Automotive

NT3 – handsfree solution for when the top is down

NT3 – handsfree solution for when the top is down
IASUS Concepts' NT3 is a throat mic intended for use when talking on the phone while driving a convertible (Photo: IASUS)
IASUS Concepts' NT3 is a throat mic intended for use when talking on the phone while driving a convertible (Photo: IASUS)
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IASUS Concepts' NT3 is a throat mic intended for use when talking on the phone while driving a convertible (Photo: IASUS)
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IASUS Concepts' NT3 is a throat mic intended for use when talking on the phone while driving a convertible (Photo: IASUS)
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It’s not often that one hears about World War I technology being used with today’s mobile communications devices, yet that’s the case with IASUS Concepts’ new NT3 throat mic headset. Throat microphones were originally developed for use by military pilots and tank drivers, as they picked up vocal vibrations directly from the wearer’s larynx, and were unaffected by extraneous sounds. IASUS still makes throat mics for military use, but the NT3 is designed for use when talking on the phone while driving a convertible ... that said, you could probably also press it into service next time you bring your Sopwith Camel out of the barn.

There are already Bluetooth headsets that feature electronic wind noise cancellation, although IASUS maintains that these don’t work well enough for convertible drivers. Because its aluminum transponder works solely by vibration, wind is essentially irrelevant to the sound quality of the NT3.

A similar tactic is used by the military-spec QUIETPRO+ Intelligent Hearing System, which picks up the user’s voice through a microphone in the earbud, via bone conduction.

The NT3 also features a coiled acoustic earpiece, tangle-resistant braided wiring, and a magnetic clasp that will release in the event of potential strangulation. The headset is VOX-capable, offers various PTT options, and its multi-adapter allows it to work with most major mobile phones. It sells for a suggested retail price of US$89, at stores listed on the company website.

2 comments
2 comments
History Nut
Next time, get your history correct. Throat microphones were used during WWII not WWI. They were in common use in tanks to allow crew to manipulate the controls without having to use their hands to hold a microphone. Air crews used them because they had to wear and oxygen mask. So instead of \'bringing your Sopwith Camel out of the barn\', it should be \'bringing your P-51 Mustand out of the barn!

Throat mikes work well but take some getting used to wearing. Nothing like having a tight strap around your throat to cause discomfort.
Flash
We use throat mics in Airsoft so we don\'t have to take so loud