April 23, 2020 – Rebuff Reality, a virtual reality accessory company, has recently announced that its VR Ears product is now available on Kickstarter. The company states that VR Ears deliver an “unprecedented level of audio immersion” to all leading Virtual Reality headsets including PSVR, Oculus, HTC Vive, and more.
Rebuff Reality highlights that its VR Ears are suitable for use during VR gaming, VR 360 video streaming, and also for PC/console gaming (with the use of a head strap). VR Ears provide a sound field that completely surrounds and engulfs the user in the virtual world, and positional audio direction lets the wearer “just know” where sounds are coming from whilst immersed.
For immersive video, sounds move with both the user and the video. Additionally, as the speakers are kept in place by attaching to the head strap of whatever VR device is being used, they do not come into contact with the wearer’s ears, and as a result, provide the comfort of speakers with the positional accuracy of gaming headphones, meaning users can play for longer without discomfort on their ears, according to the company.
Before sound enters a person’s ears, it bounces around all the flesh on the outer ear (pinna). This biological structure is in fact a large part of what helps people perceive sound direction. The company states that its VR Ears design utilizes the latest in off-ear, near-field speaker technology, alleviating discomfort caused by traditional over-ear, on ear, or in-ear headphones.
Most headphones on the market are only ‘passive’, meaning they require an external power amplifier to operate. VR Ears are different, in that they are ‘active’ and are powered by a lithium polymer battery, which the company states lasts up to 8 hours. VR Ears also include a high efficiency digital amplifier and Digital Signal Processor (DSP), all of which helps the device to reach the optimum SPL (Sound Pressure Level) at the ear.
The company continued to state that through the combination of comfort, complete utilization of the outer ear for positional audio, and a fully immersive spherical sound stage, users “will hear things they have never heard before in incredible new ways.”
VR Ears are currently live on Kickstarter, and at the time of publication of this article, have already raised more than three times their initial goal amount of USD $30,000, with another 27 days still left to go on their fundraising campaign.
Image credit: Rebuff Reality
About the author
Sam Sprigg
Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in research and report writing, he has been covering XR industry news for the past seven years.
