A type of surface acoustic wave (SAW) device is introduced in which coupling between the transducer and the acoustic medium is achieved using a magnetostrictive thin film. These magnetically transduced SAW devices have several advantages over conventional piezoelectric SAWs, and may expand the functionality of SAW devices in general. Several possible designs are presented, along with data from two prototypes. Results from these devices are promising, and they indicate that several acoustic modes, both surface and bulk, can be stimulated. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(00)19108-X].