Abstract: Surface acoustic wave devices having broadband characteristics with a desired transfer efficiency of less than unity at a desired center frequency are described, the devices incorporate a multistrip coupler array of a predetermined number N of conductive strips disposed on a piezoelectric substrate which is capable of supporting two tracks of approximately equal widths of propagating surface acoustic wave energy, the array having a tapping portion in one of the tracks and an approximately equal length launching portion in the other of the tracks for launching only a portion of the energy incident on the tapping portion, the strip periods p.sub.1 and p.sub.2 of the two portions being different and the ratio of p.sub.1 /p.sub.2, in conjunction with N, provides the desired characteristic.