Now and again, a new technology comes along that has the potential to disrupt the status quo. A case in point is solid-state speakers. That’s right! The next big thing could be an innovative speaker design from xMEMS, a Californian company founded in 2018 by a former executive of the Knowles Corporation, one of the leading makers of balanced armature drivers used in earbuds and hearing aids.
MEMS is short for “micro-electromechanical system”. It’s a new type of speaker technology comprising tiny microelectronics stimulated by electric currents to produce sound waves. The xMEMS drivers can be mounted directly on a silicon chip and are less fiddly to assemble when integrated into a pair of earbuds.
This new kind of driver has been used in a pair of true wireless earbuds created by Creative. The Creative Aurvana Ace and the Aurvana Ace 2 earbuds are the first to use this surface-mounted technology and the company claims they produce the same kind of detailed sound that a balanced armature driver makes but is less delicate and more suited to being used in earbuds.
The xMEMS drivers are integrated into a silicon chip and use tiny flaps to create sound waves. Besides the innovative technology, the Aurvana Ace and the Aurvana Ace 2 look like any other pair of true wireless earbuds. Each offers 24 hours of playing time if you include the charge in the earbuds’ storage case. The earbuds can play for up to six hours on their own before being topped up in their storage case. Both pairs are rated at IPX5 for water resistance, so they should be fine for jogging or gym workouts.
The earbuds include six built-in microphones for making phone calls, issuing voice commands or participating in video meetings. The earbuds are based on Qualcomm Bluetooth technology and support Qualcomm’s cVc noise cancelation technology for clearer phone calls, especially in noisy environments.
Both pairs of the Creative Aurvana Ace earbuds offer support for Qualcomm’s aptX Lossless audio codec and Snapdragon Sound platform. This specification means the earbuds can theoretically handle up to 24 bits of digital audio at 48kHz. However, the resolution will vary depending on the available spectrum and conditions. In addition, the earbuds can also support LC3, SBC and AAC codecs, which makes them suitable for use with Apple iOS devices.
The flagship Aurvana Ace 2 earbuds also offer Qualcomm’s Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation technology, which adjusts the amount of ANC you get on the fly depending on the external noise. This advanced implementation of ANC makes a real difference as you only get as much noise cancellation as you need, which means the earbuds aren’t operating on maximum reduction when it’s unnecessary.
The sound of the Aurvana Ace and Aurvana Ace 2 is excellent. The xMEMS drivers handle the upper frequencies and have the same delicate precision you get with balanced armature drivers. This development must be a bit of a worry for the Knowles Corporation, which specializes in producing balanced armature drivers. The midrange and bass frequencies are produced by a 10mm dynamic driver, which delivers a big, warm sound with plenty of volume. Both pairs of earbuds are a pleasure to use.
In addition to the innovative driver technology, both Aurvana Ace models support the latest Bluetooth LE standard, which you can access if you have a Bluetooth LE device. The new standard means the earbuds can also support Auracast, a new standard for broadcasting audio to large audiences. For example, if you are in a bar with a TV showing sports that supports Auracast, you can pick up the audio on your earbuds and listen to the TV via your earbuds.
Verdict: The Creative Aurvana Ace and Ace 2 are a genuine innovation. They sound like a great pair of true wireless earbuds, and their use of xMEMS drivers delivers a precise high end while the dynamic driver produces a powerful bass and clear midrange. If these earbuds are indicative of xMEMS technology, the future is exciting for this kind of solid-state driver. Both pairs of earbuds are sensibly priced and it’s good to see Creative taking a risk by adopting this innovative technology before anyone else. We will see many more earbuds with xMEMS technology in a few years. If you want to try the technology for yourself and appreciate the potential of Bluetooth LE, these earbuds are a good bet. Their styling won’t be to everyone’s taste, but the sound will be.
Pricing & Availability: Both earbuds are available now. The Creative Aurvana Ace is priced at $129.99 / £134.99. The Creative Aurvana Ace 2 earbuds cost $149.99 / £164.99.
More info: creative.com
Tech Specs:
Creative Aurvana Ace 2
- Noise control: Adaptive Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation, Ambient Mode.
- Total battery life: 24 hours.
- Playtime per charge: 6 hours.
- Total weight: 46.6g.
- Drivers: xMEMS solid-state driver, 10 mm dynamic driver.
- Audio codecs: LC3, AptX Lossless, AptX Adaptive, AptX, AAC, SBC.
- Microphones: 3 x per earbud.
- Controls: Customizable touch controls using Creative App.
- Voice assistants: Siri/Google.
- Water resistance rating: IPX5.
- Bluetooth version: 5.3.
- Charging: USB-C and Qi-compatible wireless.
- Color: Translucent black and copper.
Creative Aurvana Ace
- Noise control: Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation, Ambient Mode.
- Total battery life: 24 hours.
- Playtime per charge: 6 hours.
- Total weight: 46.6g.
- Drivers: xMEMS solid-state driver, 10 mm dynamic driver.
- Audio codecs: LC3, AptX Lossless, AptX, AAC, SBC.
- Microphones: 3 x per earbud.
- Controls: Customizable touch controls using Creative App.
- Voice assistants: Siri/Google.
- Water resistance rating: IPX5.
- Bluetooth version: 5.3.
- Charging: USB-C and Qi-compatible wireless.
- Color: Black and copper.