There are now wireless headphones that allow you to preserve your hearing. These headphones feature electronically adjustable filters that preserve sound quality.
Published on 04/11/2024 12:37
Updated on 04/11/2024 12:38
Reading time: 2min
After noise-canceling models, we are now preparing wireless earphone models capable of controlling the intensity of external sound which will soon see the light of day. For the user, it will be like having a volume button at ear level. As soon as we pass by a jackhammer for example, we lower the sound and return to an acceptable volume. These are headphones that will no longer only be used for music, but also to combat noise pollution.
We all have approximately 15,000 hearing cells in each ear. The more we traumatize them with loud sounds, the more this capital deteriorates. This happens gradually, we don’t realize it. But the damage is irreversible, especially in children. With these headphones, you will more easily preserve your hearing capital.
It doesn’t work like noise canceling headphones. It is a technology rather inspired by earplugs and earplugs. So everything works based on filters capable of muffling sounds. Except that these are electronically adjustable filters which preserve sound quality. If you’ve ever tried to protect your ears with foam plugs during a concert, usually the sound is completely muffled. You can almost only hear the bass. With this technology, the sound spectrum maintains its integrity. Again, like just turning the volume down. It’s an invention by engineers at the University of Science in Denmark, called the Picovatt project.
It is already marketed in a passive version, in the form of earplugs sold by the company Nimuendo. Earplugs for musicians that will reduce sound intensity during concerts. Next year, we will move to an active version. It will work in classic headphones to both listen to music, but also control the external sound volume. We will set an acceptable level and the surrounding sounds will automatically adjust to preserve our hearing. It should therefore come as no surprise to see more and more people wearing headphones all the time.