Founded in 2019 and based in Sound Hub Denmark, Circulr Sound is a startup founded by a group of serial entrepreneurs from various fields such as product design and sound engineering, formerly with Bang & Olufsen and Harman Kardon. Inspired by the need to reduce accidents in micro-mobility, Circulr proposes introducing Hybrid Neckphones, adapting regular headphones which can rest around-the-neck, and use what Circulr defines as open-ear AI sound technology. The Hybrid Neckphones are expected to be available in Q1 2022.
The Circulr Neckphone design combines elements from headphones, wearables and loudspeakers, allowing users to stay aware of the environment. The concept allows users to safely and legally enjoy music, calls, podcasts and audiobooks while being aware of their surroundings and instantly switch to regular headphones whenever is desired.
The Circulr Sound team has developed this open-sound patented technology thinking about modern lifestyles, mobility, and in particular two wheel commuters. Circulr has won several international awards including the first prize in 2021 in the category Tech for Entertainment at the South by Southwest event held in Austin, Texas and also the first prize at the 2002 Telecom-Wayra Startup Competition, to work along with Telefonica Germany.
Given the need for awareness, and adapting the drivers' response to different usage profiles, the Hybrid Neckphone solution will need to rely on effective audio signal processing to optimize reproduction. By choosing technologies from Mimi Hearing Technologies, Circulr will not only benefit from the advanced audio processing developed by the German company for multiple types of speakers - including optimizations for TV sound - but will also add interesting sound personalization possibilities.
"We’re thrilled to be Circulr Sound’s integrated audio partner for its Hybrid Neckphone," says Philipp Skribanowitz, CEO of Mimi. "Like Circulr, Mimi Hearing Technologies was built to deliver a better audio experience for the devices we use to listen to audio — that’s why this is a perfect fit. Our sound personalization technology and Circulr’s AI open-sound technology creates an optimal listening experience for consumers."
Mimi provides inclusive audio by bridging the gap between users' hearing ability and their listening experience. Everyone hears differently, and based on Mimi's 2019 hearing data, 55% of the adult population has some type of hearing loss, which mostly goes unrecognized and untreated for the vast majority of people, regardless of age. Mimi seamlessly integrates hearing wellbeing into headphones and other devices, allowing users to adapt the audio signal and compensate to their hearing ability.
"Mimi Hearing Technologies have seen the urgent need to take care of the gap between hearing and audio, producing the most personalized sound experience, tailored to the unique hearing ability of the users," adds Enoc Armengol, CEO of Circulr Sound. "We’re excited to implement Mimi’s bio-algorithm that replicates the way the human ear works in our Circulr neckphones."
Founded in 2014 in Berlin, Mimi Hearing Technologies is now a leading provider of digital healthcare hearing tests and hearing-ability-based sound personalization. Born out of years of scientific research, Mimi's products and integrations can be found in products from TP Vision (Philips TV), Beyerdynamic (headphones), Skullcandy (headphones), Cleer Audio (TWS earbuds) or Loewe (TVs).
At CES 2022, Mimi Hearing Technologies is demonstrating its latest sound personalization technologies, including its integration with CEVA on the Bluebud wireless audio platform, and introducing a new mass market solution, resulting from a new manufacturing and ODM partnership with Goertek.
www.circulrsound.com
www.mimi.io
