in a narrow, aimable beam, but it is not a laser-like privacy field, and published measurements for the cited handheld builds do not establish its range, beamwidth, or sound quality.
What is an ultrasonic sound gun?
The phrase refers to a directional or parametric speaker, sometimes called an audio spotlight. Unlike a conventional loudspeaker that spreads audible sound broadly, a parametric speaker uses ultrasound to create a more narrowly directed listening area. Hackaday describes a DIY project of this kind as focusing soundwaves into a narrow beam: Hackaday’s 2020 report.
How does a parametric speaker make ultrasound audible?
The device modulates an audio signal onto a high-frequency ultrasonic carrier and drives an array of transducers to project it. Air behaves nonlinearly, allowing part of the modulated signal to be demodulated into audible sound along the beam. Hackaday notes that sound directionality depends on the source’s size and frequency, and that a practical directed beam therefore uses ultrasound; it gives about 20 kHz as a conventional upper reference for human hearing, not a precise limit for every listener: Hackaday, 2020.
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What does a real DIY build involve?
A simple reported prototype
In the 2020 build, the maker used a 555 timer, an inexpensive Bluetooth audio module, and a 3D-printed gun-shaped enclosure. The report says raising the output volume damaged the cheap Bluetooth module. This is evidence of a hobby prototype, not a rugged or turnkey product: Hackaday, 2020.
A more structured 2026 implementation
A project published on Hackaday.io on March 3, 2026, documents a signal chain with a Bluetooth receiver, preamplifier, RP2040-based modulation, driver, and ultrasonic transducer array. It uses a 40 kHz PWM carrier and a 3-cell, 11.1 V LiPo supply with buck and boost converters. These are this project’s design choices, not universal specifications for parametric speakers.
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| Stage | Part or implementation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Audio input | MH-M18 Bluetooth receiver | Receives audio wirelessly. |
| Preamp | MCP6022 | Conditions the audio signal. |
| Modulation | RP2040 ADC/PWM; 40 kHz carrier | Processes audio and produces the modulated carrier. |
| Driver | IXDN614PI | Drives the ultrasonic transducers. |
| Transducer array | TCT40-16T | Projects the ultrasonic carrier. |
| Power | 3-cell 11.1 V LiPo, buck and boost converters | Supplies the project’s electronics. |
The component sequence and values above describe the Hackaday.io project by Nasser, not a validated recipe for other transducers or circuit layouts. The 40 kHz carrier is one implementation’s value; it should not be confused with the approximately 20 kHz conventional upper-hearing reference.
What should you expect from the sound?
The cited reports support the basic expectation of narrow, aimable audio and the possibility of hearing reflected sound from a surface. They do not report standardized beamwidth, maximum range, frequency response, distortion, sound-pressure measurements, or exposure limits for the handheld builds. Without those measurements, it is not possible to make reliable claims about how far the beam carries, how loud or accurate the music will sound, or how much it can be heard outside the intended direction. A directional speaker is not guaranteed private or silent to bystanders.
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How does a DIY project compare with an installed audio spotlight?
For professional installations, Holosonics lists Audio Spotlight products and applications including museums, galleries, banks, self-checkout kiosks, healthcare, libraries, digital signage, tradeshows, retail, and command-and-control centers. That is a different category from an experimental handheld build: buyers who need a supported installation should consult the manufacturer’s product information rather than infer commercial performance from hobby projects: Holosonics.
Quick Recap
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- Waterproof,strong sound pressure,good consistency.
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