THD Podcast 133 - Absolute Audio Labs Creates Software for Hearing Aids and Earbuds, Enhancing Sound Clarity

The Total Harmonic Discussion / the THD Podcast. A weekly discussion on audio and headphone technologies and the people who bring the technology to market.In episode 143 of the THD Podcast, Tim Brault, Vice President of Licensing for Total Sonics (formerly dbx-tv), joins the hosts to discuss the engineering and market rollout of their award-winning TotalCal® automated room calibration technology.We break down how next-gen tech is completely changing the home audio game. We're diving into the massive technical hurdles OEMs face when trying to squeeze immersive, multi-channel sound into everyday living rooms—and the brilliant, hardware-free solution that's fixing it.Enter the TotalCal platform. Instead of forcing you to drop cash on dedicated calibration mics or bulky DSP components, this system uses a clever trick: it leverages the built-in microphones already sitting inside your smartphone, tablet, or smart remote to analyze your room’s unique acoustics.Once the data is captured, the cloud takes over. In just seconds, cloud-based auto-calibration corrects time-of-arrival delays and perfectly balances frequency responses across up to 5.1 channels—giving you a professionally tuned space with zero heavy local processing. We also look at how this technology is rapidly scaling across the industry. Thanks to massive partnerships with chip giant MediaTek and hardware powerhouse Haier TV, this cloud-based calibration is being embedded directly into the next generation of consumer TVs and devices.If you love home theater, audio engineering, or just want better sound without the wires and hassle, you don’t want to miss this one!Check out the podcast on YouTube Spotify Amazon Music Rumble iHeartRadio Apple Google Thanks to Barry Vogel and the ALTI Audio & Loudspeaker Technologies International for their supportThanks to audioXpress for their support on this episode as well! #audioengineering #acoustics #TotalSonics #TotalCal #TotalImmersion #TotalBass #TotalVolume #dbxtv #AudioDSP #soundtechnology #RoomCalibration #AcousticTuning #soundengineer Please like, subscribe, share, and comment with your feedback! Enjoy the podcast!Support the podcast on our Patreon page: www.patreon.com/THDPodcastwww.db-ent.comlinkedin.com/in/DavidJLindberg @dlindberg11 discord.gg/HF6NF3fcwww.totalsonics.comlinkedin.com/company/totalsonicswww.totalharmonicdiscussion.com

The Total Harmonic Discussion / the THD Podcast. A weekly discussion on audio and headphone technologies and the people who bring the technology to market.In episode 142 of the THD Podcast, Nathan Francis from AIZIP steps in to introduce their product. Aizip is a Silicon Valley outfit that's been putting in some serious work since 2020. Now, if you've been following the show, you know everyone and their brother is talking about massive, power-hungry AI running in the cloud. But these guys? They’re doing something way more practical. They specialize in building ultra-efficient, production-grade AI models built specifically for edge and endpoint devices. Think about the massive gap between high-power AI and low-resource hardware. Aizip is essentially bridging that chasm by squeezing maximum performance out of tight silicon using Tiny Machine Learning (TinyML). The kicker here is that their tech runs entirely on-device. No calling back to the cloud. By keeping everything local, you’re looking at three massive wins: you absolutely slash your API costs, you drop latency down to basically nothing, and you get ironclad data privacy right out of the box. It’s a beautifully elegant way to handle intelligence on the edge. Also, Tom Hazlett from Sensibel is hanging out to tell about the AIZIP + Sensibel cooperation and the new part coming soon from Sensibel as well. Check out the podcast on YouTube Spotify Amazon Music Rumble iHeartRadio Apple Google Thanks to Barry Vogel and the ALTI Audio & Loudspeaker Technologies International for their supportThanks to audioXpress for their support on this episode as well! Please like, subscribe, share, and comment with your feedback! Enjoy the podcast!Support the podcast on our Patreon page: www.patreon.com/THDPodcastwww.db-ent.comlinkedin.com/in/DavidJLindberg@dlindberg11 discord.gg/HF6NF3fcwww.aizip.ailinkedin.com/company/aizipwww.totalharmonicdiscussion.com

The Total Harmonic Discussion / the THD Podcast. A weekly discussion on audio and headphone technologies and the people who bring the technology to market.In episode 141 of the THD Podcast, episode 141 of the THD Podcast, Jacob Soendergaard joins from HEAD acoustics GmbH to talk about ETSI's new Speech-Based Distortion Measure may be the industry's answer to confused Automated Speech Recognition (ASR's).Standardized as ETSI TS 104 063. As audio systems become increasingly optimized to handle speech and powered by AI, traditional distortion metrics are reaching their limits. This new framework is the first metric designed to quantify distortion using natural human voice signals instead of artificial tones. It came about because modern smart speakers, ANC headphones, and smartphones rely on complex, non-linear AI processing and noise-cancellation algorithms. Generic sine waves just don't produce a reliable test to learn what happens and whether the ASR will hallucinate as to what you are saying. An interesting and timely discussion so we hope you enjoy it. Check out the podcast on YouTube  Spotify⁩  Amazon Music Rumble  iHeartRadio⁩ Apple Google Thanks to Barry Vogel and the ALTI Audio & Loudspeaker Technologies International for their supportThanks to audioXpress for their support on this episode as well! #audioengineering #acoustics #ETSITS104063 #etsi #HEADacoustics #ETSISTQ #NonlinearityMeasure #SpeechQuality #voicequality #AudioTesting #AcousticTesting #SignalProcessing #Electroacoustics #HATS #ACQUA #LabCore Please like, subscribe, share, and comment with your feedback! Enjoy the podcast!Support the podcast on our Patreon page: www.patreon.com/THDPodcastwww.db-ent.comlinkedin.com/in/DavidJLindberg @dlindberg11 discord.gg/HF6NF3fchttps://www.head-acoustics.com/www.totalharmonicdiscussion.com0:00 Introduction to audio testing0:24 Podcast opening and context2:13 The problem with pure tones5:46 Introducing nonlinear measurement8:10 The mechanics of NLM analysis11:00 Standardization and metrics12:40 Interpreting NLM output15:11 System-level testing nuances18:51 Handling delay and complexity22:40 Computational efficiency and summary

The Total Harmonic Discussion / the THD Podcast. A weekly discussion on audio and headphone technologies and the people who bring the technology to market.In episode 140 of the THD Podcast, Daniel Knighten from Audio Precision joins the discussion. AP has some new gear to test BT5 products. However, this discussion is mostly about the mass confusion that has been around the BT 5 technology launch. The launch of Bluetooth 5 created widespread confusion because its core features are optional, meaning a device can be certified as "Bluetooth 5" without actually supporting its highly advertised speed or range improvements. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) outlines what is possible with the standard rather than what is mandatory for hardware implementation. This fragmentation left consumers frustrated by unmet expectations and placed the burden on brands to decipher and communicate complex feature checklists.Further, the lack of adoption by Tx devices, namely the iPhone, creates a scenario where end users are buying earbuds but are not getting the performance upgrades promised by BT5. Check out the podcast on  @YouTube   @Spotify   @amazonmusic   @iHeartRadio   @RumbleVideo   @Apple   @Google  Thanks to Barry Vogel and the ALTI Audio & Loudspeaker Technologies International for their support as well!Thanks to AudioXpress for their support on this episode as well!#audioengineering #acoustics #bluetooth #bluetooth5 #wirelesstech #techgadgets #wirelessaudio #BluetoothSIG #bluetoothtechnology #auracast #BluetoothLE Please like, subscribe, share, and comment with your feedback! Enjoy the podcast!Support the podcast on our Patreon page: www.patreon.com/THDPodcastwww.db-ent.comlinkedin.com/in/DavidJLindberg @dlindberg11  discord.gg/HF6NF3fcwww.audioprecision.comlinkedin.com/in/daniel-knighten-b7bb1728 @AudioPrecisionUSA  www.totalharmonicdiscussion.com

The Total Harmonic Discussion / the THD Podcast. A weekly discussion on audio and headphone technologies and the people who bring the technology to market.In episode 139 of the THD Podcast, Dr F Joseph Pompei, the founder of Holosonics, joins to introduce how they modulate ultrasonic frequencies to create localized 'audio spotlights'.Holosonics is a pioneer in highly targeted sound through its patented Audio Spotlight technology. Unlike traditional speakers that broadcast sound in all directions, Holosonics creates a narrow, flashlight-like beam of audio. The system operates by converting audio into ultrasonic waves, which have wavelengths only a few millimeters long. Because these waves are so small, they naturally travel in a laser-like path. As this silent, modulated ultrasound travels through the air, it interacts with air molecules, naturally demodulating into audible sound precisely along its path. Step one foot outside the beam, and the audio vanishes.Check out the podcast on @YouTube @Spotify @amazonmusic @iHeartRadio @RumbleVideo @Apple @GoogleThanks to Barry Vogel and the ALTI Audio & Loudspeaker Technologies International for their support as well!Thanks to AudioXpress for their support on this episode as well!#audioengineering #acoustics #Holosonics #AudioSpotlight #DirectionalAudio #DirectionalSound #ParametricSpeaker #FocusedSound #UltrasonicSoundPlease like, subscribe, share, and comment with your feedback! Enjoy the podcast!Support the podcast on our Patreon page: www.patreon.com/THDPodcastwww.db-ent.comlinkedin.com/in/[email protected]/HF6NF3fcwww.holosonics.comlinkedin.com/company/holosonicslinkedin.com/in/fpompei/@holosonicswww.totalharmonicdiscussion.com

The Total Harmonic Discussion / the THD Podcast. A weekly discussion on audio and headphone technologies and the people who bring the technology to market.In episode 138 of the THD Podcast, Martin Rieger joins from VR Tonung to give us some perspective and expand our knowledge on this 'hot topic' that is spatial audio. Specifically, how it applies to headphones from content creation thru to content deliveryMartin Rieger is a sound engineer working exclusively on immersive 3D audio, for over ten years, across 100+ projects in 15+ countries, from 360° field recordings under extreme conditions to post-production in his Munich studio (VRTonung).As a creative-technical interface, he consults audio manufacturers and startups on spatial audio, from headphone product development and head-tracking to format decisions. He works manufacturer-independent, which makes him both the biggest fan and the harshest critic of the technology. Corporate clients include Mercedes, VW and BMW, as well as OEMs and audio startups.Check out the podcast on @YouTube @Spotify @amazonmusic @iHeartRadio @RumbleVideo @Apple @GoogleThanks to Barry Vogel and the ALTI Audio & Loudspeaker Technologies International for their support as well!Thanks to AudioXpress for their support on this episode as well!#audioengineering #acoustics #SignalProcessing #spatialaudio Please like, subscribe, share, and comment with your feedback! Enjoy the podcast!Support the podcast on our Patreon page: www.patreon.com/THDPodcastwww.db-ent.comlinkedin.com/in/[email protected]/HF6NF3fcwww.vrtonung.de/en/ Linkedin.com/in/martin-rieger/ www.vrtonung.de/en/blog/ www.totalharmonicdiscussion.com

The Total Harmonic Discussion / the THD Podcast. A weekly discussion on audio and headphone technologies and the people who bring the technology to market.In episode 137 of the THD Podcast, Tony Doy and Phillip Muehring from Triad Semiconductor join to introduce the Universal Audio Analog Front End (AFE) TS5510.The TS5510 is a two-channel, high-performance Universal Analog Front End (AFE) developed by Triad Semiconductor. It is designed to bridge the gap between high-level line signals and low-level microphone inputs for modern audio systems, particularly professional mixing consoles and recording equipment. Basically, you can run mics directly into a mixer without a preamp. The TS5510 is a dual-channel analog front end that simplifies audio hardware design by replacing traditional, complex input stages with a "universal" signal path. Its unique current-conveyor architecture allows a single input to handle everything from low-level microphones to high-output instruments without needing mechanical switches or pads, while its massive 156 dB capture range makes it the ideal partner for 32-bit float recording systems to eliminate clipping. By integrating high-precision digital gain control and superior noise rejection into a compact chip, it enables manufacturers to build smaller, more reliable professional mixers, field recorders, and audio interfaces with a significantly reduced part count. Check out the podcast on @YouTube @Spotify @amazonmusic @iHeartRadio @RumbleVideo @Apple @GoogleThanks to Barry Vogel and the ALTI Audio & Loudspeaker Technologies International for their support as well!Thanks to AudioXpress for their support on this episode as well!#audioengineering #acoustics #SignalProcessing #AnalogFrontEnd #Studio #studiorecording Please like, subscribe, share, and comment with your feedback! Enjoy the podcast!Support the podcast on our Patreon page: www.patreon.com/THDPodcastwww.db-ent.comlinkedin.com/in/[email protected]/HF6NF3fcwww.triadsemi.comlinkedin.com/company/triad-semiconductorwww.totalharmonicdiscussion.com

The Total Harmonic Discussion / the THD Podcast. A weekly discussion on audio and headphone technologies and the people who bring the technology to market.In episode 136 of the THD Podcast, Andrew Bellavia, founder of AuraFuturity, highlights a massive gap in the hearing health market: of the 1.5 billion people worldwide living with hearing loss, only about 10 million are fitted with hearing aids annually. He views this low penetration as a massively underserved market. He further advocates for a shift toward consumer-centric products such as OTC hearing devices and the Bluetooth SIG's Auracast a to bridge the divideCheck out the podcast on @YouTube @Spotify @amazonmusic @iHeartRadio @RumbleVideo @Apple @GoogleThanks to Barry Vogel and the ALTI Audio & Loudspeaker Technologies International for their support as well!Thanks to AudioXpress for their support on this episode as well!#audioengineering #acoustics #hearinghealth #HearingLoss #HearingAids #audiology #betterhearing #HearWell #hearingcare Please like, subscribe, share, and comment with your feedback! Enjoy the podcast!Support the podcast on our Patreon page: www.patreon.com/THDPodcastwww.db-ent.comlinkedin.com/in/[email protected]/HF6NF3fcwww.aurafuturity.comlinkedin.com/in/abellaviawww.totalharmonicdiscussion.com

The Total Harmonic Discussion / the THD Podcast. A weekly discussion on audio and headphone technologies and the people who bring the technology to market.In episode 135 of the THD Podcast, Gary Spittle from Sonical joins to tell us about his Remora project. Remora PRO is a first-of-its-kind "head-worn computing platform" designed by Sonical to transform existing headphones into intelligent, programmable devices—a concept the company calls Headphone 3.0. It is primarily an external wireless accessory that adds high-fidelity, ultra-low-latency connectivity and app-based customization to traditional wired or wireless headphones. Core TechnologyUltra-Wideband (UWB) Wireless: Unlike standard Bluetooth, Remora PRO uses UWB to deliver uncompressed, lossless audio (up to 24-bit/96kHz) with imperceptible latency of less than 5ms.CosmOS Operating System: It runs on Sonical's CosmOS, a dedicated "operating system for the ear" that allows users to download third-party plugins and apps directly onto the hardware.Audio Hardware: The device features a THX Achromatic Audio Amplifier (THX AAA™) for ultra-low distortion, an ESS Sabre DAC, and an XMOS USB interface.BodyWave™ Antenna: To prevent the signal dropouts common with wearable UWB tech, it incorporates AntennaWare's BodyWave technology, ensuring a stable link even when blocked by the user's body. Key Features & Use CasesCustomizable Audio: Through the CosmOS platform, users can add features like personalized EQ profiles, spatial audio rendering, and hearing protection.Health & Wellness: It supports advanced health algorithms, including tinnitus sound therapy (developed with Newcastle University) and HearAngel smart hearing safeguarding.Universal Compatibility: It can attach to any pair of headphones and connect to sources via analog, USB, or Bluetooth.Professional Focus: Targeted at DJs, audio engineers, and gamers who require the reliability of a wired connection with the freedom of wireless. Availability & PricingEstimated Price: Approximately USD $949 / £759 / €890 for the complete system (wearable unit and UWB dongle). Status: As of early 2026, the product is in trial manufacturing at the Sony UK Technology Centre in Wales to prepare for large-scale productionCheck out the podcast on @YouTube @Spotify @amazonmusic @iHeartRadio @RumbleVideo @Apple @GoogleThanks to Barry Vogel and the ALTI Audio & Loudspeaker Technologies International for their support as well!Thanks to AudioXpress for their support on this episode as well!#audioengineering #acoustics #simulation Please like, subscribe, share, and comment with your feedback! Enjoy the podcast!Support the podcast on our Patreon page: www.patreon.com/THDPodcastwww.db-ent.comlinkedin.com/in/[email protected]/HF6NF3fcwww.sonical.ailinkedin.com/company/sonical-incwww.totalharmonicdiscussion.com

The Total Harmonic Discussion / the THD Podcast. A weekly discussion on audio and headphone technologies and the people who bring the technology to market.In episode 134 of the THD Podcast, Finnur Pind, CEO of Treble Technologies, joins a second time to refresh us on the Treble simulation suite and the progress that they have been making.Treble Technologies is an Icelandic startup revolutionizing acoustic design through the world’s first cloud-native sound simulation platform. Using a proprietary hybrid engine that combines wave-based and geometrical acoustics, Treble delivers simulations up to 1,000x faster than traditional methods while maintaining high physical accuracy. Their suite enables architects and engineers to "hear" designs via real-time auralizations, reducing reliance on expensive physical prototypes. Beyond the built environment, Treble’s SDK generates high-fidelity synthetic audio data to train AI models for speech enhancement and automotive noise control.Check out the podcast on @YouTube @Spotify @amazonmusic @iHeartRadio @RumbleVideo @Apple @GoogleThanks to Barry Vogel and the ALTI Audio & Loudspeaker Technologies International for their support as well!Thanks to AudioXpress for their support on this episode as well!#audioengineering #acoustics #MEMS #microphone #opticalmodule Please like, subscribe, share, and comment with your feedback! Enjoy the podcast!Support the podcast on our Patreon page: www.patreon.com/THDPodcastwww.db-ent.comlinkedin.com/in/[email protected]/HF6NF3fcwww.treble.techlinkedin.com/company/treble-technologieswww.totalharmonicdiscussion.com