Sennheiser (www.sennheiserusa.com) recently introduced its BW900 model, a business-class wireless office headset which includes a feature called ActiveGard designed to protect wearers against acoustic shock, a common but not well understood problem in the contact center and for all enterprise headset users.

I recently got a chance to have a short conversation with Eric Palonen, product manager for Sennheiser Consumer Electronics.

SV: What is ActiveGard?

EP: ActiveGard is an amazing technology that protects headset users from exposure to sudden, high-amplitude (volume) acoustical energy (Acoustic Shock). Basically, it is a hearing protection technology that safeguards headset users from damaging in-call volume.

SV: How critical is the inclusion of ActiveGard in the BW900?

EP: The inclusion of ActiveGard in the BW900 was a no-brainer for us. As each and every wired telephone headset we made included ActiveGard, it was essential to include the technology in a wireless device where there is even less control by incoming shout volume.

Most other-brand wireless headset devices utilize a volume control

for protection; however, by the moment users reach for it, the damage has been done. The loud acoustical energy that has caught users by surprise and caused them to move the earpiece away from their head has already exposed them to the potential for hearing damage. The BW900’s inclusion of ActiveGard protects the user at all times, even when their hands are tied and is present in both our wired and wireless headsets.

SV: What are some of the advantages BW900 users receive thanks to the inclusion of ActiveGard?

EP: The first, of course, is a wide-reaching blanket of safety. considering the limiter kicks in before the signal ever reaches the ear, and does not let up until the signal is below the threshold of activation, the user is always protected below the OSHA limit. Rather than cut off the volume…

Original post by Chase Higgins

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