Patent ID: 8284960

Claim:
An audio system for optimizing playing of an audio program, which includes a preferred audio signal and a remaining audio signal, for end users, which includes both hearing impaired and non-hearing impaired listeners, comprising: a first end user adjustable amplifier configured to receive and amplify the preferred audio signal to a level specified by a user; a second end user adjustable amplifier configured to receive and amplify the remaining audio signal to a level specified by the user; a first soft clipping circuit configured to receive as an input the preferred audio signal, having an output coupled to an input of the first end user adjustable amplifier, wherein the first soft clipping circuit is configured to limit an overall magnitude of the preferred audio signal in response to a level of the preferred audio signal exceeding a first predetermined value, and further configured to maintain the preferred audio signal within a first user adjustable dynamic amplitude range; and a second soft clipping circuit configured to receive as an input the remaining audio signal, having an output coupled to an input of the second end user adjustable amplifier, wherein the second soft clipping circuit is configured to limit an overall magnitude of the remaining audio signal in response to a level of the remaining audio signal exceeding a second predetermined value, and further configured to maintain the remaining audio signal within a second user adjustable dynamic amplitude range, wherein the combination of the first and second soft clipping circuits and the first and second end user adjustable amplifiers are configured to automatically maintain a user selected ratio of the preferred audio signal to the remaining audio signal, even in the presence of transient changes in either the preferred audio signal or the remaining audio signal.