WHAT ARE YUNI HEADPHONES?

Yuni Headphones are the world's first true single-sided stereo headphone. Initially designed for listeners with unilateral hearing loss, the Yuni has also proven popular among users who need to keep one ear open while listening to music but still want to enjoy stereo sound. 

The Yuni uses a revolutionary system of vertical stereo spacing, which places one transducer above the user's ear opening and the other below the ear opening. This technology results in the user's ability to hear 100% of their audio, distinguish between the two stereo channels with a single ear, and hear stereo panning between the two channels.

It has been a long time since the first-generation Yuni launched in 2013. We are currently launching the second-generation Yuni--the Yuni V2--updated with the latest technology and improved to incorporate the numerous suggestions we have received over the years from our users. 

​The Yuni V2 is a Bluetooth-enabled (with optional 3.5mm cord) single-sided stereo headphone with both stereo channels in a single side, one above and one below the ear opening, so the brain perceives them as two separate sound sources. This way, you get stereo depth, localization, and panning just like you would with stereo, but using just one ear! Perfect for listeners with single-sided deafness (or other unilateral hearing loss) or others who just want to keep one ear free while they listen to music.

Preorder the brand-new Yuni V2 now by clicking on the image above and help us fund our first production run!

THE challenges OF UNILATERAL HEARING LOSS

Do you listen to music, watch movies or TV, or play video games through headphones? Then you probably know how important stereo sound is to the experience: how the panning of music immerses you in the song, how directional sound effects immerse you in the scene, or how the light thump of footsteps in your right ear warns you of an approaching enemy.

If you are among the 20 million Americans with unilateral hearing loss, however, this may be a joy you have never experienced.  Defined as a three-frequency pure-tone average hearing loss above 20 dB, or a hearing loss above 25 dB in two or more frequencies above 2 kHz, unilateral hearing loss is estimated to affect 7.2% of adult Americans. Moreover, 3 in 100 children are estimated to develop some form of unilateral hearing loss by school age as the result of bacterial meningitis, malformations of the ear canal, congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV), enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome (EVA), premature birth, or other causes.

Daniel J. Glass, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and the founder of Yuni Technologies, studied the psychophysics of the auditory system as a student at the University of Pennsylvania. Several people close to Dan have unilateral hearing loss, and as a result he decided to use his knowledge to develop the technology behind the Yuni to allow them to experience their favorite music in the same way that others enjoy.

MULTI-TASKING WITH THE YUNI

​In addition to people with unilateral hearing loss, people who like to (or need to) keep one ear open while listening to audio – such as while working or on Zoom calls, while listening to audiobooks alongside background music, while walking or biking alongside traffic, or while DJing or recording music – have also found the Yuni to be very useful.