Our very own Robert Triggs penned an excellent in-depth feature explaining the ins and outs of digital signal processors (DSP), but if you’re short on time, we’ve got the skinny too. A DSP is responsible for processing digital signals, like audio, with great efficiency. There’s a DSP in your smartphone to decode MP3 files and recognize voice commands for your virtual assistant.
Take the Apple AirPods Pro; these use tiny mics to detect ambient external noise and resonances within the ear canal and respond by adjusting the sound on the fly for optimal quality. As DSPs advance, we’ll see them used more like Sony’s 360 Reality Audio and Creative’s SXFI‘s processing, both of which require a map of your ear to adjust the signal for a more immersive effect.
If you’re a dedicated audiophile, you may even invest in an after-market DSP box to calibrate your speaker system for optimal audio reproduction.