Finding your voice.
How Nokia technology helps you hear and be heard.
Audio quality is a key part of the Nokia Bluetooth headset experience, and an important target for continuous improvement at Nokia's research and development centres. Skilled audio specialists take pride in the creation of every product as they combine the best audio technologies on the market with Nokia's own state-of-the-art research in order to outperform the competition.
Nokia Bluetooth Headsets include:
- Intelligent background noise reduction
- Acoustical wind noise reduction
- Optimized frequency response
- World-class acoustical design
- Advanced ergonomics
Intelligent background noise reduction.
Background noise reduction techniques help to keep your voice clear and natural-sounding while filtering out environmental noise like wind, road noise, and nearby conversations.
Identifying and separating a speaker's voice from background noise is a significant technical challenge. One solution is to filter out frequencies that are higher or lower than most speech, but aggressive filtering can make the voice sound unclear and unnatural. Some manufacturers have used sensors to try to determine when the user is speaking and reduce or increase the volume at appropriate moments. But these sensors can be confused by other activities like chewing. Even when working well, having both the voice and the background noise fade in and out in unison can be distracting.
Nokia addresses these challenges with a combination of careful acoustical design and a double microphone solution.
Careful acoustical design and placement of the microphone within the headset provides optimal voice capture, while reducing the noise caused by reflections and air flow near the microphone.
The double microphone solution adds a separate microphone to pick up background noise. When combined with the sound from the primary microphone, the headset's advanced digital signal processing (DSP) technologies can determine the directions of different sounds. This information is used to boost the sound coming from the user's mouth. The voice remains clear and natural, while unwanted environmental noise is reduced. The Accessory Setup Application (ACA), available for Nokia devices with Symbian release 3.1 onwards, allows users to further fine-tune the noise reduction by selecting the most suitable audio profile: office, car, or outdoor.
Identifying and separating a speaker's voice from background noise is a significant technical challenge. One solution is to filter out frequencies that are higher or lower than most speech, but aggressive filtering can make the voice sound unclear and unnatural. Some manufacturers have used sensors to try to determine when the user is speaking and reduce or increase the volume at appropriate moments. But these sensors can be confused by other activities like chewing. Even when working well, having both the voice and the background noise fade in and out in unison can be distracting.
Nokia addresses these challenges with a combination of careful acoustical design and a double microphone solution.
Careful acoustical design and placement of the microphone within the headset provides optimal voice capture, while reducing the noise caused by reflections and air flow near the microphone.
The double microphone solution adds a separate microphone to pick up background noise. When combined with the sound from the primary microphone, the headset's advanced digital signal processing (DSP) technologies can determine the directions of different sounds. This information is used to boost the sound coming from the user's mouth. The voice remains clear and natural, while unwanted environmental noise is reduced. The Accessory Setup Application (ACA), available for Nokia devices with Symbian release 3.1 onwards, allows users to further fine-tune the noise reduction by selecting the most suitable audio profile: office, car, or outdoor.
Acoustical reduction of outdoor wind noise
Air flow around microphones can significantly affect sound quality. Even a gentle breeze, when it strikes the microphone directly, can cause a low rumbling sound that drowns out conversation. Nokia's research has found that, rather than trying to reduce wind noise electronically, the most effective technique is to protect the microphones through careful acoustical design. In this way, the wind doesn't saturate the microphones so the speech signal entering the device is of higher quality and there is no need to focus on wind noise reduction at the signal processing phase.
Optimized frequency response
The human earlobe naturally amplifies frequencies in the range of 2-3 kHz. To achieve a similar effect when the sound source is near the ear canal, Nokia headsets amplify frequencies in this range. Nokia's internal audio research and extensive experience with telecommunication devices have shown that this creates clear and natural-sounding audio that users prefer.
World-class acoustical design.
All Nokia Bluetooth headsets are acoustically designed to provide the best possible audio quality. Both microphone and earpiece driver components are selected after thorough investigation and their housings are built to achieve the best performance. The rubber earpiece adapters have been shaped to fit comfortably and minimize sound leakage. Most headsets come with multiple earpiece adapters so that users can choose the one with the best fit, taking into account both acoustical performance and comfort. The Microphone and earpiece drivers are located so that echoes, reflections, and air flow turbulence do not disrupt the sound for the sender or receiver. Each new design iteration benefits from real-world user testing and feedback.
Advanced ergonomics
Ergonomics play a key role in providing the best audio experience to all users. Nokia has conducted ergonomic studies that help to ensure that Nokia headsets fit as many people as possible, regardless of the shape of their ears.
Ergonomics can be divided into general mechanical ergonomics and personalisable ergonomics. Mechanical ergonomics is worked out from the very beginning of product development by designing the main body to fit comfortably and naturally. For example, headset bodies are contoured to provide a comfortable fit to the face.
Nokia headsets offer personalisable ergonomics through different sizes and types of ear buds and ear hooks. These provide a custom fit to suit the individual's preference.
Extensive studies of how handsets and accessories are used in real life help Nokia to bring leading audio technologies to market in ways that provide a world-class audio experience.
Ergonomics can be divided into general mechanical ergonomics and personalisable ergonomics. Mechanical ergonomics is worked out from the very beginning of product development by designing the main body to fit comfortably and naturally. For example, headset bodies are contoured to provide a comfortable fit to the face.
Nokia headsets offer personalisable ergonomics through different sizes and types of ear buds and ear hooks. These provide a custom fit to suit the individual's preference.
Extensive studies of how handsets and accessories are used in real life help Nokia to bring leading audio technologies to market in ways that provide a world-class audio experience.
Nokia offers leading audio quality throughout its Bluetooth headset range.
Nokia Bluetooth Headset BH-607 embodies the fruits of Nokia's investment in audio research and development, combining all of the above technologies in a single product. It utilizes a new type of wind noise protection that includes air flow resistive foam and an optimised grille to block wind from its microphones. A curved body design helps the headset to "adapt itself" to the user's chin shape, combining both mechanical and personalisable ergonomics. There are many options for changeable ear buds and ear hooks to fit all ears.
Other products, like Nokia Bluetooth Headset BH-804 and Nokia Bluetooth Headset BH-216, have sophisticated audio quality with advanced ergonomics, fine tuned frequency response, world-class acoustical design, and some intelligent background noise reduction. They also have advanced mechanical ergonomics: Nokia Bluetooth Headset BH-216 via a curved body and Nokia Bluetooth Headset BH-804 via extreme light weight and small dimensions. Even in its most affordable Bluetooth headsets, like Nokia Bluetooth Headset BH-105, Nokia offers leading audio quality within the segment through advanced ergonomics, fine tuned frequency response, and world-class acoustical design.
The same technologies are also featured on Nokia's stereo Bluetooth headsets such as Nokia Bluetooth Stereo Headset BH-905 and Nokia Bluetooth Stereo Headset BH-504.
Other products, like Nokia Bluetooth Headset BH-804 and Nokia Bluetooth Headset BH-216, have sophisticated audio quality with advanced ergonomics, fine tuned frequency response, world-class acoustical design, and some intelligent background noise reduction. They also have advanced mechanical ergonomics: Nokia Bluetooth Headset BH-216 via a curved body and Nokia Bluetooth Headset BH-804 via extreme light weight and small dimensions. Even in its most affordable Bluetooth headsets, like Nokia Bluetooth Headset BH-105, Nokia offers leading audio quality within the segment through advanced ergonomics, fine tuned frequency response, and world-class acoustical design.
The same technologies are also featured on Nokia's stereo Bluetooth headsets such as Nokia Bluetooth Stereo Headset BH-905 and Nokia Bluetooth Stereo Headset BH-504.
