TWS Earphones (OEM, BT 5.3 + ANC)

Qualcomm vs. Airoha Chipset: Ecosystem and NRE Cost

The chipset choice defines the SDK environment, reference design availability, and NRE (Non-Recurring Engineering) cost for customization:

Qualcomm QCC3072 (and QCC3056 for lower-cost ANC). Industry benchmark for audio quality and ANC performance. Qualcomm’s Aqstic audio codec is included on-chip, providing reference-quality DAC performance. Large ecosystem of third-party firmware partners. SDK access requires signing a Qualcomm development agreement — available through authorized design houses. NRE for a custom firmware layer (button remapping, EQ presets, ANC tuning): typically $8,000–20,000 for a full design house engagement. Preferred choice for products competing in the $40+ retail price range where audio quality is a differentiator.

Airoha AC6973 (or AC6975 for higher-end features). MediaTek subsidiary chip. Lower BOM cost than Qualcomm — $1.20–2.00 cheaper per unit. Competitive ANC performance for mid-range products. Airoha’s SDK is more accessible through Chinese ODM factories, which reduces NRE cost (typically $3,000–8,000 for equivalent customization). Good choice for products targeting the $15–35 retail price range.

Both chipsets support aptX (Qualcomm) or LDAC (Sony codec, requires separate licensing) as lossless audio codecs. If your target market includes audiophiles who value lossless transmission, confirm codec licensing is included in the factory’s firmware scope and is reflected in the BQB qualification.

ANC Performance Measurement

“Active Noise Cancellation” covers a wide performance range. The factory’s claimed “-30 dB ANC attenuation” is a peak figure measured at a specific frequency (typically 200–400 Hz) under laboratory conditions. Real-world performance across the full frequency spectrum is what matters:

ANC measurement standards. ANSI S3.19 (US) and IEC 60268-7 measure passive and active noise reduction vs. frequency. An ANC performance curve plotting attenuation in dB from 63 Hz to 8 kHz gives a complete picture. Request this curve, not just a single peak dB number.

Feedforward vs. feedback vs. hybrid ANC. Feedforward (external microphone only) attenuates noise before it reaches the ear but can introduce artifacts for voices and variable noise sources. Feedback (internal microphone only) corrects residual noise at the ear but has limited bandwidth. Hybrid (external + internal microphone) is the current standard for >-20 dB attenuation across the 20 Hz–4 kHz range. Confirm the ANC architecture.

ANC tuning. The microphone placement, filter coefficients, and latency tuning are factory-specific and require acoustic chamber tuning of each production model. Request an anechoic chamber test report with the specific earbud in-ear ANC curve measured using a KEMAR (Head and Torso Simulator).

Eartip Fitting and IP Rating Test Method

IPX4 compliance. IPX4 means the earphone is protected against water splashing from any direction for 10 minutes per IEC 60529. The test uses a splashing box (not a shower) with 10 L/min flow rate. After the test, the device must continue to operate normally.

IPX4 is adequate for sweat resistance during exercise. It does not protect against running water (that is IPX5) or submersion (IPX7). Confirm the factory tests to the actual IEC 60529 procedure, not just an internal rain box that does not replicate the standard test parameters.

Eartip sizing and fitting. TWS earphones ship with S/M/L eartip sizes (usually silicone). The M size should provide a seal in the ear canal for the median adult ear geometry. A poor fit reduces passive isolation, which in turn reduces the effective ANC attenuation — even excellent hybrid ANC achieves <10 dB attenuation without a proper acoustic seal.

Request sample units in all eartip sizes and evaluate insertion depth and seal comfort. For products targeting active users: confirm the eartip material is medical-grade silicone (USP Class VI equivalent) and verify the REACH SVHC screening report for the eartip material.

Regulatory Compliance for TWS Earphones

TWS earphones with BLE 5.3 require:

• FCC Part 15C (BT radio) + FCC Part 15B (unintentional radiator) — both required for US market
• CE RED (Radio Equipment Directive, 2014/53/EU) — EN 300 328 (BT radio), EN 301 489-17 (EMC), EN 62209 (SAR) — required for EU
• BQB qualification (Bluetooth SIG) — required for “Bluetooth” trademark use
• EN 50332-2 (safe listening pressure) — EU requires earphone maximum output SPL compliance documentation

Confirm all four certification categories are covered in the factory’s compliance package before placing production orders.