What are True Wireless Earphones and How do They Work?
From in-ear to overhead, wireless headphones come in a variety of different shapes and sizes and have quickly become one of the most used electronic devices.
Whether for listening to music, immersing yourself in content or enjoying conversations over the phone, a pair of quality earphones really does make all the difference.
In recent years, we have witnessed yet another leap in design and technology, which has brought us true wireless earphones. Not only does this new generation of earbuds have a futuristic look, it also makes use of a lot of different technologies to decompress digital signals coming from the audio source and transform them into soundwaves through vibration – a lot of things are happening within milliseconds of sound reaching our ears.
Even though many of us now use wireless earphones every day, most people wouldn’t be able to describe how the technology works. So, to help you understand this fascinating piece of technology, we’ve put together a simple guide and explained in non-technical terms the basics behind how true wireless earphones work.
What are True Wireless Earphones?
To start off, let’s cover the obvious question: What does “true wireless” actually mean and how does is it differ from standard “wireless”?
While traditional earphones rely on a cable connected to the audio source to receive electronic signals, true wireless earphones – similarly to standard wireless earphones – aren’t connected to the audio source via a cable. Instead, they use wireless technology to transmit data between the audio source and the earbud.
However, the term “wireless earphones” is misleading, as it often refers to earbuds that, although don’t require access to a jack to connect to the audio source, are still physically connected to each other, usually via a cable. As opposed to wireless earphones that use a cable between the left and right earbud to transmit signals, true wireless earphones don’t require a cable between earbuds – all data transmission is carried out wirelessly
Nowadays, the term “wireless” is often used interchangeably with Bluetooth, as most modern devices work with Bluetooth technology. Even though Bluetooth has become the standard, there are also other wireless technologies, such as infrared and radiofrequency waves, which are used in remote controls or radios.
How Do True Wireless Earphones Work?
Generally speaking, true wireless earbuds have a primary – or master – earbud which acts as a bridge between the audio source and the secondary earbud. In addition to managing the connection between the two earbuds and the audio source, the primary earbud works to compensate for any audio delay – also known as latency – that can occur between earbuds during transmission.
To reduce latency, the two earbuds send information between themselves and calculate how long this process takes. Once this timeframe has been calculated, the earbuds understand how long the process should take which allows the master bud to compensate for any latency and ensures the earbuds remain synced to each other and to the source device. It’s important to note that latency can be strongly affected by environment, such as crowded or built-up areas, which can cause brief interruptions while listening to music or having a conversation.
However, Panasonic’s S500W and S300W true wireless earbuds use an independent left/right signalling system for each earbud, rather than a standard secondary/primary arrangement which, as outlined above, can be susceptible to dropouts. Not only does the left/right independent signalling system employed by these true wireless in-ear headphones help maintain a stable connection, but it also helps with sound balance.
What are the Benefits of True Wireless?
Wireless earphones are already a quantum leap in terms of freedom of movement and convenience. Most people, who switched from wired to wireless earphones, would never go back. The cable between smartphone and earbud strictly limits the freedom of movement and creates a barrier to user-friendliness. With wireless earphones, the smartphone can easily be put inside the pocket while walking around and listening to music. Even though wireless earphones are more complex and technologically advanced, it’s wired earphones that are more susceptible to damage, as the cable is the most vulnerable part of an earphone.
Standard wireless earphones come with a few trade-offs: although there isn’t a wire between the earbuds and audio source, there is still a cable between the left and right earbud. For some people, having a cable behind their neck may feel unnatural and can, at times, impede head movement.
True wireless earphones on the other hand have all the advantages of wireless technology without their weaknesses. True wireless enables true and natural head movement and phone calls can be conveniently answered by simply touching one of the earbuds. Panasonic true wireless earbuds, such as the S500W, come with a smart battery case, which charges the earbuds while they are not in use, which means that battery life is significantly improved compared to earphones that don’t have a charging case. However, It’s the removal of the most vulnerable and awkward part – the cable – that not only improves functionality and comfort, but contributes to an overall longer lifetime, setting true wireless earphones apart from other earphones.
True wireless earphones are a ground-breaking step in the world of personal audio. If you want to keep yours in top condition and make the most of them for years to come, find out more about how to care for your earphones.
