Product Design | Audio Electronics | Acoustics | DIY | Audio Innovations
|
|
Grado Introduces New GS1000x and GS3000x Statement X Series Headphones |
Grado introduced the new Statement Series, which brings fourth-generation X Drivers to the wooden GS3000x and GS1000x models. The GS1000x combines mahogany and ipê wood, while the GS3000x houses the brand's most powerful driver yet inside a metal chamber surrounded by a single body of cocobolo wood. Along with the superior sound these new drivers produce, the GS3000x and the GS1000x also feature Grado's improved 12-conductor braided cable and new headbands. Both are hand assembled in Brooklyn, New York. Learn More Here
|
|
|
|
|
Audio Manufacturing in Vietnam? Join the APEI Supply Chain and Sourcing Webinar August 31 |
The Audio Product Education Institute (APEI), an initiative of the Audio Engineering Society (AES) promotes another of its Supply Chain and Sourcing education sessions to assess the manufacturing alternatives outside of China. This time, the webinar is focused on what is widely regarded as one of the most attractive and convenient options for audio manufacturing in Asia - Vietnam. Mike Klasco (Menlo Scientific) and Dave Lindberg (DB Enterprises) discuss the differences of manufacturing in Vietnam with Bruce Crompton from Hansong Technology Vietnam. The live session takes place August 31 (9am PDT, 12pm EDT, 6pm CET) and registration is now open . Read More
|
|
LG Joins Home Connectivity Alliance and Leads Matter Smart Home Interoperability Efforts |
LG Electronics (LG) has been named to the Board of Directors of the Home Connectivity Alliance (HCA), an organization dedicated to delivering better smart home experiences through open collaboration and innovation. This latest announcement reinforces LG's determination to bring greater interconnectivity, safety, and security in all its products, as is already clear from the fact that it was also named to the Board of Directors of the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), focused on developing and promoting the Matter smart home standard. Read More
|
|
|
|
|
Logitech Chorus Offers Audio Add-on to Virtual Reality Headset Design |
Logitech unveiled Logitech Chorus, a new integrated audio solution designed from the ground up for the Meta Quest 2, a Virtual Reality Headset sold by Facebook. The Logitech VR accessory uses Balanced Mode Radiator (BMR) drivers from Tectonic, adding a convenient "off-ear speaker" solution that is similar to the one created for the Valve Index Headset. Without touching the ears, the design was custom tuned by Tectonic to offer total but safe immersion for those experimenting with VR. Read More
|
|
JBL Quantum 910 Wireless Features Immersive Audio with Head Tracking |
The latest JBL Quantum gaming headset was launched at Gamescom 2022. The new JBL Quantum 910 Wireless frees users from wires and restrictions by combining the latest Bluetooth technology with active noise cancellation for the ultimate immersive gaming experience. The company is promoting Dual Spatial Audio abilities, with its JBL QuantumSPHERE 360 and JBL QuantumSPATIAL 360 audio engines with integrated head tracking on a PC and PlayStation via the USB-C wireless connection. Read More
|
|
|
|
|
Sonova Unveils New Lumity Platform Supporting Improved Directional Beamforming and Speech Recognition in Noise |
Sonova Holding AG, the hearing care solutions company, unveiled its new Lumity platform, which is designed to further improve speech understanding and reduce listening effort in noisy environments. The platform is the result of the Swiss company's latest research to improve conversation support in virtually any situation. This latest innovation builds on the strong success of the Marvel and Paradise platforms and will power the next generation of Phonak hearing instruments. Read More
|
|
Neumann Unveils New KH 150 DSP-Powered Studio Monitors |
Neumann.Berlin has expanded its line of reference-class studio monitors. The new KH 150 is a bi-amplified, DSP-controlled design, featuring the same high-resolution tweeter as all Neumann studio monitors and a newly developed 6.5" woofer with ultra-low distortion and high SPL capability. The new KH 150 looks exactly like the other Neumann KH studio monitors and this is the largest two-way model, impressing for its extended low-end, while remaining extremely compact. That is also the result of a new and more energy efficient Class D amplifier and a more powerful DSP. Read More
|
|
|
|
|
Klippel Updates dB-Lab Version 212 and QC 7 Analyzer System Software |
As always, the Klippel engineering team continuously introduces the results of its latest R&D efforts and customer feedback to improve its solutions. Klippel has now released a new software update for the Klippel Analyzer System with various new features for both R&D and QC applications. The update is free of charge for all users running dB-Lab 212 or QC7. It introduces a utility Documentation Module (DOC) for use in dB-Lab, TEDS integration for microphones, and updates for the QC Stand-alone Software . Read More
|
|
Kardome Adds Voice Biometrics and Wake Word Detection to Its Voice Technology Portfolio |
Israel-based startup Kardome originally pioneered speech enhancement solutions designed to outperform standard voice technology algorithms, based on the company's AFE and patented Spatial Listening technology that simultaneously enhances speech signals from multiple speakers in real time. Recently, Kardome expanded its voice technology offerings, adding voice biometrics (Voice ID) and wake word detection in order to expand its solutions approach. Read More
|
|
|
Editor's Desk
J. Martins
(Editor-in-Chief)
|
Serving a Purpose
OTC Hearing Aids, Hearing Enhancement, and Brands
|
|
|
If you are an audio industry professional, unless you have been on holiday on some remote island without Internet, you must have noticed that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finally issued the long-expected rule establishing Over-the-Counter (OTC) hearing aids - five years after the original OTC hearing aid act was signed into law on August 18, 2017.
The FDA finalized the rule after receiving and reviewing more than 1,000 public comments on the proposed rule issued on October 20, 2021. Comments submitted by consumers, professional associations, hearing aid manufacturers, public health organizations and advocacy groups, members of Congress, state agencies, and other stakeholders are summarized in the final ruling, along with the FDA’s respective responses.
|
|
"Hearing loss is a critical public health issue that affects the ability of millions of Americans to effectively communicate in their daily social interactions," says FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. The final ruling establishing Over-the-Counter (OTC) hearing aids is intended to address those concerns. |
|
In response to public comments and to assure the safety and effectiveness of OTC hearing aids, the final ruling incorporates several changes from the proposed rule, including lowering the maximum sound output to reduce the risk to hearing from over-amplification of sound, revising the insertion depth limit in the ear canal, requiring that all OTC hearing aids have a user-adjustable volume control, and simplifying the phrasing throughout the required device labeling to ensure it is easily understood. The final ruling also includes performance specifications and device design requirements specific to OTC hearing aids.
Furthermore, the new documents amend existing rules that apply to prescription hearing aids for consistency with the new OTC category, it repeals the conditions for sale for hearing aids, and it includes provisions that address some of the effects of the FDA OTC hearing aid regulations on state regulation of hearing aids. The expectation is to have the first available OTC Hearing Aids available in stores as soon as mid-October 2022.
As expected, the hearing aid manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and hearing health professionals, strongly supported the FDA OTC rule. They feel they were able to provide guidance during these past five years, and basically have been preparing for this moment. In fact, the first products from the leading hearing-aid brands have already been registered as OTC products and are expecting the required approval. GN Group, which owns hearing aid brands Resound and Beltone, together with Jabra, the communications and all-in-one hearing enhancement consumer brand, was among the first companies to submit a request in that regard. |
|
Examples of hearing aid devices as displayed by the FDA to illustrate what currently is associated with the category. |
|
audioXpress is preparing a few articles on this topic with the support of renowned experts in the field, and we expect to be able to also gather some input from the Hearing Industries Association (HIA). A week since the FDA Rule was announced, everyone with a vetted interest in the field has been busy reviewing the documents (hundreds of pages...) and the main spokespeople have been busy explaining what this all means to mainstream media, which normally publish stories about obscure products that are "AirPods Killers." And other great professionals we know in the field are also busy helping to complete the information resources for the industry and the general public. Some excellent info is available here: www.hearing.org
I respect too much the audiology industry and the medical professionals that care for our hearing, but in general I have looked at this topic from the perspective of the consumer electronics industry. I wrote an editorial discussing that perspective in my November 2021 article " Reading Glasses and Hearing Aids. Smart or FDA-Approved. Pick One," which is available online and continues to generate daily visits and interesting correspondence.
As I write there, many "consumer" audio manufacturers and the larger technology companies see this as an opportunity to pursue the "OTC hearing aids" as an extension of their strategic market share and ecosystem goals. Most of those companies are not familiar with the complexities of global regulatory environments for medical and health products, and many have foolishly believed at some point that this would be like any other market "ready to be disrupted."
The 2022 FDA OTC Rule makes it clear that this is not an environment for irresponsible experimentation and in some way, it discourages many of those players - particularly the many Asian manufacturers that have been testing the field in unregulated markets - from applying for OTC registration. As I predicted in my article last year.
|
|
After much back and forth, Bose Corp. and Lexie Hearing, a direct-to-consumer hearing aid provider in the United States and 39 other countries, announced a partnership to bring Bose’s self-fitting hearing aid technology to the Lexie Hearing product line. The Lexie B1 Hearing Aids are marketed as "Powered by Bose" and allow wearers to fit, program, and control their hearing aids with clinically proven, audiologist-quality results — without a doctor visit, hearing test, or prescription. |
|
The FDA documentation is also going to inspire other less-regulated countries to act accordingly and establish similar rules, while the more mature markets in Europe, Australia, and other countries will need to carefully consider how this will affect consumer behavior in general, and how the big technology players in the industry will respond. Because in a global economy, this will have repercussions even in countries that have long supported hearing health in their social security schemes and where access to hearing aids is essentially only restricted by social stigma, and more for lack of information then price and social economic barriers.
But with the process now moving forward in the US, at least companies who are invested in these technologies and specifically in "hearables" and hearing augmentation, will now have more solid ground to base their go-to-market strategies. Addressing or totally ignoring the OTC registration. I truly believe that hearing augmentation has more consumer appeal and market potential and that augmentation will be the field where companies such as Apple will be investing their resources.
So, it is still too soon to say what will change in the next year and the following years. I know I'll be asking questions at forthcoming trade shows and I'll do my best to share some of the statements and opinions I get. What I can write confidently for now, is about the signs that are already being sent by the hearing aid companies, which have made announcements of what they think they can offer as "affordable" OTC Hearing Aids.
The first known example was not very encouraging. The Lexie B1 Hearing Aids Powered by Bose, announced at the end of July, will cost $899 — a fraction of the price of most traditional hearing aids, but still much more expensive than premium true wireless earbuds with more advanced sound processing features.
|
|
Following the FDA release of the anticipated Over-the-Counter (OTC) hearing aid regulations, with intent to increase access for people with untreated hearing loss, the GN Group immediately announced its support to that ambition. The market leading group announced that it will seek to register its Jabra Enhance Plus technology - unveiled in 2021 and launched already in 2022 - as an OTC product. |
|
Hearings Aids
I don't need hearing aids, yet. But if I did, I would seriously consider all the available options from the market, and after the selection process I would likely look for an option to "lease" or "rent" - not buy - a pair. In fact, I would be very receptive to a company that would offer a "subscription" model, which would include assistance and hardware updates. And the reason is simple. Unlike my normal $199 earbuds with the best available options, and that I am likely to replace every two years (at least), the best hearings aids that really offer the latest and best features for hearing assistance cost $4000, $5000, and more.
And while for my earbuds I have dozen of similar options and I can choose to buy Apple's AirPods knowing that I have acquired the best product available in any color as long as its white, the $4000 hearings aids are available in at least 10 different basic options, before discussing aesthetics and the fact that the best available model today with Bluetooth doesn't yet support Bluetooth LE Audio (tough luck), which means they will be obsolete in a year... or even a few months.
I have been following the hearing aids industry more carefully only for the past 8 years or so, and I cannot help looking at product announcements from my product development and marketing-focused perspective. And I've noticed that the major brands regularly update the available platforms with something new, something better, anytime they can. And I also noted that with geographical variants - because of the public health systems available in some countries that require approval for specific models with certain specific parameters - these brands actually manage an incredibly large number of base SKUs, plus accessories. I can clearly see that their pricing strategy is strongly conditioned from the start from that overhead.
I can applaud the strong investments in R&D and respect the efforts these brands put into updating the offering to serve the market with the latest technology. There's just a problem. After spending $4000 USD from my pocket - or even if discounted from my health insurance plan (or even 100% welfare supported, for those in Europe) - I have no choice but stick with what I've got for a few years. And I'm afraid I would feel really bad when I would see a better model with even more attractive options and irresistible designs, being announced every six months.
How could I not be compelled to buy something new when there's a new model with better party mode filtering, new AI-assisted tools, or new Bluetooth LE Audio features being launched? I understand that medical hearing aids, once tuned for my personal needs, should do the work decently for some time and we shouldn't look at it as a disposable category. The problem is, with more affordable OTC products, I'm not so certain that wouldn't be the case for those who can. In fact, creating consistent renewal cycles could be very well part of a very successful OTC strategy, with lower prices and much larger volumes, serving many more users. According to the FDA, reaching out to more users should be the goal.
|
|
The vision from the hearing-aid companies for the OTC category is not exactly to offer the best and most attractive designs at affordable prices. Instead, they are reserving those for their premium products, including new custom hearing aids, weatherproof, rechargeable, Bluetooth-connected, and closer to consumer TWS earbuds. Pictured are the new in-ear custom-molded hearing-aids, Beltone Imagine Custom or ReSound Custom. For a premium product launched in June 2022, hopefully they should be platform ready to support LE Audio and LC3 with a future update, but there's no confirmation that they do. |
|
I admire the companies that understand product cycles and respect their user base, investing in brand loyalty, which is a very vast and debatable concept. Launching new products with new colors, new features, and giving the indication that something better is available every six months - “it’s your problem if you just bought our older model" - is not a good way to make friends and create brand loyalty. Especially when it is something as essential as hearing.
This is something that apparently hearing aids companies don't even care about because they live in an environment that has been immune to "consumer" psychology and behaviors. And that is probably why their products have helped create the social stigma that many experts have denounced. But with the creation of the OTC category for hearing aids and eventually hearables, those rules need to apply - and that's where I think consumer electronic companies can build their differentiation strategies. Those who understand the value of building a loyal community.
Those companies that discard concepts like "brand loyalty" and confuse it with "consumerism" shouldn't attempt to enter some product categories.
Anyone doubting the power of community and brand loyalty just needs to look at the recent example of the Beats Fit Pro true wireless noise cancelling earbuds and the (now sold out) Beat x Kim (Kardashian) in "neutral skin tones." Apple/Beats sold the full initial inventory in their own online store (and shortly after on Amazon), in just 24 hours. They probably sold more $199 TWS earbuds in one day than the whole industry did that month - and certainly way more than all the hearing aids sold during multiple months. If they didn't, it’s because someone failed to anticipate the power of Kim Kardashian and her 400 million followers on social media - and that person is probably writing a long report explaining what happened...
|
|
The $199 Beats Fit Pro, Beat x Kim neutral skin tones edition, sold out in just 24 hours. Apple sold a few more million products and Kim could soon be promoting hearing aids. |
|
Western Electric's New Production 300B
By Michael Boele
|
|
In this exclusive review for audioXpress, renowned tube expert Michael Boele details the proof in his long-term review of a pair of 2021 new production 300B directly heated power triodes. For 10 months, Boele had the opportunity to live with and extensively use a pair of these 300Bs and his impressions and extensive testing could be directly contrasted with the considerable collection of 300B tubes - Chinese, Russian, Czech and Slovak clones, as well as several pairs of Westrex/Western Electric reissues produced in the Kansas City factory in the late 1990s, and two “old stock” Western Electrics. The article offers the most complete depiction of the Western Electric 300Bs' behavior and qualities. This article was originally published in audioXpress, May 2022. Read the Full Article Now Available Here
|
|
The E180HE-44 Full-Range Subwoofer from the Dayton Audio Epique Line
By Vance Dickason
|
|
In this article, Vance Dickason characterizes a new transducer from the Dayton Audio Epique lineup, the E180HE-44. As with the E150HE from the same range, featured in the December 2021 issue of Voice Coil, the E180HE-44 uses the patented Multiple Magnet Air Gap (MMAG) technology, invented by Enrique Stiles and patented by Step Technologies. The E180HE is a scaled up (7") version of the E150HE, and has a similar feature set but with a secondary magnet system comprised of six ferrite disks, which act as magnetic “diodes” pulling the flux from the main magnet into the top 7mm gap. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, May 2022. Read the Full Article Now Available Here
|
|
Audio Product Design | DIY Audio Projects | Audio Electronics | Audio Show Reports | Interviews | And More
Don't Have a Subscription?
|
|
Industry News & Developments | Products & Services | Test Bench | Acoustic Patents | Industry Watch | And More
|
|
Advancing the Evolution
of Audio Technology
audioXpress features great articles, projects, tips, and techniques for the best in quality audio. It connects manufacturers and distributors with audio engineers and enthusiasts eager for innovative solutions in sound, acoustic, and electronics.
Voice Coil, the periodical for the loudspeaker industry, delivers product reviews, company profiles, industry news, and design tips straight to professional audio engineers and manufacturers who have the authority to make powerful purchasing decisions.
The Loudspeaker Industry Sourcebook is the most comprehensive collection of listings on loudspeaker material in the industry. Purchasers and decision makers refer to the guide for an entire year when making selections on drivers, finished systems, adhesives, domes, crossovers, voice coils, and everything in between.
© 2022 KCK Media Corp. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
