Abstract: ‘Soundbug’ is a device using a wideband linear actuator to convert any hard or smooth board as a flat panel speaker. This device is driven by magnetostrictive material Terfenol-D and can turn nearly any flat surface into a soundboard. Its timbre is differentiated from the material of the board (wood, metal, glass, plastic and etc.). Finite element method was used to simulate the vibration characteristics of the board actuated by a soundbug. For some typical materials of the boards, the amplitude-frequency responses, displacement distributions at some special frequencies, and the number of free vibration modes in the frequency range from 30 Hz to 16 kHz were analyzed. From the simulation results and the comparison with a flat panel speaker, conclusions are drawn as follows. The acoustics of the board actuated by a soundbug at mid-high frequency band is good. For a board of higher sound velocity material, the acoustics performance is also good at high-frequency band. For a board of lower sound velocity material, the acoustics performance is good at low-mid frequency band. In addition, suggestions about the application of soundbugs and the improvement of their timbre are proposed.