New Ways to Measure Noise Cancelling, Transparency, and Other Modes in Headphones and Earphones

Now that headphones and earphones are adding situational awareness, hearing protection and hearing enhancement features, HEAD acoustics created new test methods to evaluate these functions, faithfully simulating environments that a consumer might typically encounter when using products with these features. As an experienced reviewer in this category, Brent Butterworth was invited to visit HEAD acoustics' US headquarters in Brighton, MI, to learn about all the solutions the company has developed for this purpose, based on measurement techniques outlined in ETSI standards.

audioXpress December 2023 includes a market overview of multiroom audio, Brent Butterworth writes about new ways to measure ANC earbuds, and Stuart Yaniger measured the new Axign and GaN Systems Class-D audio amplifier board. Richard Honeycutt writes about tubes, BJTs, JFETs, MOSFETs, and ICs, and Dimitri Danyuk, discusses JFETs in audio circuits. Douglas Self explains how to optimize variable-frequency tone controls, and Jan Didden shares his eDD direct-drive amplifier project.

With the availability of the HEL/HER 4.4 ViBRIDGE Flexible Pinna for HMS II.3/5, the industry as gained a vital testing tool for in-ear headset designs that utilize bone conduction sensors. Evaluating these systems is vital to optimize near-end structure-borne sound to improve speech quality in the presence of background noise, improve echo cancellation, and double-talk performance. The unique technology developed by HEAD acoustics is being enthusiastically embraced by the industry.

As many audioXpress readers already learned from reading the article by Hans W. Gierlich on the Benefits of Using Structure-Borne Sound in Headset Signal Processing, HEAD acoustics created a complete test solution for in-ear and headset devices using bone-conduction sensors. There are good reasons for developers and manufacturers to explore the use of bone-conduction sensors and test them with the new ViBRIDGE solution.

Multiple perspectives to inspire you in the new year. A Market Update on Bone Conduction Transducers, an article on the development of the Taction Transporter haptic transducer, and a valuable article by Hans W. Gierlich explaining an effective approach for testing structure-borne sound applied to in-ear developments. Andrew Bellavia writes about why the FDA’s OTC hearing aid rule could be quickly obsolete, Adam Levenson introduces the new Audio Foundry automotive audio development platform, and René Christensen makes its debut with audioXpress, writing about simulation techniques

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 2020 edition of audioXpress is now available and features two essential Market Updates, one focusing on the industry transition to active headphone and earphone designs, and another on how to leverage the latest voice capture and processing technologies. The issue also explains how to evaluate listening effort, and Stuart Yaniger puts the Linear Audio Autoranger Mk II Interface to the test, while Ed Simon writes about AC Power Rectification. Another issue to read and use as reference.