TW Audio fights counterfeiting with TWERiFY

German loudspeaker manufacturer TW Audio has introduced built-in NFC authentication across its professional loudspeaker range, allowing users to check whether a cabinet is genuine using a smartphone.

The TWERiFY system uses an NFC chip embedded into the loudspeaker cabinet, with every TW Audio loudspeaker shipped since January 2024 carrying a chip. Users can activate NFC on their phone and hold it near the chip to verify the product and access available product information. No dedicated app is required.

The move is intended to address counterfeit loudspeakers, which the company says can be difficult to distinguish from genuine products while potentially lacking the certification, components and manufacturing standards required for professional applications. The issue is particularly relevant to flown systems, where uncertified equipment can present a safety risk.

If a chip cannot be verified or the product is not recognised, TWERiFY reports that its authenticity could not be confirmed. Users can then contact TW Audio for further verification. The company said the verification algorithm is patented and designed to resist reverse engineering, replication and manipulation.

The system also provides a means of checking equipment on the second-hand market or within rental fleets. For products manufactured before 2024, TW Audio offers manual verification using the loudspeaker's serial number.

“The first purchase is only one moment in the life of a professional loudspeaker,” said Marco Deinl, CTO of TW Audio. “Our products can remain in use for 20 years or more -many of the first T24P systems we built in 2004 are still on tour today. Over that time, they may change owners, enter rental fleets or be sold on the second-hand market. TWERiFY means the product can carry its verified identity with it throughout that entire lifecycle. Whether you are the first owner, the second owner or simply renting the system for a production, you can know that what you are using is a genuine TW Audio product.”