NTT's tiny microphone is designed to pick out speech in 100dB noise

If you’re trying to have a conversation next to a heavy machinery or in a event space full of people you’ll notice that is difficult enough. Doing it while keeping both hands free is another problem altogether. NTT Sonority's SonoVo Stick is designed for precisely those situations. Even the device was initially introduced when NTT announced its SonoVo professional communication range in June 2026, the sales have begun just now in Japan, with the microphone listed at ¥24,000 (approximately $150), excluding tax. Interestingly, the device cannot be bought directly, but through a purchasing inquiry form.

SonoVo Stick is a very light (29g) wearable communication device that clips magnetically onto clothing and connects over Bluetooth 5.3. It uses two MEMS microphones and NTT's patented Magic Focus Voice technology, which combines directional beamforming with filtering designed to separate speech from surrounding noise. Meaning that instead of listening equally to everything around it, the SonoVo Stick uses its two microphones to help distinguish the speaker's voice from background sounds.

According to NTT, the system can maintain intelligible communication in environments exceeding 100dB noise level, including factories and construction sites. Three modes are available. One prioritizes speech when the microphone is held near the mouth, another is intended for hands-free use on clothing, and a third captures a wider sound field, including environmental noises.

The device has IP54 protection against dust and splashes, USB-C charging and a claimed battery life of up to 15 hours. The push-to-talk button is designed to remain usable even when wearing work gloves, just like a regular walkie-talkie. NTT also supports integration with communication platforms including BONX WORK and LINE WORKS, while its SonoVo AI platform can help process recorded workplace conversations.

One important detail: the SonoVo Stick is a microphone device, not a complete headset. If you want to connect it to headphones, you can do this just through a 3.5mm jack.