Digital Signal Processing Engineer - Audio Technology Licensing

Bose Corporation has acquired Firelight Technologies, the Melbourne-based maker of FMOD interactive audio software. The acquisition expands Bose's Audio Technology capabilities into gaming and immersive experiences. FMOD is widely used by game developers globally, enabling them to create audio that responds to real-time gameplay. The platform will remain open and broadly supported, with Bose committing to continued investment in FMOD and its community. "Gaming represents a significant opportunity for our continued growth," said Nick Smith, president of Bose Audio Technology. Bose plans to explore opportunities in VR/AR, automotive, and other applications requiring interactive audio. Firelight founder Brett Paterson said joining Bose provides opportunities to advance FMOD's roadmap whilst supporting its existing community. Financial terms remain confidential.

Technics' new flagship headphones take aim at Sony and Bose with one big audio upgrade. Dominic Bayley | 30 Sep 2026 Technics is making a fresh push into the premium wireless headphone market with the EAH-A1000, a new flagship pair of over-ears designed to take on the Sony WH-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) and Sennheiser HDB 630. The EAH-A1000 replace the EAH-A800, which launched back in 2022, and this is much more than a minor refresh. Technics says it has reconsidered virtually every part of the headphones, introducing a new driver system, redesigned acoustics, upgraded noise cancellation and a new fit. At the heart of the EAH-A1000 is a new 40mm Magnetic Fluid Driver. It uses the same magnetic fluid technology found in Technics' EAH-AZ100 wireless earbuds, placing a material with both magnetic and liquid properties between the voice coil and driver magnet. The idea is to suppress unwanted vibrations and reduce distortion while giving Technics tighter control over the driver. Technics has also borrowed technology from its high-end speakers. The new driver uses an SST (Symmetrical Surround Technology) Edge designed to improve the symmetry of the diaphragm's movement. It's made from lightweight but rigid carbon fibre and uses a cone-shaped design intended to reduce flexing and improve response. According to Technics, combining these technologies should help the EAH-A1000 deliver powerful bass and a spacious soundstage while reproducing music as accurately as possible. The rest of the acoustic design has received plenty of attention too. A redesigned acoustic path is intended to maintain airflow between the driver and the listener's ear, while a new Baffle Flat Structure reduces uneven surfaces around the driver to minimise unwanted reflections. There's also an Acoustic Control Chamber behind the driver to manage airflow and help produce a more balanced sound. Noise cancellation has been upgraded with an Adaptive Noise Cancelling system that adjusts according to both the environment and how the headphones fit. Each earcup has three feed-forward microphones and one feedback microphone to detect and suppress noise coming from different directions. Technics has also redesigned the headphones with comfort in mind. The new Flow Arm headband changes shape between the slider and hanger, while revised earcup movement and slider adjustment are designed to distribute pressure more evenly across the head. Memory foam earpads should also make longer listening sessions more comfortable. The EAH-A1000 can fold down into a more compact shape for carrying in a bag. On the connectivity side, there's support for high-resolution wireless audio through LDAC, while USB Audio provides a wired digital listening option. Battery life is rated at up to 45 hours with active noise cancellation switched on. Another useful addition is three-device Bluetooth Multipoint. While many wireless headphones allow connections to two devices simultaneously, the EAH-A1000 can remain connected to three, matching the functionality Technics offers on its EAH-AZ100 earbuds. The Technics EAH-A1000 will go on sale in Australia from October for $699 RRP. They'll be available in Black and Platinum finishes.

Nothing unveils $399 glass and metal Headphone (1) Pro to rival AirPods Max. by Aaron Leong - Tuesday, September 29, 2026, 11:07 AM EDT Nothing is attempting to disrupt the premium headphone space with the Headphone (1) Pro, which is aimed at music producers, audio engineers, and discerning audiophiles. By pairing the brand's retro-futuristic design with precision acoustic tuning, Nothing is taking the fight to the likes of Apple, Bose, Sennheiser, and Sony. Instead of the mostly plastic build of the Headphone (1), the Headphone (1) Pro plays the high-end card with an aluminum and matte-finish chassis, alongside matched memory foam ear cushions lined with breathable micro-fiber that should help users and professionals use the headphone for extended hours. Of course, this wouldn't be a Nothing product without a transparent element - the earcups sport a transparent glass cover that looks good but also doesn't really show all that much of the headphone's innards. The Headphone (1) Pro has custom-tuned 45mm dynamic drivers and the company has tuned the device to prioritize a flat, analytical frequency response. For modern hybrid workflows, Nothing also integrates a custom DSP (accessible via the Nothing X app), allowing users to switch between the neutral studio audio profile and personalized target curves quickly and conveniently. Connectivity is another area where the Headphone (1) Pro mashes up traditional studio gear with consumer-style wireless portables. While Bluetooth 5.4 with high-resolution LDAC support is built-in for everyday listening, the package includes a 2.4GHz USB-C transmitter. Plugging the dongle into, say, a digital audio workstation reduces latency down to single-digit millisecond threshold. For those who prefer wired solutions, a gold-plated 3.5mm and 6.35mm coiled cable ensures plug-and-play reliability with your existing audio interfaces, mixing consoles, and headphone amplifiers. Battery performance looks to be pretty solid as well, with the factory claiming up to 40 hours of continuous wireless playback, or roughly 28 hours when utilizing the 2.4GHz transmitter. Fast-charging via USB-C provide around six hours of listening time from a brief fifteen-minute charge, plus active noise cancellation (ANC) is on-board (Nothing says it's the best system it's every made). Let's not forget to mention the storage case for the headphone - of all things that Nothing could've copied from, why the AirPods Max's bra?