The Latest in Wireless Earbuds and Hearables Innovations in audioXpress April 2025

audioXpress April 2025 is now available and includes a comprehensive Market Update on Wireless Earbuds and Hearables, covering AI, Sensors, how Wi-Fi streaming is possible in headphones, and more. René Christensen explains Expansion Techniques for Acoustical Engineering, Ethan Winer writes about Built-In Guitar Effects, and Vincent Thiernesse shares his incredible single control Low-Frequency Hybrid Crossover. Don't miss also Paul Marchese's Primer on Class-D Amplifiers, and Richard Honeycutt's article on Silvertone guitar amp circuits.

Following a very successful presence at Sensors Converge 2024 in Santa Clara, CA (June 25-26), where TDK promoted its range of MEMS microphones and sensors, the company announced worldwide distribution of its InvenSense SmartSound T5848 bottom port I²S MEMS microphone. This device is ideal to enable intelligent keyword, voice command and sound detection applications in ultra-low power designs, such has hearables and wearables. Originally announced at CES 2022, this MEMS microphone only now is available for general distribution.

TDK Corporation announced the availability of its InvenSense VibeSense360 TWS solution suite, previewed at CES 2023. VibeSense360 is a comprehensive portfolio of TDK hardware and software solutions designed to help solve some of the most complicated problems OEMs face when designing true wireless stereo (TWS) products with state-of-the-art features. On the hardware VibeSense360 includes the TWS-M601 6-axis IMU, and the TWS-M602 device, combining IMU, accelerometer and machine learning on-chip.

In this article for Voice Coil, Mike Klasco (Menlo Scientific) recaps MEMS Drivers and related hot technologies for 2021, providing an update about products and companies that stood out in 2020. The article, which summarizes the more extensive reports published by audioXpress in January 2020 and 2021, looks at the impact of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) for audio and discusses the implications for other game-changing technologies that reduce size, increase performance, extend battery life, and enhance features and functionality in headphones, wearables and compact speakers.

In the wake of the acquisition of the Hillcrest Laboratories (Hillcrest Labs) business from InterDigital in mid-2019, CEVA now introduced the Hillcrest Labs MotionEngine Hear, a sensor and processor agnostic embedded software solution for hearable devices. The new solution allows SoC vendors, OEMs and ODMs to take advantage of a configurable sensor fusion platform to add intuitive user interface, gesture control, activity tracking and spatial audio capabilities to hearable devices.