KNOWLES BLOG

Introducing the MM60 MEMS Microphone: Setting New Benchmark for Hearing Aids

Knowles the pioneering and trusted leader in MEMS Microphones for Hearing Health applications is at it again with the launch of their new flagship MEMS microphone: MM60. The MM60 was first unveiled last week at the 69^th International EUHA Congress (October 21, 2025). 

When you're designing technology that people depend on every day, there's no room for compromise. That's the philosophy that drove our team to completely reimagine what a MEMS microphone could be, resulting in the new MM60 series – our most advanced microphone for hearing health applications, specifically designed to maximize the performance for AI chipsets by delivering good sound signal over noise.

The Challenge: Real-World Durability Meets Premium Performance

Hearing aids need to deliver crystal-clear audio performance while surviving everything from morning showers to beach vacations, from everyday jogs to strenuous gym routines. Traditional microphone designs often force manufacturers to trade off between electro-acoustic (EA) performance and robustness.

The MM60 changes that with two breakthrough innovations in one package, enabling hearing aid users to live active lives without compromise.

New MEMS Design

At the heart of the MM60 is our new MEMS motor, featuring a revolutionary new design that unlike current generation microphones, is a step function improvement for particle and liquid ingress such as water, sweat and dust.

The results speak for themselves:

• Deep water performance: 100% pass rate at 2 meters (compared to 0% for previous generation)
• Dust resistance: 80% survival rate against forced 5-micron particle intrusion
• Pressure tolerance: Withstands over 100 PSI air bursts without failure

This robustness translates directly to reduced field return rates while enabling users to maintain active lifestyles while not compromising on the EA performance.

Complete ASIC Redesign

The second breakthrough is our new ASIC circuit that has been completely redesigned from the ground up, which not only processes audio but also optimizes it for each specific application. This programmable ASIC offers unprecedented control over every aspect of microphone performance:

• Dual-Stage Gain Control: Fine-tune performance both at input (for maximum headroom) and through amplifier (for minimum noise)
• Precision Filtering: Programmable high-pass and low-pass filters from 25 Hz to 20 kHz let you sculpt the perfect frequency response
• DC Offset Control: Match your microphone output precisely to your preamplifier's requirements
• Power Optimization: Reduce current consumption while maintaining performance standards

All these features are programmed at our factory to match your exact specifications, ensuring consistent results, reducing production variations, and enabling hearing aid manufacturers to fully leverage their AI differentiation features with industry-leading microphones.

Performance That You Can Hear

The technical improvements translate into real-world benefits that users will notice immediately:

• Cleaner sound: Several dB reductions in noise floor
• Fewer artifacts: Reduced distortion from high-frequency sounds like key jangling or everyday sensors such as parking sensors, occupancy sensors, etc.
• Enhanced ultrasonic performance: Better handling of high-frequency environmental sounds
• Consistent performance: Tighter manufacturing tolerances mean predictable results across production runs
• Enhanced durability: ESD protection exceeding 15 kV (far beyond industry requirements)

For users, this means microphones that sound better and last longer in every environment – from active gym workouts to loud cocktail parties. The MM60 maintains our popular SPA package dimensions (3.35 x 2.5 x 1.3 mm) for easy integration into existing designs. Need something even more compact? The MM61 variant offers the same breakthrough technology in just 0.96 mm thickness.

The Future of Hearing Technology

The MM60 represents more than just an incremental improvement – it's a reimagining of what's possible when you refuse to accept traditional trade-offs. By engineering breakthrough solutions at both the mechanical and circuit levels, Knowles continues to create microphones that not only meet today's requirements but also future-proof them against tomorrow's challenges. Knowles continues to be the only company in the hearing health microphone space that owns the complete design of the entire microphone value chain, from MEMS to ASIC to packaging and trimming. This translates to a reliable partner who can customize per application needs and can also ensure continued on-time delivery.

As a pioneer in MEMS microphones for hearing aids, Knowles enabled reliable, high-performance microphones at a fraction of the cost of electret microphones. With the MM60, Knowles continues this tradition, offering industry-leading performance specifically optimized for AI chipsets.

For hearing aid designers, this means products that sound better, last longer, and perform consistently across all real-world conditions. For users, it means hearing technology they can truly depend on, whether they're caught in a rainstorm or enjoying a quiet conversation.

Ready to Experience the Difference?

The MM60 and MM61 are available now with full factory customization support and can be integrated into new hearing systems immediately. Our applications team is ready to help you select the optimal configuration for your specific requirements and assist with integration planning.