A method for adjusting the clarity of an audio output in a changing environment, including: receiving a content signal; applying a customized gain to the content signal; and outputting the content signal with the customized gain to at least one speaker for transduction to an acoustic signal, wherein the customized gain is applied on a per frequency bin basis such that frequencies of a lesser magnitude are enhanced with respect to frequencies of a greater magnitude and an intelligibility of the acoustic signal is set approximately at a desired level, wherein the customized gain is determined according to at least one of a gain applied to the content signal, a bandwidth of the content signal, and a content type encoded by the content signal.

An earpiece for reproducing audio has multiple drivers, including a bone conduction bass driver and an air conduction treble driver, attached to the ends of a malleable, yet stiff, tubing. The bass driver is placed behind or over the ear to provide a high quality bass output while the treble driver is placed so as to extend in proximity to the user's ear canal. The malleable, yet stiff, tubing enables a user to bend the earpiece and thereby position the earpiece comfortably and securely around the user's ear and to optimally position the drivers in the desired positions around the user's ear. The tubing also allows the earpiece, when not in use, to be reshaped for easy storage or to be worn as an accessory. The earpiece may also include one or more microphones with the treble and/or bass drivers.

A binaural aid assistance system comprises first and second hearing assistance devices, each being adapted for being located at or in, or fully or partially implanted in the head at one of a left and right ear, respectively, of a user, wherein each of the first and second hearing assistance devices comprises

a) a first wireless interface comprising first antenna and transceiver circuitry adapted for establishing a first communication link to the respective other hearing assistance device based on near-field communication;
b) a second wireless interface comprising second antenna and transceiver circuitry adapted for establishing a second bi-directional communication link to an auxiliary device based on far-field communication; and wherein the hearing assistance system is configured to transmit an audio signal picked up by a microphone of the hearing assistance device(s) to said auxiliary device.

A wireless earpiece in embodiments of the present invention may have one or more of the following features: (a) an earpiece housing, (b) a processor disposed within the earpiece housing, wherein the processor is configured to generate white noise, (c) a speaker for transducing the white noise operatively connected to the processor, (d) a user interface for operatively selecting the white noise operatively connected to the processor, wherein the wireless earpiece is configured to communicate the white noise at the speaker at a volume level set by a user through the user interface, (e) a wireless transceiver disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the processor, wherein the wireless transceiver communicates the white noise to a second earpiece associated with the wireless earpiece, and (f) a memory operatively connected to the processor, wherein a hearing test is stored in the memory.

[Problem] To provide an audio device with which it is possible to efficiently utilize the storage capacity of a storage device for storing audio data. [Solution] In this audio device 1, in accordance with user profile information stored in a profile information storage unit 102, audio data inputted to an audio data input unit 103 is subjected by a filter unit 104 to a process of cutting a frequency band higher than the highest frequency audible to the user) and/or a frequency band lower than the lowest frequency audible to the user, and the data is then encoded by a codec unit 105, and stored to an audio storage device 100. Audio data can thereby be stored in the audio storage device 100 in compressed form with no noticeable decline in sound quality to the user, making it possible to store more audio data, such as music, in the audio storage device 100.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, identifying first and second users and identifying first and second locations of the first and second users in a presentation area, determining first and second media content associated with the first and second users where the first media content includes first audio content and first video content and where the second media content includes second audio content, presenting the first video content at a display device during a particular time period, adjusting the first audio content resulting in adjusted first audio content, presenting the adjusted first audio content directed to the first location during the particular time period, and presenting the second audio content directed to the second location during the particular time period. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Systems and methods for processing an audio signal are provided for replay on an audio device. An audio signal is spectrally decomposed into a plurality of subband signals using and pass filters. Each of the subband signals are provided to a respective modulator and subsequently, from the modulator output, provided to a respective first processing path that includes a first dynamic range compressor, DRC. Each subband signal is feedforward compressed by the respective first DRC to obtain a feedforward-compressed subband signal, wherein the first DRC is slowed relative to an instantaneous DRC. Subsequently, each feedforward-compressed subband signal is provided to a second processing path that includes a second DRC, wherein the feedforward-compressed subband signal is compressed by the respective second DRC and outputted to the respective modulator. Modulation of the subband signals is then performed in dependence on the output of the second processing path. Finally, the feedforward-compressed subband signals are recombined.

A binaural aid assistance system comprises first and second hearing assistance devices adapted for being located at or in left and right ears of a user. Each of the first and second hearing assistance devices comprises a) a first wireless interface comprising first antenna and transceiver circuitry adapted for establishing a first communication link to the respective other hearing assistance device based on near-field communication; b) a second wireless interface comprising second antenna and transceiver circuitry adapted for establishing a second communication link to an auxiliary device based on far-field communication. The binaural hearing aid system further comprises c) a user interface from which a user can select a suitable routing of an audio signal from the auxiliary device to each of the first and second hearing assistance devices.

A sound output apparatus is provided. The sound output apparatus according to an embodiment includes an inputter, an outputter, a storage configured to store mapping information between a volume level and a dynamic range of the sound output apparatus and a processor configured to obtain a dynamic range corresponding to a volume level currently set to the sound output apparatus based on the mapping information, process a sound signal input through the inputter based on the dynamic range and output the processed sound signal through the outputter.

A system for optimizing music listening which includes a multimedia server controlled by a user. The multimedia server includes a transmitter of the multimedia server to transmit an audio stream to various connected appliances provided with an acoustic emitter and a selector to select at least one connected appliance to which the audio stream is transmitted. A predetermined table of characteristics links the various connected appliances to a measurement of the acoustic reproduction capabilities thereof. A predetermined user table links at least one user with the hearing capabilities thereof. An adapter to adapt the audio stream in accordance with the measurement of the acoustic reproduction capabilities of the connected appliance to which the audio stream is transmitted and in accordance with the hearing capabilities of the user connected to the multimedia server.