The Acoustical Challenges of Designing True Wireless Earphones

Expanding the perspective on the evolution toward hearables, this article explores the current trends as well as the acoustical challenges and solutions for designing true wireless earphones. The article explains the enabling technologies currently converging as the TWS market continues to grow and use cases multiply, with more consumers using wireless earbuds for a diverse and varied set of applications, from listening to podcasts and audiobooks to Internet meetings and interacting with voice assistants. This article was originally published in audioXpress, April 2022.

A new Preferred Listening Response Curve that could define the next standard in high-resolution earphones, was the result from a new research by Knowles Corporation. The research is intended to guide product designers, and reflects the findings of an internal effort by the balanced armature manufacturer to determine the best and most satisfying music listening experience for consumers. In the research report, Knowles proposes an evolution of the Harman response curve specific to in-ears that takes into consideration frequencies above 10kHz

To Wire or Not To Wire? Why not have both? Zorloo, a consumer electronics brand from Hong Kong introduced a product design that does both and manages to explore the best of wired or wireless audio. The Zophia Wire.less earphones support both modes by combining Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX support, with a built-in USB-DAC on the pluggable cable that allows listening to Hi-Res Audio and MQA files at their best.

Shure announced the introduction of the KSE1200 Electrostatic Earphone System, a premium, portable audio-amplification solution for consumers of high-resolution audio. The new model is based on the KSE1500 — the world’s-first Sound Isolating electrostatic earphone system previously released by Shure — but featuring only the analog input for use with premium audio players. By removing the USB input and integrated DAC and DSP, Shure was able to make the KSE1200 considerably more affordable.

GRAS Sound & Vibration, the world-renowned manufacturer of high quality measurement microphones and related acoustic equipment, announced the availability of a new, High Resolution Ear Simulator designed specifically to meet the need for reliable and repeatable measurements of personal audio devices at high frequencies. An ideal solution for development of in-ear as well as supra- and circumaural headphones.

North America’s premier headphone audio event is coming to the UK for the first time this summer. CanJam London 2015, the first of Head-Fi’s official CanJam events to be held in Europe, will take place on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th August 2015, bringing together the world’s best names in high-quality headphone design.

OPPO Digital keeps bringing positive surprises since they have launched their flagship PM-1 Planar Magnetic headphones and companion high-end headphone amplifier, the HA-1. Now OPPO announces the launching of the HA-2 portable hi-res headphone amplifier and DAC, also previewing its new PM-3 affordable Planar headphones.