Sony ULT Noise-Cancelling Headphone / ImageCredits: Sony

Noise-canceling was a breakthrough innovation in the world of sound technology. Spearheaded by Indian-origin MIT professor Amar Bose, the concept was first introduced in over-ear headphones followed by ‘in-ear’ earphones. 

Over the last decade or so, other brands have joined the bandwagon, with their twist to noise cancellation technologies. 

Sony has created dedicated chips for noise cancellation (such as the V1 chip), housing them in minimalistic devices, along with other intuitive features such as sensor-driven tech to stop music if removed from the ear, boosting bass, invoking clearer voice for calls, etc.

One does not have to use noise-canceling earphones just to enhance the music experience. They can use them just to reduce, if not eliminate, the level of outside noise.

The idea of cutting out outside or ambient noise from headphones tuned to music occurred to Dr. Bose, a professor of Electrical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1978 while taking a long flight to Europe. 

He found that the incessant noise and vibration of the aircraft engine added to the air-conditioning in the cabin seeped through the headsets provided and spoiled his enjoyment of the music.  This set his mind working – how to cut out the unwanted external noise.

If sound waves carrying unwanted sound (i.e., noise) hit the headset, it cancels them by creating sound waves that are equal and opposite in polarity thus canceling the net sound to zero.  In other words, fight noise with anti-noise. 

The principle is known as ‘destructive interference. This is done by embedding the headphones with tiny microphones – and a processor that takes the unwanted sound received by the microphone and ‘cancels’ it electronically. This leaves the wearer free to receive the sound he or she wants to hear:  music, TV, movies, whatever. 

According to a survey by Mordor Intelligence, the market for active noise cancellation devices is expected to grow from US$ 15.68 billion in 2023 to US$ 30.19 billion by 2028, at a  Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)  of 14% during the forecast period (2023-2028). 

The customers in the region are playing their part too: The survey says: “Asia-Pacific players are introducing innovative features of noise-cancelling headphones to meet the dynamic consumer demands and attract a large consumer base in the region.”  After China, India is the biggest market for earwear in the region.

Incidentally, the Sony India Software Centre (SISC), located in Bangalore, India has been creating innovative solutions in the areas of embedded software development, app development, and support services, besides directly contributing to the Sony product line through backend drivers, AI, middleware, testing frameworks and other complex technology stacks.

This center has gone on to become the focal point for Sony's innovation in the areas of Software Architecture, Information Systems Communication, and Information Security, making it a global R&D competency center.

Recently, the company launched the ULT Power Sound range of products that come with integrated V1 chips, leveraging dual noise sensor technology, and features such as sensor-driven pausing of music when you take the headphones off and starts again when you put them on, besides the option of pairing with two devices at the same time. 

The ULT Wear headphones come with an Ambient Sound Mode that lets you control which layers of sound you wish to hear, while proprietary technology restores high-frequencies and sounds lost in compression. 

The ULT Wear headphones come with dual Bass modes – ULT1 for deeper lower frequency bass and ULT2 for a punchy bass effect. You can activate these by pressing the ULT button which invokes the specially designed 40-mm driver unit for better bass.

Similarly, the ULT Field One is a compact portable speaker that provides up to 12 hours of battery life and comes with a multi-directional strap, with IP67 waterproofing, along with special salt water-resistance and dustproof capabilities. 

The ULS Field 7 on the other hand is bigger and comes with guitar input, karaoke input, and intuitive lighting, making it ideal for outdoor group settings. The ULT series launch also included the high-end and large Tower 10, which allows you to connect up to 100 speakers, and devices, and uniquely offers in-built sound field technology that cuts off useless noise to focus on speaker output.

The message is loud and clear. The tradition that Bose started by incorporating noise cancellation in devices with minimalistic form factors, is being extended to a variety of sizes, shapes, and functionality by brands like Sony that aggressively hire specialists to innovate and redefine the sound and music market.