On the 16th, Huawei Japan held an event for the media to introduce the completely wireless earphone "HUAWEI FreeBuds" series.
Kenji Nomura, an audio and visual writer, will be on stage at the event as a guest. The lecture was given on the theme of "The latest trends in completely wireless earphones and the advantages of the HUAWEI FreeBuds series."
Kenji Nomura, an audio and visual writer. Listen to over 300 headphones and earphones a year for over 10 years. In addition to appearing as a reviewer in the "Nomken Lab!" Corner of TBS TV Kaiun Ongakudo, he is active in various media.
Audio writer Kenji Nomura explains the latest trends in completely wireless earphones
According to Mr. Nomura, the Japanese wireless earphone market has been in the state of "Apple vs Sony" for a long time. "Apple's AirPods Pro will continue to sell in 2021, and Sony's new product WF-1000XM4 It will be a hit. " These two are followed by domestic and foreign audio makers such as Bose, Sennheiser, JVC, and Audio-Technica.
First, the market trend of completely wireless earphones was explained.
In addition, wireless earphones also have a function as a "hearable device" that works with smartphones, so other than audio makers are entering the market. Manufacturers such as Jabra, GLIDiC, and BoCo have released high-performance products and attracted attention, and smartphone makers have also released products one after another. It is said that usability when used in combination with a smartphone is also important.
Products other than audio makers are also attracting attention
Smartphone makers are also entering the market one after another
In addition, as a recent market trend, he mentioned that the price range of fully wireless earphones has expanded due to the increase in low-priced models. New brands from Japan such as AVIOT and ag have released high-performance, good-quality earphones at reasonable prices. It is explained that the sound quality of the products of Chinese manufacturers, which had many quality products such as "Well, it's impossible" until about two years ago, has been enhanced and the attention is being raised due to the overwhelming high cost performance.
Also pay attention to Japan's first new brand and high cost spa Chinese brand
It should be noted that lowering prices does not affect the sales of high-priced products, but rather the overall user base tends to expand. Users who want low-priced wireless earphones have traditionally used smartphone accessories and low-priced wired earphones, and there is a polarization between users who want high-performance products and users who value cost performance. Say it's progressing.
Summary of the latest trends in completely wireless earphones by Mr. Nomura
Mr. Nomura, who listens to more than 300 products a year, said about the performance of HUAWEI FreeBuds 4i released by Huawei Japan on May 15th, "Noise canceling at a price of less than 10,000 yen (9680 yen). And equipped with an external sound capture function, it firmly suppresses the latest popular trends. " Also, according to Mr. Nomura, "almost no earphones have good microphone performance", but the FreeBuds 4i microphone realizes high-quality sound with dual microphones in different positions, and is evaluated as "suitable for telework". was doing.
HUAWEI FreeBuds 4i is available in 3 colors
Canal type and comfortable to wear
Advantages of HUAWEI FreeBuds 4i explained by Mr. Nomura
The stamina that can be played for about 10 hours with only the main body is also attractive
The high-end model HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro is available in 3 colors and costs 25,080 yen.
Equipped with hybrid active noise calisering
Evaluation of HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro by Mr. Nomura
Technology developed in Tokyo's Acoustic Technology Laboratory adopted for global model
Next, Mr. Naotaka Tsunoda, Director of the Acoustic Technology Laboratory of Huawei's Tokyo Research Institute, explained the technology installed in HUAWEI FreeBuds 4i.
Mr. Naotaka Tsunoda, Director of Acoustic Technology Laboratory, Tokyo Research Institute, Huawei. Joined Huawei Japan in 2018 after being involved in product design and prior art development mainly related to headphones and earphones at a major Japanese audio equipment manufacturer.Since then, he has been in charge of technological development for audio products released by Huawei in the near future at the company's Tokyo Research Institute.
Huawei's Tokyo Research Institute was established as the Japan Research Institute in 2014 and reorganized as the Tokyo Research Institute in 2020. At that time, the Acoustic Technology Laboratory was established. It seems that they are researching and developing technologies that will be applied mainly 2 to 5 years from now, together with research institutes in China and Europe.
Inside the Acoustic Technology Laboratory of the Tokyo Research Institute in Shinagawa, Tokyo
According to Mr. Tsunoda, instead of researching at the request of the head office, multiple laboratories around the world will research and develop new technologies, and competitions will be held with participation from outside. .. According to Mr. Tsunoda, "The hit rate of our technology is high, and about two-thirds of the proposals have been adopted."
HUAWEI FreeBuds 4i mainly uses "time difference beamforming" and "AI noise reduction technology" to reduce noise and achieve clear call quality.
A mechanism to achieve clear call quality. AI analyzes human voice and reduces other noise
Equipped with an active noise canceling function at a low price. Two microphones mounted on the outside of the earphone collect environmental noise, analyze it, and reproduce the optimum cancellation sound from the driver unit to eliminate the noise.
Active noise canceling includes a "feedback method" that picks up noise with an external microphone and a "feedback method" that cancels noise with a microphone inside the headphones, but the HUAWEI FreeBuds 4i is also a low-priced model. , Adopt only feed forward method
The driver unit is 10mm, but it is said to be "the largest size allowed" in order to achieve both a comfortable fit and sound quality. It seems that the shape of the housing is decided after a total of thousands of mounting tests, but it takes about 2 hours for each test, so it takes a very long time.
Affordable model with a 10mm dynamic driver
Smart audio glasses will also be exhibited at the venue
At the event venue, the earphones on sale were exhibited, and I was able to freely test the fit. In addition, the smart audio glass "HUAWEI x GENTLE MONSTER Eyewear II", which Huawei Japan has released in advance on the crowdfunding site "GREEN FUNDING" from June 11, was also exhibited.
UV400 cut sunglasses type "SMART LANG"
Prescription glasses type "SMART KUBO"
The temple (vine) is equipped with a speaker and a microphone, but it didn't feel strange as eyeglasses, and I had the impression that it could be used in a variety of situations such as outdoors and telework.
The speaker and microphone are hidden in the temple, and at first glance it looks like ordinary glasses.
If you are interested, please check the project page (https://greenfunding.jp/lab/projects/4924). It seems that the actual machine is also exhibited at Tsutaya Home Appliances + in Futakotamagawa, Tokyo.
