ComHear

About ComHear

Founded in 2012, Comhear established itself as a specialized audio technology firm operating from San Diego, California. The company's core focus was the development and licensing of patented audio enhancement software and beamforming technology. This intellectual property formed the basis of its business model, which revolved around licensing its technology to manufacturing partners and earning royalties, rather than direct-to-consumer sales, with the exception of a crowdfunded product.

A significant milestone in the company's history was its collaboration with the University of California San Diego (UCSD) to develop its foundational technology. This partnership led to the creation of MyBeam™, a patented beamforming technology capable of delivering immersive, 3D audio without the need for headphones. The technology works by projecting discrete beams of sound to a user's left and right ears, creating a natural and personalized surround sound experience. This system can capture a room's dynamics in real-time and adjust the audio output accordingly, making it suitable for home entertainment, gaming, and commercial applications like kiosks.

The company's most notable product was the YARRA 3DX, a 3D-audio soundbar that successfully raised over $1 million through crowdfunding campaigns. The YARRA 3DX was designed to replace entire multi-speaker surround sound systems with a single, compact soundbar and a small subwoofer. It showcased the MyBeam™ technology by creating a wide sound field that provides an equivalent surround sound experience to multiple listeners in a room, a distinct advantage over traditional systems where the optimal listening position is limited. The technology also found application in a commercial setting, being used in the Mass Effect: New Earth attraction developed with Electronic Arts and BioWare.

Over its lifespan as an independent entity, Comhear raised approximately $17 million in funding through various rounds, including a significant Series A round. Key figures in the company's leadership included Perry Teevens, who served as CEO after being an early investor and board member, and Gerry Chastelet, who was appointed CEO in 2017. In May 2023, Comhear was acquired by WiSA Technologies, a developer of spatial, wireless sound technology. The acquisition was seen as a strategic fit, combining Comhear's IP in beamforming and personalized audio with WiSA's wireless audio ecosystem, targeting the same consumer electronics customer base with complementary technologies.