A Case Study on GORE® Acoustic Vents for TWS Earbuds: Learn how Gore Technology helped a renowned OEM of True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds stand out from their competition by providing acoustic performance never before experienced.
Case Study
woman in the rain wearing earbuds

Challenge

When a well-known OEM of TWS earbuds developed the second generation of their flagship model, they aimed to stand out from the growing competition. While creating a device 15% smaller than the previous version and introducing new colors to catch consumer eyes, the OEM also sought to improve acoustic performance and Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) to create a unique sound experience.

While the OEM invested in high-SNR microphones, they needed to protect them from contamination and water immersion – without degrading the acoustic performance. Fortunately, they could rely on Gore’s experience to find the perfect solution.

The Technology Behind the Solution: GORE® Acoustic Vents

The solution used to support the OEM was a highly-customized version of GORE® Acoustic Vents. Here are some of its benefits:

  • Achieve the perfect IP standard that fits your specific needs
  • Secure sound transparency and acoustic performance
  • Ideal for portable electronic devices needing to withstand dust hazards and water immersion

Our customer wanted to enable clear phone calls and the highest acoustic performance possible, so they included an AI-based, intelligent ANC to block any external noises.

Yan YU Heo / Marketing Development

Achieving the highest sound quality possible was very important to our customer. They invested significant resources to find the perfect MEMS microphones with high SNR to offer the most advanced ANC.

John Park / Application Engineer

Solution

The TWS earbuds in question contain a total of six digital MEMS microphones, as the OEM wanted to provide a unique 360° sound experience. Gore was tasked with developing a solution for each individual microphone, achieving not only IPx7 standard resistance against water immersion but also meeting all acoustic requirements.

Gore’s engineering team has already developed a new membrane for acoustic vents which is placed on the outside of the MEMS microphone. When our team introduced this new membrane to the customer, we quickly received positive feedback. From there, we developed the solution in collaboration with our customer to make sure it would fit their specific requirements in design and performance.

Result

Thanks to Gore and strong teamwork throughout the project, our customer achieved a competitive edge in the TWS earbud market. Our solution not only supported the intelligent ANC our customer desired, but also provided a flawless 360°sound experience. Below are the results:

  • Our new membrane enabled a higher SNR than previous solutions
  • The sensitivity attenuation was minimized at low frequencies
  • The IPx7 standard from the previous model was maintained
  • The acoustic performance of the earbuds was improved
  • The relationship between Gore and our customer was strengthened

Our customer instinctively turns to Gore when starting a new program, seeking out our latest membranes and technologies. This demonstrates the high level of trust they put in our solutions and their satisfaction with the result.

Yan YU Heo / Marketing Development

FOR INDUSTRIAL USE ONLY 

Not for use in food, drug, cosmetic or medical device manufacturing, processing, or packaging operations.