1. Introduction Quiet surroundings are as important to the quality of sound reproduction as choosing the right audio equipment. But in today’s world, your actual listening environment, especially when using a portable music device, is likely to be far from ideal with exposure to all kinds of noise. Since 1995, Sony has pursued the ideal listening environment through the development of noise canceling headphones and we have succeeded in creating the ultimate noise canceling ear receivers using digital signal processing. This pamphlet describes the features of the MDR-NC300D headphones in terms of the technologies – Sony’s acoustic technology, signal processing technology and circuit technology – that have been built into the design of the headphones. Features of the MDR-NC300D digital noise canceling headphones Outstanding digital noise canceling performance High-quality sound design Excellent wearing comfort...
2. Outstanding Noise Canceling Performance 2-1 Principles of Noise Canceling Mechanism The MDR-NC300D headphones are equipped with a feed-forward noise canceling (NC) mechanism which cancels noise near the eardrum by estimating what kind of noise it will be when it reaches the eardrum based on the ambient noise collected by the noise detection microphone, and generating an inverted sound waveform. As shown in the figure, the noise canceling performance greatly depends on the efficiency and precision of the NC circuit to generate the noise canceling waveform. The NC circuit uses the newly developed integrated DNC processor <CXD9952GR>. Compared with the previous analog type, it boasts excellent noise canceling performance and outstanding sound quality.
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Leaked noise near eardrum Noise Added in space near eardrum Detection microphone (noise canceling) Newly developed integrated DNC processor Driver unit Inverted-phase noise canceling waveform generated by NC circuit circuit <CXD99GR>...
2-2 DNC Software Engine Sony’s unique digital noise canceling technology and high quality audio processing technology come together in the Integrated DNC processor to maximize the merits of digital processing, as shown in the figure. The noise picked up by the noise detection microphone is digitalized by the A/D converter, and the optimal canceling signal is generated through high-speed, high-precision digital filter processing by the DNC Software Engine at the heart of the processor. After audio enhancement processing by the Digital Sound Enhancer (see page 12) via the A/D converter, the music signal from the media player is added to the noise canceling signal in the DNC Software Engine. The added signal is faithfully reproduced by the S-Master Full Digital Amplifier (see page 16), enabling high noise canceling efficiency and dynamic music reproduction.
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[Merits of digitalization] Noise detection microphone In principle, computation is not affected by external electrical noise Analog Digital S-Master A/D converter circuit circuit Digital Amplifier Driver unit High precision and no variation DNC Software Engine AI Noise Analog Digital Analyzer ...
2-3 Automatic AI Noise Canceling Function The characteristics of ambient noise vary depending on the situation. For example, the characteristics of ambient noise on a plane, on a bus or a train, or in an office environment are different. The AI Noise Analyzer inside the processor constantly monitors and analyzes the ambient noise. This function selects in real time the most appropriate of the noise canceling modes provided by the headphones (Mode A: low to midrange frequency NC, Mode B: ultra-low frequency NC, Mode C: wideband NC). In other words, it selects the mode that minimizes noise at the eardrum. This advanced software function enables users to enjoy the optimum noise canceling effect automatically in any noise environment. Typically, “Mode A: low to midrange frequency NC” effectively reduces the noise present mainly on a plane; “Mode B: Tips ultra-low frequency NC” effectively reduces the noise present mainly on a bus or train; and “Mode C: wideband NC” effectively reduces the noise present mainly in an office environment (OA equipment, air conditioning, etc.). The AI Noise Analyzer analyzes the actual ambient noise in the user’s environment and selects the most effective noise canceling mode.
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AI Noise Automatic analysis in real-time, Noise Analyzer Selects optimal NC mode Noise detection microphone [Mode A: low to midrange frequency NC] [Mode B: ultra-low frequency NC] [Mode C: wideband NC] Noise canceling ratio Noise canceling ratio Noise canceling ratio Frequency Frequency Frequency...
2-4 Noise Canceling Optimization The shape of the human ear varies subtly from person to person. When you wear In-The-Ear headphones, there may be a very slight gap between your ear canal and the headphones depending on the shape of your ear. The size of the gap varies from individual to individual. Air leaking through this gap affects the loudness of the noise reaching your ears through the gap and this also affects the noise canceling efficiency. Noise canceling optimization corrects individual differences in the noise canceling effect by electrically adjusting the size and spectrum of the noise canceling signal, thereby ensuring the best noise canceling effect for each individual.
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Air leakage through gap Headphone Ear canal Frequency Noise canceling signal compensation by Noise Canceling Optimization Wearing headphones NC OPTIMIZE NC OPTIMIZE button for noise canceling optimization...
3. High Quality Sound Technology 3-1 High Quality Sound by Digital Sound Enhancer While the headphones offer exceptional noise canceling performance, the newly developed Digital Sound Enhancer delivers clear, natural sound. The digital equalizer ensures high quality music reproduction and provides three sound modes suited to the environment and music source. Digital Equalizer The acoustical design of noise canceling headphones generally emphasizes low frequency in order to maximize the effect with limited electric power, but this impact on the quality of the reproduced sound. To solve this problem, a digital equalizer is provided on the audio input side.
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The digital equalizer suppresses the impact on the sound quality and delivers high quality sound that gives full play to the intrinsic performance of the driver unit. By applying the high-precision, high-sound quality digital equalizing technology accumulated through Sony’s AV amplifiers and Hi-Fi audiovisual apparatus and adopting the newly developed computation method optimized to the system, it is possible to reproduce a music source with a sense of realism from deep bass to smooth highs. Characteristic of acoustical system Characteristic of digital equalizer Total characteristic Desired characteristic Frequency Frequency Frequency...
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Three sound modes Three sound modes suited to the characteristics of the music source ensure easy listening in any noise environment. NORMAL: This mode maximizes the merits of the noise canceling headphones to produce clear, natural sounds. BASS: This mode boosts the bass sounds that give punch to modern dance music. MOVIE: This is the sound mode suited to an AV sound source with wide dynamic range, such as a movie. Compression processing increases the volume of quiet sounds such as conversation and reduces the volume of loud sounds like explosions, thereby adjusting the overall volume to a listener-friendly level. Moreover, dialog is made much easier to hear by slight emphasis of the core midrange frequency, ensuring clear, natural sounds even on a train or plane or in other noise environments.
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Explosion Human voice range Output signal Explosion Input signal Compression Dialog Dialog Whisper Whisper Signal processing flow Frequency Noise Compression effect Midrange frequency emphasized Movie mode (Image)
3-2 S-Master Full Digital Amplifier The headphones are equipped with Sony’s retuned S-Master full digital amplifying technology. Digitization right until output ensures faithful sound reproduction to a degree not achieved with analog amplifiers. S-Master S-Master Digital signal Digital logic processor Digital power amplifier Digital waveform data Audio pulse signal Analog signal S-Master power amplifier configuration...
3-3 Large 16 mm Dynamic Driver Unit 1. mm driver unit 1 mm driver unit A large 16 mm dynamic driver unit is used as the closed ear receiver. In addition to the improved canceling of loud/ultra-low frequency environmental noise, this makes the most of the merits of wideband regeneration and the broad dynamic range to produce clear, natural sounds with a wide, balanced frequency range. Integrated Structure of Driver Unit Conventional unit MDR-NC00D (MDR-NC) For the sake of miniaturization, the driver unit has been integrated with the casing. As well as eliminating unwanted air leakage from the gaps between components, this has reduced unwanted vibration and attained a smooth response in the low range.
4. Wearing Comfort 4-1 Vertical In-The-Ear Headphones The introduction of the large 16 mm driver means that the headphones are worn with the driver positioned at right angles to the ear canal, enabling rich bass sounds to be enjoyed with no stress on the ear.
4-2 Hybrid Earbuds in 7 Sizes The hybrid silicone earbuds use silicone in a combination of two hardnesses. The hard core maintains the shape of the sound exit and prevents deterioration of sound quality caused by crushing of the tip. The soft exterior allows better molding to the ear canal, providing a secure fit and wearing comfort for extended listening. Seven types of earbud are provided to suit different shapes of ear. Earbud size Section of earbud Small Diameter Large Low hardness silicone – High (blue) (purple) Height (orange) (green) (light blue) – High hardness silicone (red) (yellow)
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