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.

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.

MagnaChip Semiconductor, a designer and manufacturer of analog and mixed-signal semiconductor products from South Korea, announced the company is entering the wireless earphone market with the introduction of a new MOSFET solution that helps preventing the battery in these wireless devices from overcharging. This MOSFET is designed to control excessive current flowing into wireless earphones while recharging the battery in order to protect wireless earphones from being damaged.

Klipsch announced that its highly anticipated T5 Series of earphones are now available. The Klipsch T5 Series of earphones are small in size and weight, yet powerful in performance, technology, materials, and feature True Comfort design, allowing people to listen comfortably on the go. The new Klipsch T5 True Wireless earphones are a Bluetooth 5 with AAC and aptX support, providing up to 8 hours of battery life on a single charge and up to 24 additional hours with the Zippo-design USB-C charging case, all for just $199.

One of the leading names in NFMI is FreeLinc Technologies, a research and development company focused on the adoption of this technology as a new wireless standard in the Public Safety, Military, Healthcare, and Consumer markets. For its January 2017 issue, audioXpress invited Dr. Michael Abrams, Freelinc’s Chief Executive Officer, to share his valuable perspective about the role of NFMI in wireless audio applications.