Able Planet

About Able Planet

Able Planet, established in 2003, operated as a manufacturer of audio and communication devices, specifically targeting individuals with varying degrees of hearing loss. The company's headquarters were located in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, and it functioned as a privately held, venture-capital-backed entity until it ceased operations around February 2016. Over its lifespan, Able Planet secured approximately $14.2 million in funding, including a Series B round in September 2009 that raised $7.86 million.

The firm's business model centered on designing, manufacturing, and selling audio products that aimed to enhance sound quality and speech intelligibility for a broad consumer base, from those with profound hearing impairment to users with normal hearing. The core of its product line was a proprietary, award-winning technology called LINX AUDIO™. This technology, originally developed based on hearing aid principles, was engineered to provide rich bass sounds and clear high tones, making speech and music less muddled. This allowed users to listen at lower, safer volumes without sacrificing audio fidelity.

Able Planet's product portfolio included active noise-canceling headphones, in-ear amplifiers, and multi-sensory headphones. A notable achievement was the 2012 "Best of What's New" award from Popular Science for its Personal Sound™ Amplifier, an in-ear device featuring digital signal processing and a unique tap-based control system to switch between environmental presets. In 2014, its LINX® FUSION headphones, which transmitted sound through skin and bone in addition to the ear, won six CES Innovations awards. These products were sold directly through the company's website and distributed via national retailers and e-commerce sites.