Abstract: A digital and/or analog signal processing system and method for auditory enhancement and hearing conservation includes providing an audio signal with high intensity peaks, clipping the audio signal by limiting peak power to produce a clipped signal, and amplifying the clipped signal.

Abstract: A method for raising the soft and mid-level amplitude of sounds for greater clarity and perceptual benefit, while simultaneously removing the high level amplitude peaks without delay and providing protection for the auditory sense organ. The method does not require a feedback mechanism for the accomplishment of this treatment and exploits the psychoacoustic phenomenon of temporal integration which reduces the audibility of short duration signals, including distortions associated with peak clipping. The human auditory system requires greater time to integrate signal energy for audibility than provided by brief duration waveform peaks.