Audio Chips Set Benchmark For Noise Cancellation

Low-power, high performance AS3435 and miniature AS3412 noise-cancelling ICs from ams enable headphone-maker FIIL to achieve what is described as outstanding ANC performance in its next-gen on- and in-ear headphones. The ams hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) audio IC, the AS3435, is used in the high performance Canviis Pro wireless on-ear headphones. In addition, ams’ AS3412 finds employment in the Driifter Pro, one of the first neck-band-based Bluetooth in-ear ANC headphones of its kind. The AS3412 – which comes in a tiny WL-CSP – is ideally suited for this audio application because of the headphones’ size constraints.

 

The ams portfolio of ANC ICs offers a combination of high audio performance and low power consumption. Advanced noise cancellation features include:

  • Smart noise adjustment – user-selectable choice of three operating modes. The chip normally operates in noise-cancelling mode but also offers a monitor mode, which blocks low-frequency noise but allows the user to hear mid-to-high frequencies, and an open mode, which allows the user to hear all ambient noise.
  • Wind mode – cancels out noise caused by wind.

The AS3435 was chosen for the Canviis Pro on-ear headphones in order to enable an

active noise cancellation and greater than 30 dB of noise attenuation and a THD of less than 0.5% at a 100-dB SPL.

 

For the Driifter Pro in-ear headphones, the requirement was to fit a chip with good noise-cancellation capability in a tiny end-product housing, with low power consumption. FIIL’s choice, the AS3412, measures 2.2 mm x 2.2 mm x 0.4 mm in a WL-CSP. Operating from a supply voltage of 1.6V to 1.8V, the AS3412 just 8 mW.

 

More information about the ams line of noise-cancelling ICs is available as well as FIIL’s range of headsets.