REMORA

The Personal Hearing Computer

Remora is the world's first Personal Hearing Computer — a software-defined device that upgrades any pair of headphones, earbuds, or hearing aids into Headphone 3.0.

Why This Category Exists

Audio technology has advanced significantly — but headphones and hearables have remained largely fixed. This creates a set of real, compounding problems.

1. Fixed Hardware

Your headphones do one thing, one way, as defined by the manufacturer at the time of production. If your needs change — or if better technology becomes available — your only option is to buy new gear. There is no upgrade path. No new features. No adaptation.

2. No Personalization

Everyone hears differently, but most devices are designed for a generic "average" listener. That listener doesn't actually exist, which means most headphones are a perfect fit for a narrow slice of users and a compromise for everyone else.

Supporting data (WHO, March 2026): 

By 2050, nearly 2.5 billion people are projected to have some degree of hearing loss, and more than 700 million will require hearing rehabilitation.

Around 95.1 million children aged 5–19 years live with hearing loss worldwide.

Over 1 billion young adults are at risk of permanent, avoidable hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices.

Unaddressed hearing loss poses an annual global cost of almost US$1 trillion.

Source: World Health Organization, "Deafness and hearing loss," https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/deafness-and-hearing-loss — verified May 2026.

3. Inconsistent Sound

Your audio changes depending on the headphones you use, the environment you're in, the device you're connected to, and the content itself. There is no continuity. Switch from your home studio to a live venue to a café, and your audio reference shifts each time. Professionals lose hours compensating for this. Consumers just don't notice how much they're missing.

4. Fragmented Tools

EQ, spatial audio, hearing correction, monitoring tools — all exist separately across different devices and platforms. If you want EQ on your laptop, spatial audio on your phone, and hearing correction on your headphones, you're managing three systems, three setups, and three compromises. None of them travel with you. None of them know about each other.

5. Wireless Compromises

Bluetooth was designed for convenience, not performance. Typical Bluetooth latency:

~100–300ms for standard Bluetooth (A2DP) codecs

~40ms for aptX Low Latency

Sub-10ms required for professional monitoring and real-time performance

Sources: Bluetooth SIG documentation; Qualcomm aptX Low Latency specification. Professional monitoring latency requirement widely cited in pro audio literature.

Beyond latency, Bluetooth also compresses audio — meaning you are never receiving the original signal. For a DJ, producer, or live performer, both problems are disqualifying. Wireless audio has historically been unusable for professional work. Until now.

6. Constant Replacement Cycle & Environmental Impact

New features require new hardware. Devices don't evolve. They become disposable — and at scale, this creates significant waste.

Most modern earbuds contain non-replaceable lithium-ion batteries that degrade within 2–3 years, meaning a $200+ product often becomes e-waste faster than a $20 t-shirt.

Scale of the problem: Global smart personal audio shipments reached approximately 455 million units in 2024, including true wireless earbuds, wireless headphones, and wireless earphones. The earbuds market alone is projected to exceed 1 billion units annually by 2030.

Sources: Canalys/Omdia 2024; Global E-waste Monitor 2024 — https://ewastemonitor.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GEM_2024_EN_11_NOV-web.pdf; SemiWiki CEO Interview, Gary Spittle, October 2025.

Industry research confirms that consumers want longer product lifecycles than the industry currently delivers. Futuresource Consulting's October 2025 Audio Tech Lifestyles study — a survey of more than 10,000 consumers across the USA, UK, Germany, Japan, and China — found that 50% of consumers would repair their headphones rather than replace them, 62% would prefer to replace a battery rather than the entire device, and nearly two-thirds would buy single replacement earbuds rather than a whole new pair. Consumers also own an average of two pairs of headphones (Gen Z averages 2.3), and nearly 40% switch between headphones at least weekly. The demand for upgradeable, repairable, longer-lasting personal audio is already in the market — the hardware just hasn't caught up.

Source: Futuresource Consulting, Audio Tech Lifestyles 2025 (Personal Audio edition). https://www.futuresource-consulting.com/the-source/industry-pulse/headphones-market-expands-with-a-growing-repair-culture-multi-device-ownership-and-feature-upgrades/

Remora is designed to live through multiple generations of headphones. Upgrade the intelligence; keep the hardware you love.

The Shift

Remora solves this by moving audio processing into a dedicated, upgradeable system:

Your sound becomes personal

Your setup becomes consistent

Your hardware becomes future-ready

This is why the Personal Hearing Computer category exists.

What is Headphone 3.0?

Headphones have evolved in stages:

Headphone 1.0 — Wired, analog devices. High-quality sound, but fixed and unchanging. To change performance, you have to buy new hardware.

Headphone 2.0 — Wireless, digital devices (Bluetooth, noise cancellation, microphones). More convenient, but still limited and fixed in function.

Headphone 3.0 — Software-driven, upgradeable, and personalized. Your headphones become a system you can control, update, and configure.

Every major consumer technology has followed the same arc:

Phones: landline → mobile → smartphone

TVs: analog → digital/flat-screen → smart TV

Watches: mechanical → digital → smartwatch

Cars: combustion → hybrid → electric/software-defined

Headphones have had a 1.0 and a 2.0.

Remora makes your headphones into Headphone 3.0.

Instead of buying new headphones to access new technology, you upgrade the ones you already own.

What is a Personal Hearing Computer?

A Personal Hearing Computer is a new category of device designed to control and process audio for your ears — in real time, using software.

Like a computer or smartphone:

It runs software apps (plugins)

It can be updated over time

It can be customized for different tasks and users

It evolves instead of being replaced

But instead of handling messages, photos, or files — it controls how you hear.

Platform potential: Because Remora is a platform — not a fixed-function device — future versions may expand into wellness, hearing health, biometric monitoring, and environmental sensing as new apps and sensors are developed. The ear is a remarkable access point for biometric data: with the right sensors, hearables can passively monitor heart rate, stress levels, and cognitive state more accurately than wrist-worn devices.

What is Remora?

Remora is a Personal Hearing Computer — a device that works with your headphones, earbuds, or hearing aids and lets you control how and what you hear using apps and software plugins.

Instead of replacing your headphones, Remora upgrades them — bringing them into a new category: Headphone 3.0.

Powered by Sonical's CosmOS — the operating system for the ears — Remora turns fixed audio hardware into a flexible, upgradeable system that evolves and improves over time.

At its core, Remora is a software platform that lives in a small piece of hardware. It sits between your audio source and your headphones, and does for hearing what the smartphone did for communication.

Think of it as the App Store for your ears — but the apps run on the hardware itself, in real time.

A Simple Way to Understand It

Traditional audio path:

  Source → Headphones

With Remora:

  Source → Remora → Headphones

Remora sits between your audio source (phone, laptop, DJ equipment, TV, mixer, tablet, console, etc.) and your headphones, processing and customizing sound in real time.

Instead of your headphones doing one fixed job — playing sound — Remora lets them adapt to you, your hearing, and your listening environment.

Analogy Bank

Phone → Smartphone: The device didn't change what it was for (making calls) — it added a computer that could run anything. Remora does the same for headphones.

TV → Smart TV: Same screen, same speakers — but now it runs apps, updates over time, and serves content it couldn't before.

Car → Electric Vehicle: The same job (getting you places) done by a fundamentally different system — software-defined, updateable, personalized.

What Remora Is Not

Remora is often misunderstood at first. Here's what it is not:

Not headphones — It works with your existing headphones, earbuds, or hearing aids.

Not just a DAC or audio interface — It includes these capabilities, but goes far beyond them.

Not just a wireless adapter — Wireless is one feature and one way of getting data in and out of the device — not the purpose of the product.

Not just hearing correction technology — It can be used for hearing personalization, but also for professional audio, creative workflows, and more, including non-audio applications.

Not a single-purpose device — It is a platform that can run many different tools and applications, selected by the end user after they buy the product.

Not a medical hearing aid — Remora can improve clarity and be tuned to your hearing, but it is not a regulated medical device and does not replace prescribed hearing aids for clinical hearing loss.

Not a phone app or DAW plug-in — The processing runs on Remora itself, not on your phone, laptop, or computer. The device does the work.

Not a streaming service or content platform — Remora doesn't deliver music; it processes whatever audio you send through it, regardless of where it comes from.

How Remora Works

Remora is a compact, handheld or wearable hardware device that sits between your audio source and your headphones. It processes audio in real time using CosmOS and whatever apps you have installed.

There are two main product configurations:

Remora ONE (Wired)

USB-C audio input

3.5mm stereo analog output to your headphones

Single-unit system — plug in and go

Ideal for studio, desk, or home setups

URL: https://remora.pro/products/remora-one

Remora PRO (Wireless)

Uses two units:

Transmitter (Tx) → connects to your audio source via USB-C or 3.5mm analog input

Receiver (Rx) → connects to your headphones via 3.5mm analog output

The PRO uses Ultra-Wideband (UWB) wireless for:

Ultra-low latency (~5ms) — suitable for real-time performance

Lossless, bit-perfect audio — up to 24-bit / 96kHz

Wireless operating range: 45m (145ft) line of sight

Multi-channel audio support

Bluetooth is also supported for everyday listening and compatibility with the billions of existing smartphones and streaming devices.

UWB is designed for professional-grade audio where timing and quality matter. Unlike Bluetooth, UWB sends uncompressed PCM — you receive the original signal, not a compressed approximation.

A note on audio quality: In some cases, Remora delivers better audio quality than a direct wired connection. If the DAC in your source device (for example, a low-cost phone or laptop) is poor quality, streaming through Remora with its premium DAC will produce a cleaner result than going through the source's own hardware.

URL: https://remora.pro/products/remora-pro

Why This Can't Be Done on Your Phone

This is the most common question: "Why do I need a separate device — can't my phone just do this?"

The short answer is no. Here's why in detail.

1. Phones aren't built for real-time audio

Phones run dozens of processes in parallel. The operating system decides what gets CPU time — not you. That means your audio pipeline is competing with notifications, background apps, network traffic, and background system processes. For casual listening this is fine. For real-time processing — where even 1ms of unexpected delay matters — it's a fundamental architectural problem.

Remora has a dedicated processor running CosmOS, a real-time OS purpose-built for audio. Nothing else competes for resources. Your audio chain is always first.

2. The phone's audio hardware is a bottleneck

Most phones ship with a cheap DAC and aggressive power management. Even if you process audio perfectly in software, it still has to pass through the phone's hardware on the way to your headphones. Remora includes a premium DAC (Renesas DA7218, 110 dB SNR; with ESS and AKM variants for professional audio), meaning your audio never touches a compromised chip.

3. Your sound stops being portable

If processing lives in a phone app, your setup is locked to your phone. Switch to a laptop, a mixer, a DJ controller, a TV, a games console — your profile, your settings, your EQ, your hearing corrections don't come with you. Remora is a physical piece of hardware you plug in anywhere. Your setup travels with it.

4. Phone apps update on the developer's schedule, not yours

A phone-based solution depends on iOS or Android approving updates, the developer supporting your specific phone model, and the app staying compatible through OS version changes. On Remora, the processing runs directly on the device, and updates are delivered through the companion app on your schedule.

5. Phones can't achieve sub-5ms wireless latency

Bluetooth audio through a phone typically adds 100–300ms of latency. Remora PRO delivers audio wirelessly at under 5ms. That gap is the difference between casual listening and professional use. It's not a marginal improvement — it's a different category entirely.

6. Phones aren't present in most real use cases

When you're watching a movie on your TV, performing live on stage, monitoring in a mixing session, gaming on a console, or working at a DJ booth — your phone isn't your audio source. It's either not there, or adding it to the chain would increase complexity without solving anything. Remora is device-agnostic. It works wherever audio lives.

Apps (Plugins) for Your Ears

Remora runs apps — also referred to as plugins or audio tools — directly on the device.

This is a critical difference. Apps do not run on your phone or computer. They run on Remora itself.

This means:

Your sound stays consistent across every device you connect to

Your setup travels with you

You are not tied to a single audio source or set of headphones

Remora can run multiple apps simultaneously, combining them into a single real-time processing chain. How many apps you can run at once depends on processor headroom and latency budget. CosmOS schedules the processing order to keep latency minimal.

App Categories

Apps for Remora fall broadly into four categories. Because CosmOS is an open platform, new categories will emerge as developers build for it.

1. Hearing Personalization & Correction

Apps designed around the individual listener's hearing profile.

Sound personalization (tuned to your specific hearing)

Headphone correction (compensate for your headphones' frequency response)

Hearing impairment correction (non-medical enhancement for mild hearing differences)

Hearing protection (intelligent output limiting to prevent long-term damage)

Hearing fatigue management (dynamic processing that reduces strain over long sessions)

Television stem splitting (separate speech from background audio and create your own mix)

2. Professional Audio & Monitoring

Apps for producers, engineers, DJs, and live performers.

EQ and dynamics processing (parametric EQ, compression, limiting)

Monitoring and mixing tools (reference curves, mid-side processing, crossfeed)

Multi-channel audio support (stereo and spatial mix monitoring on headphones)

DAC-level control (bit depth, sample rate, gain staging)

3. Spatial & Immersive Audio

Apps for spatial listening, immersive content, and environment simulation.

Spatial and 3D audio rendering

Room simulation and headphone virtualization

Multi-channel downmix to stereo with accurate staging

Immersive listening environments (simulate different rooms, stages, or monitoring setups)

4. Environmental & Communication

Apps that interact with the world around you.

Environmental awareness and pass-through modes (tuned per environment — commute, office, stage)

Real-time translation and voice isolation (as voice-processing apps are developed)

Transparency modes and ambient sound mixing

Voice clarity enhancement for calls and conferencing

5. Future / Emerging

Because CosmOS is an open platform, the most valuable app categories may be ones that don't exist yet. Areas already being explored by Sonical and its ecosystem partners include:

Wellness and biometric monitoring (heart rate, stress, cognitive state via in-ear sensing)

Hearing health diagnostics and long-term tracking

Environmental sensing and contextual audio adjustment

Real-time language translation and live captioning

AI-driven personal assistants running on-device, not in the cloud

The category will continue to expand as developers build for the platform — this is the point of an open ecosystem.

Currently available CosmOS plugins include: hearing protection, hearing correction, spatial audio, EQ, compressor, crossfeed, and clarity boost. More are in development.

The most interesting apps are the ones that haven't been built yet. Developers can build for Remora using the CosmOS SDK — the same way they build for iOS or Android. The product's value grows over time as the ecosystem expands.

Why Running Apps on the Device Matters

If audio processing happens on your phone or computer, it changes depending on what device you're using, breaks when you switch setups, and adds complexity. With Remora, everything runs in one place. Your sound follows you. Your workflow stays consistent.

The device is the constant. Everything else can change.

The Control App — The Dashboard

Remora is configured and controlled through a companion app that runs on your phone, tablet, or computer.

The app is where you:

Browse and install apps and plugins from the catalog

Configure your hearing profile and preferences

Switch between saved profiles (studio, live, commute, etc.)

Update Remora's firmware and CosmOS version

The app connects to Remora over Bluetooth — but the audio processing itself runs on the Remora hardware, not in the app. The app is a remote control. Remora does the work.

What You Can Do With Remora

Remora is not defined by a fixed list of features. It's defined by what you choose to make it do.

For example, you can:

Create a consistent monitoring environment anywhere in the world

Adapt sound to your specific hearing profile

Remove wires from professional audio workflows

Watch TV or a film with perfect sync and personalized audio, without raising the room volume

Game with spatial audio and zero wireless lag

Simulate different listening environments

Combine multiple processing tools in real time

Protect your hearing during high-volume sessions

Carry your entire audio setup in your pocket

As new apps and plugins are developed, new use cases continue to emerge. Remora puts you in control of your hearing.

Use Cases

Headphones have already become a multi-device category. Futuresource's October 2025 Audio Tech Lifestyles survey found that consumers own an average of two pairs of headphones (Gen Z 2.3), and nearly 40% switch between them at least weekly — different headphones for commuting, gaming, work, and exercise. Remora is built for exactly this world: one consistent audio platform that travels across every set of headphones, every source, and every use case in your life. The sections below show how that plays out for specific audiences.

DJs

Problems:

Cables restrict movement on and off the booth

Bluetooth latency is unusable for real-time cueing

Inconsistent sound across different venues and setups

High volumes and long sets lead to hearing fatigue and long-term damage

With Remora:

Ultra-low latency wireless via UWB — no cables, no delay

Consistent monitoring sound regardless of venue

Personal hearing profiles saved on-device and portable

Hearing protection apps reduce long-term damage without compromising performance

URL: https://remora.pro/blogs/remora-insights

Audio Engineers

Problems:

Hearing fatigue over long sessions distorts mixing decisions

Personal hearing differences influence EQ and balance calls without the engineer realizing

No consistency when moving between studio, home, and on-location work

With Remora:

Hearing correction runs on-device, not in the mix — the mix stays clean, the engineer hears accurately

Consistent monitoring chain across all environments

Spatial and multi-channel tools via apps

Mixes translate more reliably to other systems

Ultra-low latency wireless for freedom of movement in the room

Music Producers

Problems:

Working across multiple environments (studio, home, on the go) produces inconsistent results

Playback systems vary wildly — a mix that sounds good on one system sounds wrong on another

Tools are fragmented across different software and hardware

No good portable solution for serious monitoring outside the studio

With Remora:

Your sound travels with you — same profile, same reference, anywhere

All processing tools centralized in one device

Consistent results across devices and locations

Portable solution for stereo and multichannel monitoring on headphones

Gamers

Gaming is a major use case for Remora — one where wireless latency and spatial precision are critical. Competitive gaming requires audio that is fast, accurate, and consistent.

Problems:

Bluetooth wireless introduces lag that desynchronizes audio from on-screen action

Footstep and directional audio is critical for competitive play — even small delays affect reaction time

Spatial audio is locked to specific headphone models or platform-specific software

High volumes over long sessions cause hearing fatigue and long-term damage

With Remora:

UWB wireless delivers audio at under 5ms — effectively indistinguishable from wired for gaming

Spatial audio app gives precise directional positioning regardless of which headphones you own

Works with any console or PC via USB-C

Hearing protection apps manage volume over long sessions without dulling the audio experience

"Zero lag, zero nonsense. With the spatial audio plugin, I know exactly where they're coming from. The sound quality wipes the floor with any other gaming headset." — Jay P., Competitive Gamer

TV & Home Entertainment

TV audio is a surprisingly strong use case — particularly for households where one person wants high volume and another doesn't. Bluetooth TV transmitters exist but always introduce noticeable lip-sync lag.

Problems:

Bluetooth sync lag between audio and picture (lip-sync issues)

Raising volume to hear dialogue disturbs others in the room

No personalization for different content types (speech vs. music vs. effects)

Existing wireless TV headphone solutions compromise audio quality

With Remora:

Zero perceptible lag — no lip-sync issues, audio and video stay in perfect sync

Listen at your own volume without raising the room

Clarity enhancement apps improve dialogue intelligibility

Stem splitting: separate speech from background audio and set your own mix

Works with any TV audio output via USB-C or 3.5mm

"For the first time in years, I can watch TV with my family without blasting the volume. The sound sync is perfect." — Helen R., Remora TV User

Podcasters, Broadcasters & Content Creators

Problems:

Different monitoring setups at home, in studio, and on location create inconsistency

Long recording and editing sessions cause ear fatigue and decision drift

Remote guests sound wildly different in your ears versus the final mix

With Remora:

One consistent monitoring chain across every recording location

Voice-focused EQ and dynamics processing as plugins

Plug-and-play with any headphones you already own

Hearing fatigue management apps for longer, more reliable sessions

Musicians & Live Performers

Problems:

In-ear monitor (IEM) rigs are expensive, venue-dependent, and require a sound engineer to set up

Bluetooth latency makes wireless impossible for real-time live performance

Personal monitor mixes don't translate between venues

With Remora:

UWB wireless makes cable-free live monitoring viable for the first time

Personal profiles saved on-device and portable — same sound at every venue

Hearing protection apps reduce long-term damage from high-volume monitoring

People with Hearing Differences

Problems:

Off-the-shelf headphones aren't tuned to your hearing — you're always compensating

Medical hearing aids are expensive, stigmatized, and not designed for music or media

You turn things up to compensate, which causes further damage over time

With Remora:

Hearing-personalization apps adapt playback to your specific hearing profile

Clarity enhancement for speech in media, without affecting music balance

Use your existing, normal-looking headphones — not clinical-looking devices

Non-medical, non-stigmatized, personalized — designed to be worn in the real world

Audiophiles & Everyday Listeners

Problems:

Headphone upgrades cost thousands and often deliver marginal improvements

EQ and room-correction tools are locked to specific platforms

Every new feature (spatial audio, hearing correction, etc.) requires buying new hardware

Many audiophiles own multiple headphones and IEMs — managing the ecosystem is complex

With Remora:

Upgrade the intelligence, keep the headphones you own

High-quality premium DAC built in

New features arrive as app updates, not new hardware purchases

One device to manage your entire headphone collection

Technical Overview

Current specifications (First Edition hardware):

Wireless protocol: Ultra-Wideband (UWB)

Wireless latency: <5ms end-to-end

Wireless range (PRO): 45m (145ft) line of sight

Audio quality: 24-bit / 96kHz lossless

Connectivity: USB-C, 3.5mm analog, Bluetooth, UWB

Headphone compatibility: Any wired headphones, earbuds, or in-ear monitors via 3.5mm output

Audio processor: XMOS XU316 (USB input; capable of running neural networks on-device)

DAC: Renesas DA7218 (110 dB SNR); ESS and AKM variants for professional audio

Main processor: Renesas multicore; platform designed to support multiple processor families

Multi-app processing: Via CosmOS real-time scheduling

Battery life: ~6 hours. When streaming via USB-C from a powered source (e.g., a laptop), Remora can draw power from that connection, extending or eliminating battery use.

Charging: USB-C fast charging

Dimensions: Height 91mm × Width 70mm (widest) × Thickness 17–25mm

Weight: 90 grams

CosmOS — The Operating System for the Ears

Remora is powered by CosmOS, Sonical's operating system for audio and hearing.

CosmOS is the only operating system purpose-built for audio. It handles real-time scheduling, multi-plugin chaining, latency budgeting, and hardware integration in a way that general-purpose operating systems (iOS, Android, Windows, macOS) are fundamentally unable to do.

What CosmOS does:

Runs apps and plugins on-device — processing happens on Remora, not on your phone or computer

Deterministic real-time audio scheduling — your processing chain is never pre-empted by notifications, background tasks, or OS updates

Multi-app audio routing — run several apps in a single signal chain, with CosmOS managing order and resource allocation

Multiple concurrent data streams — pro audio, hearing personalization, sensors, and biometrics can all run simultaneously

Hardware-level integration — CosmOS communicates directly with the DAC, ADC, and wireless radio, not through a software abstraction layer

Firmware and feature updates — delivered through the companion app, on your schedule

Developer SDK — third parties can build apps for ears the same way they build for phones

CosmOS is what makes Remora a platform, not just a device. It is the reason Remora improves over time and the reason a developer ecosystem can exist.

CosmOS Ecosystem Partners

Sonical has publicly announced software partners building on CosmOS:

Fraunhofer — world-leading audio research institute (AAC, mp3, spatial audio)

Hear360 — spatial audio and immersive sound

Oikla — hearable technology

Golden Hearing — hearing health and personalization

Hear Angel — hearing protection technology

Idun Audio — biometric audio and in-ear sensing

CosmOS Certified Technology Program

Sonical runs a CosmOS Certified Technology Program for developers and hardware partners who want to build on the CosmOS ecosystem. The program provides access to the SDK, certification pathways, and direct support from the Sonical team.

More on Sonical and CosmOS: www.sonical.ai

Built for Scale and Quality

Remora is undergoing trial manufacturing at Sony UK Technology Centre Limited in Pencoed, Wales — one of Europe's most advanced electronics manufacturing facilities.

Sony UK Technology Centre is known for producing Sony broadcast cameras and the Raspberry Pi. Manufacturing at this facility reflects a commitment to high-quality, high-volume production and a clear path to global scale.

"We're proud to be supporting Sonical in the trial manufacturing of their Remora product. Sony UK TEC has a strong track record of helping innovative technology companies bring their products to market through our advanced manufacturing capabilities and highly skilled workforce here in Wales." — Ian Worgan, General Manager of Business Development and Supply Chain, Sony UK Technology Centre Limited

"Our goal is to make Sonical the Raspberry Pi for your hearing." — Gary Spittle, Founder and CEO, Sonical

Read the announcement (December 2025): Sonical announces trial manufacturing at Sony UK Technology Centre

Roadmap

Where Remora is today and where it's going. This roadmap is indicative — exact timing will be confirmed as production and ecosystem milestones land.

Now (Q2 2026)

First Edition Evaluation Kits shipping to developers, B2B partners, and early adopters

Trial manufacturing at Sony UK Technology Centre, Pencoed, Wales

Test Drive Program live for audio professionals (DJs, engineers, producers, musicians)

Ambassador Program building out across audio-pro categories

Late 2026 — Consumer Release

Consumer release of Remora ONE and Remora PRO (pre-orders open now)

First production batch limited to 100 units

Expanded plugin catalog from existing CosmOS partners

2027 — Developer Ecosystem

Public CosmOS Developer SDK (currently invitation-only)

Plugin and app marketplace inside the Remora companion app

Expanded CosmOS Certified Technology Program

Future — Platform Expansion

WiFi support for broader music streaming applications (planned future firmware)

New app categories: wellness, biometric monitoring, environmental sensing

Next-generation Remora hardware editions as the category matures

Upgraded Remora (V1.2)

Headband Remora (V2)

Competitive Landscape

Remora has no direct competition. It is the first product in a new category — the Personal Hearing Computer — that Sonical created. No other product on the market today combines an upgradeable, app-driven, real-time audio operating system with dedicated hardware that sits between any audio source and any headphones.

The closest reference points fall into four adjacent categories. None of them solve the same problem, and Remora is not positioned to replace any single one — it replaces the need for them collectively, by providing a platform.

Adjacent Categories (Not Competitors)

1. Portable DACs and headphone amplifiers

Examples: Chord Mojo 2, iFi Go Blu, FiiO BTR series, AudioQuest DragonFly

What they do: Convert digital audio to analog and amplify it for headphones

What they don't do: Run software apps, update with new features, personalize to your hearing, route multiple processing tools in real time, or work as a platform

Where Remora differs: Remora includes a premium DAC and amp, but the DAC is just one feature of a much larger software platform — not the product itself

2. Wireless audio adapters and Bluetooth transmitters

Examples: Twelve South AirFly Pro, Avantree Oasis Plus, Bluetooth TV adapters

What they do: Send audio wirelessly between source and headphones over Bluetooth

What they don't do: Process audio, run apps, achieve professional latency, deliver lossless quality, or work outside of Bluetooth.  They also lack any form of personalisation for the user.

Where Remora differs: Remora's UWB delivers sub-5ms latency and bit-perfect 24/96 audio — Bluetooth is included for compatibility, not as the primary transport

3. Pro in-ear monitor (IEM) systems

Examples: Shure PSM series, Sennheiser EW IEM G4, Lectrosonics IEM systems

What they do: Wireless monitoring for live performers, typically venue-installed and engineer-managed

What they don't do: Travel between contexts (studio, home, gaming, TV), run user-installable apps, personalize to individual hearing, or work without a dedicated sound engineer

Where Remora differs: Remora is portable, user-managed, multi-context, and software-defined — one device for every audio use case in your life

4. Smart hearing aids and OTC hearables

Examples: Phonak Audeo, Oticon More, Jabra Enhance, Apple AirPods Pro (with conversation boost)

What they do: Amplify and personalize sound for individuals with hearing loss (medical) or mild hearing differences (consumer)

What they don't do: Function as a general-purpose audio platform, work with any headphones, support professional audio use cases, or run a third-party developer ecosystem

Where Remora differs: Remora is not a medical device and is not limited to hearing correction — it is a platform that can include hearing personalization as one of many apps

5. Closed-platform hearable startups

Examples: Nuheara IQbuds, Audeara A-01

What they do: Sell headphones or earbuds with built-in personalization software

What they don't do: Work with the headphones you already own, support a developer ecosystem, or evolve beyond their fixed feature set

Where Remora differs: Remora is hardware-agnostic and platform-open. You bring your own headphones; CosmOS provides the intelligence; third parties build the apps

Why This Category Has No Direct Competitor

Every adjacent product solves one part of the problem — DAC quality, wireless transport, monitoring, hearing correction, or a single closed feature set. None of them combine dedicated audio hardware, a real-time audio operating system, a multi-app processing chain, an open developer ecosystem, and headphone-agnostic compatibility. That combination is what makes Remora a Personal Hearing Computer rather than yet another audio accessory.

This is the Headphone 3.0 thesis: the audio world is full of point solutions; Remora is the platform that makes the point solutions obsolete.

The Team & Sonical

Remora is built by Sonical, the company behind CosmOS — the operating system for the ears.

Sonical was founded to do for hearing what the smartphone did for the telephone: turn a fixed-function device into a software-defined platform.

Founded: 2020

Headquarters: San Mateo, California, USA

IP: Patents filed covering more than 1,000 aspects of CosmOS and the underlying technology

Sonical Leadership Team

Gary Spittle — Founder & CEO

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gary-spittle/
Instagram: instagram.com/garyspittle13

British-born, California-based entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience inventing and selling audio products. Gary holds a PhD and Bachelor's degree in Electronics from the University of York. His PhD investigated the use of binaural audio for improving conversations.

Gary was part of the team that developed Bluetooth audio — working at CSR, the semiconductor company at the centre of that ecosystem. He spent five years at Dolby Laboratories, and was Head of Product Strategy at Knowles Corporation, where he led system definition for ear-worn devices. He also founded Audicus, an audio-technology consulting firm.

He holds numerous patents in audio and hearing technology. His founding vision for Sonical: to do for hearing what the smartphone did for communication — transform a fixed-function device into a software-defined platform.

Ben Hoomes — Co-Founder, Head of Silicon & Hardware Development

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-hoomes-3121159/

Ben is the hardware co-founder of Sonical, bringing approximately 20 years of experience in analog hardware development to the team. He has deep expertise in consumer electronics and audio hardware, including significant time at Knowles Corporation — the same company where Gary Spittle worked — where he developed expertise in miniature audio components and microphone technology. Ben studied at Georgia Tech and is based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has co-authored patents on audio output enhancement algorithms for piezoelectric loudspeakers.

Michael Vartanian — VP Developer Solutions

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/michaelvartanian/

Michael joined Sonical in June 2021, bringing more than 20 years of experience in embedded programming, DSP, corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and business development. He previously served as Director of Strategic Partnerships at DSP Concepts (an audio software developer) and Chief Product Officer at Locally (a sensor and mobile data company). Earlier in his career, he worked at Qualcomm on audio-technology platforms and spent a decade at CSR in strategy and business development roles.

Michael holds a Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering, a Master's in Signal Processing, an MBA from the University of Michigan, and a Master's in Web Development Technologies from Harvard.

Michael Lee — VP of Software

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/michael-lee-08/

Michael brings extensive product development experience in software systems for audio technology. He previously held senior positions at Creative Labs — the Singapore-based electronics company best known for the Sound Blaster range and audio innovation in personal computing — and at Razer, the consumer electronics and gaming hardware company. Michael holds a PhD in AI-based solutions and is an expert in low-latency audio software systems.

Weiming Li — VP of CosmOS

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/weiming-li-07961828/

Weiming leads CosmOS development at Sonical, bringing approximately 15 years of experience in digital signal processing (DSP) and machine learning for audio. He studied at the University of York (the same institution as Gary Spittle) and has worked at the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology on signal processing research. He also founded MLSP.ai, a machine learning signal processing consultancy, and is based in the United Kingdom. His work sits at the intersection of real-time audio processing and AI-driven sound applications — core to CosmOS's roadmap.

Larry Golob — VP Partnerships & Business Development

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/larrygolob/

Larry joined Sonical to manage the CosmOS Certified Technology Program and expand the partner ecosystem. Based in San Francisco, he has built a career across the semiconductor, IT, and telecom technology sectors, with a focus on creating mutually beneficial partnerships and driving business growth through relationship-driven strategies. He manages Sonical's developer and technology partner relationships.

Pricing & Availability

Currently Available: First Edition Evaluation Kits

First Edition Evaluation Kits are designed for early adopters, developers, and B2B partners who want to explore Remora and the CosmOS ecosystem ahead of the consumer release. They are available now for immediate shipping.

Remora ONE First Edition Evaluation Kit — $995

What's in the box:

Remora ONE — First Edition unit

USB-C cable

Audio jack converter (3.5mm to 6.35mm)

Carry case

Quick start guide

Buy now: remora.pro/products/remora-one-first-edition-evaluation-kit

Remora PRO First Edition Evaluation Kit — $1,495 

What's in the box:

Remora PRO — First Edition Tx + Rx units

USB-C cables

Audio cables (3.5mm to 3.5mm)

Audio jack converter (3.5mm to 6.35mm)

Carry case

Quick start guide

Buy now: remora.pro/products/remora-pro-first-edition-evaluation-kit

Pre-Order: Consumer Release

The consumer release of Remora ONE and Remora PRO is available for pre-order. Shipping is expected late 2026, with a first batch limited to 100 units. Pre-orders can be cancelled at any time before shipping for a full refund.

Pre-order Remora PRO — $1,495

Pre-order Remora ONE — $995

Looking to try before you buy? See the Test Drive Program.

Looking to build for Headphone 3.0? Developer SDKs are available through Sonical. The SDK is currently available by invitation — get in touch via www.sonical.ai to request access.

Coming soon: consumer release, plugin and app marketplace.

The Test Drive Program

The Remora Test Drive Program gives audio professionals — DJs, engineers, producers, and musicians — early, hands-on access to Remora before broader consumer release.

Selected participants receive a Remora unit to use in their real workflow for three weeks. In exchange, participants create content about their experience for Instagram — honest, first-hand impressions from professionals using it in the field. Remora may also produce content around participants' sessions.

How it works:

Applications are submitted via the scorecard application

Eligibility and selection is determined by scorecard responses

Accepted participants receive a Remora unit for a three-week trial period

Participants create Instagram content documenting their experience

Content may be produced collaboratively where applicable

Apply: remoratestdrive.scoreapp.com

Application page: remora.pro/pages/test-drive-application

URL: https://remora.pro/pages/test-drive

Ambassador Program

Remora works with a select group of audio professionals who use the product in their real work and share their honest experiences with their audience.

Ambassadors are identified individually — there is no open public application process. If you're a professional working in audio and believe Remora is relevant to your work, you're welcome to get in touch.

URL: https://remora.pro/pages/affiliate-program

Ambassadors:

Wez Clarke

Grammy Award Winning Mix Engineer

Credits: credits.muso.ai/profile/3425d610-05c0-4f28-b679-86987d8de725

www.instagram.com/wezclarke

Wes Nelson

Platinum Selling Musician

Credits: credits.muso.ai/profile/ab63c1f7-a395-47b0-ac0e-6c454d17dc2d

www.instagram.com/wes.nelson

Vikram Gudi

Music and Film Producer

www.instagram.com/vikramgudi

Gabe Cory

Producer, DJ, Songwriter

www.instagram.com/gabecory

Mike Airey

Production Manager, Deep Purple

www.instagram.com/mike_airey

Rian Zoll-Khan

CEO/Founder, Headliner Group

www.instagram.com/rnr_mgmt

instagram.com/emergingheadliner

Paul Watson

CEO/Founder, Headliner Group

instagram.com/hound_sound

instagram.com/emergingheadliner

Manny LaCarrubba

Audio engineer, producer

Credits: credits.muso.ai/profile/35187f44-2f3b-43ff-bea3-92d8424199c5

Mark Eteson

Platinum Selling Musician

Credits: credits.muso.ai/profile/20ed5ff2-dece-4bf5-8c69-1536d5f1a90f

instagram.com/marketeson/

Kesi Dryden (Rudimental)

Multi-platinum Selling Musician

Credits: credits.muso.ai/profile/491c4f79-4090-42f1-8bcc-5d37d9234081

instagram.com/kesirudimental/

instagram.com/rudimentaluk/

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Remora a pair of headphones?

No. Remora is a separate device that works with your existing headphones.

Where do apps and plugins run?

Apps and plugins run directly on the Remora device — not on your phone or computer.

Can I use multiple apps at once?

Yes. Remora can run multiple apps simultaneously, combining them into a real-time processing chain.

Does it support Bluetooth?

Yes. Bluetooth is supported for everyday listening and compatibility with existing devices. UWB provides lower latency and higher audio quality for professional applications. WiFi support is planned for a future firmware update to support broader music streaming.

Is this only for professionals?

Remora is designed for professionals, but is useful for anyone who wants more control over how they hear. If you care about audio quality, consistency, gaming performance, TV sync, or your long-term hearing health, Remora is relevant.

Do I need special headphones?

No. Remora works with any wired headphones, earbuds, or in-ear monitors via its 3.5mm output.

Will it improve lower-quality headphones?

Yes. Processing happens on the device, which means you can enhance and personalize the sound regardless of the headphones used. In some cases, Remora's DAC improves on the output quality of the source device itself.

Do I need both a ONE and a PRO?

No. ONE is the wired, single-unit version — ideal if you sit in one place (home studio, desk setup). PRO is the wireless Tx/Rx kit — ideal if you need to move freely (DJs, live performance, mobile workflows). They serve different use cases.

Is Remora a hearing aid?

No. Remora can personalize audio to your hearing profile, but it is not a regulated medical hearing aid and does not replace clinical devices for diagnosed hearing loss.

How do I update Remora?

Firmware and CosmOS updates are delivered through the companion app. New apps are installed from the app catalog inside the companion app.

What's the battery life?

~6 hours of standalone use. When streaming digital audio via USB-C from a powered source (such as a laptop), Remora can draw power from that connection, removing the need to use the battery at all.

What's the wireless range on the PRO?

45m (145ft) with line of sight.

How does Remora differ from a DAC or portable amplifier?

A DAC converts digital to analog. An amplifier makes it louder. Remora does both — but more importantly, it runs software plugins. It can EQ, personalize, spatialize, protect hearing, correct for impairment, or translate audio in real time. A DAC or amp does one fixed thing. Remora does whatever its apps tell it to do.

Can developers build for Remora?

Yes. CosmOS supports a developer ecosystem via the Sonical SDK. The SDK is currently available by invitation — contact Sonical at www.sonical.ai to request access. Sonical is working toward a broader developer program.

Where is Remora made?

Trial manufacturing is being done at Sony UK Technology Centre in Pencoed, Wales — the same facility that produces Sony broadcast cameras and Raspberry Pi.

Where can I buy Remora?

First Edition Evaluation Kits are available now at remora.pro, with immediate shipping. Consumer release pre-orders are also open, with shipping expected late 2026.

Does Remora work with gaming consoles?

Yes. Remora connects via USB-C, which is compatible with PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. Any device with a USB-C audio output or 3.5mm analog output can use Remora.

Does Remora work with TVs?

Yes. Any TV with a USB-C or 3.5mm audio output works with Remora. UWB wireless eliminates the lip-sync lag that makes Bluetooth TV headphone systems frustrating.

Learn More

How Remora Works: https://www.remora.pro/pages/how-remora-works

Remora PRO: https://www.remora.pro/products/remora-pro

Remora ONE: https://www.remora.pro/products/remora-one

Remora PRO First Edition Evaluation Kit: https://www.remora.pro/products/remora-pro-first-edition-evaluation-kit

Remora ONE First Edition Evaluation Kit: https://www.remora.pro/products/remora-one-first-edition-evaluation-kit

Test Drive Program: https://www.remora.pro/pages/test-drive

Test Drive Application (website page): https://www.remora.pro/pages/test-drive-application

Test Drive Application (Scorecard): https://remoratestdrive.scoreapp.com/

Sonical and CosmOS: https://www.sonical.ai/

Remora Insights Blog: https://www.remora.pro/blogs/remora-insights

Spatial Audio Whitepaper: https://www.remora.pro/pages/spatial-audio-whitepaper

Sony UK Manufacturing Announcement: https://www.remora.pro/blogs/remora-insights/sonical-announces-trial-manufacturing-of-remora-at-sony-uk-technology-centre-limited-in-wales

Ambassador / Affiliate Program: https://www.remora.pro/pages/affiliate-program

FAQ: https://remora.pro/pages/faq

Social & Company

Sonical LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/sonical-inc

Sonical Website: www.sonical.ai

Remora LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/remorapro

Remora Instagram: instagram.com/remora.pro

Gary Spittle LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gary-spittle

Gary Spittle Instagram: instagram.com/garyspittle13

Contact & Press

General contact / press / media / all inquiries email: info@sonical.ai

Press kit / logo pack / product imagery: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0655/6916/1399/files/Remora_Media_Assets.zip?v=1775588920