New JLab Epic Lab Edition True Wireless Earbuds Deliver Premium Sound with Help from Knowles

JLab has selected Knowles' RAN balanced armature (BA) drivers to deliver premium sound reproduction on the new Epic Lab Edition true wireless earbuds. The Epic Lab Edition are the first True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds to feature the Knowles Preferred Listening Response Curve, powered by the hybrid combination of a dynamic driver for the extended bass response and the Knowles balanced armature for the extended high frequencies.

Off-season, Sony Electronics jumped to the lead, and announced the WF-1000XM5 earbuds – the latest truly wireless model in its best-selling 1000X series. According to Sony's own internal research, using JEITA-compliant measurement guidelines, the new design offers the "Best Noise Canceling" by reducing external noise over a wide bandwidth, so users can focus on the music. While at it, Sony updated all other specs in this new flagship product, now ready for Bluetooth LE Audio.

On the opening day of Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2023 in Barcelona, OPPO announced a selection of flagship devices, new core connectivity products and technologies, as well as its latest R&D breakthroughs in chip technology. On the audio domain, OPPO promised to revolutionize the industry and leave Bluetooth limitations behind with its MariSilicon Y flagship audio SoC. A world first for Bluetooth wireless audio, the new SoC promises a 12Mbps data rate.

xMEMS Labs and Bujeon Electronics have partnered to create a family of 2-way speaker modules to accelerate design of next generation high-resolution and lossless audio-capable TWS earbuds. The solution integrates a high-performance 9mm dynamic driver custom-designed by Bujeon with an xMEMS' Cowell tweeter, the world’s smallest monolithic MEMS microspeaker at just 22mm. The reference design combines an xMEMS Aptos MEMS speaker amplifier to create a "drop-in" solution compatible with today’s leading TWS system-on-chips.

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.

If the market research is accurate and consumers' main priority is audio quality, then it makes sense to offer the best possible options as a way to differentiate new true wireless earbud designs. That was now attempted by Edifier, a company with access to the best available technologies and manufacturing resources. The NeoBuds Pro ANC earbuds are a new Hi-Res Audio certified TWS design, now available to pre-order on IndieGoGo.

Goertek has unveiled a new earbud reference design to help manufacturers looking to implement Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound technology speed their time to market. Powered by the Qualcomm QCC5141 Bluetooth Audio SoC, the Rox reference design is optimized for use in TWS earbuds and hearables and is designed to deliver high-resolution music, crystal-clear voice calls, and lag-free gaming — with superior connectivity and extended battery life.