Market Update 2021: True Wireless Earbuds Evolving Toward Hearables

There’s a lot happening in the true wireless stereo (TWS) category and this market update article intends to provide a quick overview of the state-of the-art technologies and platforms in the space, as well as some reference approaches in product design. This audioXpress Market Update addresses what is happening in this vibrant product category in 2021.

This Test Bench characterizes the CD-11Nd compression driver and TD-194 1" horn from pro sound OEM, Acustica Beyma. The CD-11Nd has a diameter voice coil wound both inside and outside of a non-conduction Kapton-type former with aluminum wire. The diaphragm and surround are composed of a single piece of PM4, which is a proprietary high-tech polymer that, according to the company, has never before been used for audio. This article was published in Voice Coil, April 2021.

The product on this Test Bench is Eighteen Sound’s ND1TP Compression Driver and XT120 Horn. Already the result of the company's efforts in the aftermath of the Eighteen Sound (and Ciare) acquisition by B&C Speakers in 2018. The ultra-compact ND1TP compression driver has a 25mm (1") throat diameter driven by a 44mm (1.75") diameter edge-wound voice coil wound with copper-clad aluminum wire (CCAW) on a non-conducting Nomex former with a proprietary treatment. This article was published in Voice Coil, April 2021.

Integrating a power amplifier, microphone power supply, and analyzer required for speaker tests, the article details how the Audio Precision APx517B can save time in the overall test process through reduced setup and configuration steps. The authors also explain how this new AP solution meets the need to balance the cost of test including time, test methods, and system cost, against "the cost of failure" that might result from the expense of warranty repairs, or the possible negative impact to brand from product returns. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, April 2021.

As part of its focus on voice convergence, in its April 2021 edition, audioXpress featured a contributed article by the founder and CEO of Fluent.ai, describing how increasing consumer demand for personalized experiences has sparked the creation of the company’s speaker ID technology, and exploring the challenges that this type of technology still faces. A valuable perspective from a company positioned right at the edge of voice recognition using AI and edge processing. This article was originally published in audioXpress, April 2021.

The April 2021 edition of Voice Coil is now available and combines a wide range of topics for loudspeaker industry professionals. Starting with "Practical Considerations for Quality Control Testing of Loudspeakers," to an overview of innovations in wires and connectors, and a directory of cable and connector vendors. And, Vance Dickason looks at two compression drivers matched with factory-supplied horns - the ND1TP from Eighteen Sound and the CD-11Nd from Acustica Beyma. Now available in print and digital.

It's been precisely a year since the global COVID-19 pandemic was declared and we all had to refrain from our normal routines and shelter in place, being restricted to working from home until now. At least for the audioXpress team. A year past, and we are glad to be able to signal that during that year we've kept our publications and even grown our online audiences and achieved extremely positive results. Mainly, because we continued to offer the best content for anyone interested in following the audio industry, audio product development, audio innovations, and DIY audio.

The April 2021 issue of audioXpress is now available in print and online and it addresses a convergence of technologies in two of the most exciting product segments at the moment: True Wireless Earbuds and Voice & Communication. George Ntanavaras explores vibration measurements using piezoelectric sensors, Jens Tybo Jensen describes a highly efficient hybrid bass amplification design, and Richard Honeycutt discusses how horns have evolved to address sound directionality. And much more top-level audio electronics from top experts in the field. Get Your Copy Now!