ams (SIX: AMS), a leading worldwide supplier of high-performance
sensor solutions, shares the results of its 'Comfortable, Smart,
High-performing Earbuds Survey' conducted in spring 2020 with
2000-plus consumers around the world on their audio earbud uses,
habits and preferences. The survey was conducted in Austria, China,
France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, UK, and USA. It found that
consumers are demanding greater comfort and hearing safety without
compromising on sound quality -- or their long-term hearing. This
becomes more important given the trend to wear earbuds all day. In
fact, customers are asking for innovations like reducing background
noise without losing awareness of one's surroundings,
volume-limiting features, 3D/special sound, and long battery life.
This is especially true in China where consumers seem to be
particularly well informed and more selective on earbud
innovations.
Are your earbuds now part of your daily routine?
Listening to music was cited as the primary use of headphones
across all regions (80%), followed by sports/exercise (61%), voice
calls (51%) and gaming (45%). In fact, the survey showed earbuds
are an integral part of daily life for many consumers. Users in USA
and some European countries reported that they tend to wear earbuds
all day -- while making calls, listening to music, or
exercising.
"Until now, real data on consumer needs, wants, and uses for
earbuds was hard to find. By talking directly with a statistically
relevant sample of earbud users, we have learned, that users want a
say in earbud innovation. They want comfort, safety, and usability:
such as a comfortable yet secure fit; innovations, that will
protect their ears and hearing; and long battery life in both the
earbuds and charging case regardless of the usage scenario. ams
strives to deliver innovation to meet these needs. Examples
include: digital active noise cancellation for loose-fit earbuds to
address comfort and hearing safety; features that help reduce the
symptoms of Tinnitus for safety; and proximity sensors to help
increase battery life. They want these features regardless of their
activity -- traveling, working, relaxing, or doing sport activities
such as running or biking," said Wim Renirie,
Vice President and General Manager for Accessory & Wearable
Solutions Business Line at ams.
Users do not want to compromise: Active Noise Cancellation in a
comfortable form factor and long battery life
Loose and tight fit: Around 45% revealed they use tight-fitting,
in-ear earbuds because they are perceived to stay in place (67%)
and feel more secure when exercising (51%). However, consumers
noted tight-fitting earbuds are not comfortable for extended
periods or they do not fit correctly (44% across all regions
surveyed). Respondents also reported that tight-fitting earbuds can
make them feel less aware of their surroundings (21%) and that they
hear their own footfalls when wearing them -- particularly during
exercise (11%). Those problems are remedied with the loose-fit
earbuds which have ANC. In addition to being more comfortable than
tight-fit earbuds (26%), the ability to hear what you want to hear
with augmented hearing allows users to hear necessary surrounding
noise and activity (20%).
Augmented hearing through Active Noise Cancellation technology
provides important usability factors in earbuds through reducing
the distraction of ambient noise. This helps to keep volume levels
lower, important for ear health. Moreover, ams has Augmented
Hearing technology specially designed for loose-fit earbuds
increasing comfort for users. The survey results showed that
volume-limiting technology to prevent hearing loss or damage was
important across the world with 56% requesting this feature. While
half the respondents in China (49%) use active noise cancelling
(ANC) headphones to reduce the distraction of ambient noise, just
17% in the US and 16% in Europe have ANC headphones. However, about
21% of respondents said they hear too much background noise with
loose-fit earbuds. Until now, ANC has not been available in
loose-fit earbuds. Thanks to ams developed digital ANC features for
loose-fit earbuds, users can now have this feature in a very
comfortable form factor. However, the same percentage also noted
they did not know active noise cancelling technology was available
in loose-fit earbuds. Consumers in China were savvier with just 14%
unaware that ANC technology is available for more comfortable
loose-fit earbud designs.
ams audio sensing technologies, such as Digital Augmented
Hearing for high-performing noise cancellation for all types of
headphones and earbuds, is used by manufactures around the world to
give customers these kinds of audio benefits. Real time adaptation
enables ANC on loose-fit earbuds, allows use of a smaller speaker
on closed-fit designs, and always delivers the best performance on
over-ear designs -- even if you wear eyeglasses or prefer a loose
fit.
Battery life continues to matter: ams proximity sensors are key
to helping manage battery life in earbuds, as the buds only turn on
when they register that they are in the ear. Nearly 49% across all
regions agreed acceptable battery life must be at least 5 hours.
However, 32% of respondents said they prefer battery life of over 8
hours and up to 24 hours. Just 11% said less than 5 hours of
battery life was acceptable.
Emerging earbud innovations
Users are looking for new technologies such as 3D or spatial
sound had high interest in China (at 48%) but less so in the US
(24%) and Europe (20%). High volume without distortion (mostly for
gaming) was important to consumers in China (50%) but less so in
the US (31%) and Europe (19%).
Survey Methodology: Who participated and what type of earbuds
they use
In spring 2020, ams surveyed over 2,150 consumers around the
world (USA, Europe, and China). Respondents were almost evenly
split between men (49%) and women (51%) between the ages of 18-29
(41%), 30-44 (32%), and 45-60 (18%). In pre-qualification
questions, 24% of respondents said they use tight-fitting, in-ear,
wired earbuds, 22% used tight-fitting, in-ear wireless earbuds; 10%
use loose-fitting, wired earbuds; 6% use loose-fitting, wireless
earbuds; 23% said they use both; and 15% said they do not use
earbuds. The survey was conducted through SurveyMonkey.
Resources
For more information on the survey and more detailed results,
please
download the ams' Comfortable, Smart, High-performing Earbuds
Survey' eBook.
A consumer-focused Earbud Reviewers Guide is also available for
media use.
Visit the ams website to see all available earbud
technologies:
https://ams.com/wireless-earbud-solutions
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View source version on businesswire.com:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200810005247/en/
CONTACT: Contact:
Amy Flécher
Vice President Marketing Communications
press@ams.com
ams.com
SOURCE: ams
Copyright Business Wire 2020
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
August 10, 2020 11:15 ET (15:15 GMT)
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