Rayz Plus Lightning Headphones Get New Smart Mute Feature

June 26 2017, 04:00
Pioneer & Onkyo U.S.A Corporation have announced a new "Smart Mute" feature for the Rayz and Rayz Plus Lightning earphones, along with new Rayz Plus colors - Black and Rose Gold -  which are available exclusively at Apple.com and at Apple Retail stores worldwide. Rayz Plus are the first and only Lightning earphones - so far - with an inline charging node that allows users to charge the iPhone and listen to music or talk at the same time.
 

Pioneer Rayz Plus Lightning-Powered Noise Cancelling Earphones leverage Apple's newest Lightning audio technology, powered by Avnera Corporation's LightX Analog System-on-Chip (ASoC) platform that enables lowest operation modes from iPhone, iPad and iPod touch and provides a universal platform for Bluetooth, Lightning and USB-C headsets, with smart features like Active Noise Cancellation with low power consumption. The LightX platform also plays host to multiple smart features making the Rayz earphone line the ultimate iPhone companion.

Since the product introduction in February 2017, Pioneer & Onkyo U.S.A. have been working on implementing new features, exploring the immense potential of the LightX ASoC platform. The new "Smart Mute" feature for Rayz and Rayz Plus automatically mutes the microphone when a user is not speaking and unmutes the microphone when the user begins speaking again. This is ideal when taking calls in noisy environments and particularly useful when the user is participating in a conference call. Users can get Smart Mute by downloading the latest Rayz app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch on the App Store and performing a Rayz software update.

"Rayz appcessories were launched with a commitment to deliver new compelling experiences for our customers through future software upgrades using the Rayz companion iOS app," says Munenori Otsuki, CEO of Pioneer and Onkyo Corporation. "In keeping with this commitment, we are pleased to announce Smart Mute today, a feature that will enable truly compelling call experiences."

"We are very pleased to have worked closely with Pioneer to be the first to bring Smart Mute to market. Smart Mute is one of several smart technologies being developed actively by Avnera which leverages Avnera's breakthroughs in low power analog audio circuits and digital signal processing technologies," says Manpreet Khaira, CEO of Avnera Corporation.
 

The Rayz Plus headphones feature Smart Noise Cancellation with HearThru mode, allowing users to benefit from noise cancelling adapted to their own ears, and passing ambient sounds through the noise cancelling, for greater awareness of your environment, when required. The largest advantage of the design is the fact that these are the only active noise cancelling and smart earphones that don't require battery, since they are powered only by the Lightning connector. Also, they are the only earphones that allow users to talk and charge the iPhone while plugged into the Lightning port.

In connection with the Rayz dedicated app and the Avnera LightX ASoC platform, the earphones support a Smart Button that is able to bring up a favorite app, mute/unmute calls, or launch the Rayz controls with a simple press of the button. The AutoPause feature, automatically pausing a movie or music when the user takes Rayz out and restarting when the user puts them back on, is another example of its potential.

An integral part of the Rayz experience is the companion iOS app. The Rayz by Pioneer app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, available to download on the App Store, enables users to personalize the earphone's settings like adjusting audio EQ and programming the smart button. Most importantly, the app creates the ability for Rayz earphones to continually improve with the delivery of new features via the software update interface.

Meanwhile, the company has announced that the Rayz Plus headphones, complete with Premium Comply Foam Eartips, are now available in Black or Rose Gold colors, exclusively at Apple.com and Apple stores worldwide.
www.avnera.com | www.pioneerrayz.com
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