In-ear speaker hybrid audio transparency system

A method for operating an insertable in-ear speaker as a hybrid transparency system, comprising:

• converting a user content audio signal into user content sound that is delivered into an ear of a wearer of the in-ear speaker;
• signaling an acoustic or venting valve in the in-ear speaker to open, so that sound inside the ear canal is allowed to travel out into an ambient environment through the valve, while converting an ambient content audio signal into ambient content sound that is delivered into the ear, so that both the user content sound and the ambient content sound are heard by the wearer;
• and
• while the valve is open and the ambient content audio signal is being converted into ambient content sound in the ear, digitally processing the ambient content audio signal so that a plurality of its frequency components are gain boosted.

An insertable in-ear speaker configured as a hybrid transparency system, the insertable in-ear speaker comprising:

• a user content sound system to receive a user content audio signal, being a recorded audio program signal or a downlink audio signal of a phone call, and convert the user content audio signal into sound for delivery into an ear in which the in-ear speaker has been inserted;
• an ambient sound augmentation system having a microphone which is configured to pick up sound in the ambient environment of the in-ear speaker as a microphone audio signal, wherein the system when activated processes the microphone audio signal before converting the microphone audio signal into sound;
• a valve that can be configured into a first state that allows sound inside the ear to travel out into the ambient environment through the valve, and into a second state that restricts sound inside the ear from traveling out into the ambient environment through the valve;
• and
• logic to signal the valve into the first state while activating the sound augmentation system, and then signal the valve into the second state while deactivating the sound augmentation system, wherein the signaling of the valve into the first state or into the second state is in response to a measurement by an accelerometer.