Australian start-up on its way to find the perfect headphones

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Melbourne start-up Nura is convinced that hearing is believing when it comes to spreading the word about its headphone technology.

A few years ago, Kyle Slater, CEO and co-founder of Nura, set out on a quest. Relying on his training in electronic engineering and a passion for music, Slater wanted to know how to make the perfect headphones.

The prototype of Nura's headphone /CGTN Photo

“The answer was quite simple, the perfect headphones don’t exist - only the headphones that are perfect for you,” said Slater.

This idea led to the creation of Nura and a technology that tailors the sound to the user’s hearing which is as unique as one’s fingerprint.

The first time the headphones are worn, they send sound waves into the ear. That triggers electrical impulses to the brain which sends a sound wave back to the ear, creating a person’s hearing signature. This is how Nura has raised awareness about its technology - through the recorded experiences of first-time listeners.

A listener is trying Nura's headphone. /CGTN Photo

“That’s what drives it. Seeing people have that reaction is the most important part,” said Sonia Miles-Khan, direct marketing manager of Nura.

The company turned to crowd-funding platform Kickstarter to raise 100,000 AU dollars. It ended up with 2.5 million AU dollars - the most ever for an Australian campaign.

Nura raised 2.5 million AU dollars on the crowd-funding platform Kickstarter. /CGTN Photo

But success for this start up isn’t guaranteed in an established multi-billion-dollar market where fashion and brand names are important. And unlike most headphones, you won’t be able to try these before you buy them.

“There could be a risk of expectations that when people try it on, they realize that maybe this isn’t for me,” said Martin Bliemel, senior lecturer of University of New South Wales.

The makers of Nura headphones say their technology could have medical applications for people with hearing impairment, but for now the company is focused on the consumer sector and the quest to find the perfect sound.

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