Abstract: The invention integrates an amplifier directly into an electromechanical transducer assembly. In one embodiment of this invention, power from a power supply is supplied to what can be described as an electromechanical amplifier that includes bridge circuits that directly drive the transducer elements. Each transducer element can include its own co-located switching network, such as, for example, a bridge circuit, that can be used with other system components to control when and for how long a voltage of equal magnitude and of either a positive or negative polarity is selectively directed to the element to expand or contract it in relation to a signal desired to be acoustically transmitted. Besides permitting an output of two voltages of equal magnitude and opposite polarity, the bridge circuit also permits an output that is “open” and one that allows a dissipation of transducer element charge.