Frequently Asked Questions About the Yuni
Q: Is the Yuni only for people with single-sided hearing loss?
A: Not at all! Anybody who regularly listens to audio through headphones with one ear but wants to listen in stereo should have a Yuni. This is includes performing and recording musicians (for recording or monitoring use), and anybody else who needs to keep one ear free while listening to music.
A: Not at all! Anybody who regularly listens to audio through headphones with one ear but wants to listen in stereo should have a Yuni. This is includes performing and recording musicians (for recording or monitoring use), and anybody else who needs to keep one ear free while listening to music.
Q: I am not totally deaf in either ear, but I have limited hearing in one or both ears. Would the Yuni be right for me?
A: Definitely! No matter your absolute level of hearing loss, if you hear better in one ear than you do in the other, you're going to miss out on some of the true stereo experience when you use headphones. Get a Yuni and listen with your better ear to make sure you don't miss out on that sound!
A: Definitely! No matter your absolute level of hearing loss, if you hear better in one ear than you do in the other, you're going to miss out on some of the true stereo experience when you use headphones. Get a Yuni and listen with your better ear to make sure you don't miss out on that sound!
Q: If I use a CROS hearing aid, would a Yuni give me any benefit?
A: Yes! Hearing aids that function via Contralateral Routing of Sound (CROS) pick up the signal from the deaf ear and route them to the good ear, so that you hear both. As you can imagine, this is an extraordinarily helpful device for people with unilateral deafness. However, listening to stereo headphones with a CROS would mean that the signal from either side goes into your good ear without any spatial localization. The benefit of the Yuni is that it gives you the stereo experience with a single ear. Users who use CROS hearing aids may find that they prefer the Yuni experience because it maintains the stereo image of their music, rather than compressing it into a single sound-stream.
A: Yes! Hearing aids that function via Contralateral Routing of Sound (CROS) pick up the signal from the deaf ear and route them to the good ear, so that you hear both. As you can imagine, this is an extraordinarily helpful device for people with unilateral deafness. However, listening to stereo headphones with a CROS would mean that the signal from either side goes into your good ear without any spatial localization. The benefit of the Yuni is that it gives you the stereo experience with a single ear. Users who use CROS hearing aids may find that they prefer the Yuni experience because it maintains the stereo image of their music, rather than compressing it into a single sound-stream.
Q: My iPhone/iPod/etc. has an Accessibility setting which moves the sound to a single ear. Why should I get a Yuni?
A: This type of setting squishes the two stereo channels into a single mono channel and plays it through one of your ears, through a single speaker. It makes the music sound cramped, with no sense of space, no distinction between channels, and no ability to hear stereo panning. Up until now, converting a stereo signal to mono in this way has been the best option for unilaterally deaf headphone users. But the Yuni gives you true single-sided stereo, not mono. It plays each channel into a single ear through two separate speakers, maintaining the incomparable sense of stereo. The experience is completely different, and much better with the Yuni.
A: This type of setting squishes the two stereo channels into a single mono channel and plays it through one of your ears, through a single speaker. It makes the music sound cramped, with no sense of space, no distinction between channels, and no ability to hear stereo panning. Up until now, converting a stereo signal to mono in this way has been the best option for unilaterally deaf headphone users. But the Yuni gives you true single-sided stereo, not mono. It plays each channel into a single ear through two separate speakers, maintaining the incomparable sense of stereo. The experience is completely different, and much better with the Yuni.
Q: Why is using a Yuni better than getting a stereo-to-mono converter and plug it in between my headphones and my music player?
A: See above. Also, an added converter makes the whole setup bulky, and it can easily break right off in the jack if it catches on your backpack, jacket, etc.
A: See above. Also, an added converter makes the whole setup bulky, and it can easily break right off in the jack if it catches on your backpack, jacket, etc.
Q: Are you ever going to make a Bluetooth/wireless Yuni?
A: Eventually, we would like to create a wireless version of the Yuni, as this is one of our most request products! At the moment, we're currently concentrating on optimizing our standard model, but if you sign up for our mailing list, we'll let you know when our Bluetooth Yuni comes out!
A: Eventually, we would like to create a wireless version of the Yuni, as this is one of our most request products! At the moment, we're currently concentrating on optimizing our standard model, but if you sign up for our mailing list, we'll let you know when our Bluetooth Yuni comes out!
Q: I'd like a special Yuni with speakers in both sides (or some other non-standard feature). Can you do that?
A: Yes we can! One of the benefits of 3D printing, as opposed to standard mass production, is that there is not a huge wasted cost of producing only a small number of special items. However, since we put considerable time and effort into the design and testing of any custom product, we reserve the custom-built option for our higher-level backers. Please contact us if you're interested in a special commission.
A: Yes we can! One of the benefits of 3D printing, as opposed to standard mass production, is that there is not a huge wasted cost of producing only a small number of special items. However, since we put considerable time and effort into the design and testing of any custom product, we reserve the custom-built option for our higher-level backers. Please contact us if you're interested in a special commission.
Q: Do you have any plans to create a hi-fi flat frequency response model appropriate for studio monitoring or a model with a microphone for gaming? What about a Yuni appropriate for runners?
A: These are all things we'd like to do eventually! We're taking it one step at a time, and we hope down the road to have the flexibility to create a variety of models. A gaming Yuni is especially highly requested. If you sign up for our mailing list, we'll let you know when about any new Yuni models that are coming out!
A: These are all things we'd like to do eventually! We're taking it one step at a time, and we hope down the road to have the flexibility to create a variety of models. A gaming Yuni is especially highly requested. If you sign up for our mailing list, we'll let you know when about any new Yuni models that are coming out!
Q: Can you ship internationally?
A: But of course! In an attempt to bring single-sided stereo to as many people as possible, we offer an international shipping option from our Purchase a Yuni page. Just use the PayPal option, and if your international address is on your PayPal account, the proper shipping option should apply.
A: But of course! In an attempt to bring single-sided stereo to as many people as possible, we offer an international shipping option from our Purchase a Yuni page. Just use the PayPal option, and if your international address is on your PayPal account, the proper shipping option should apply.
Q: Is the Yuni suitable for children?
A: Many people want to ensure that the valued youngsters in their lives are able to hear single-sided stereo too. While the Yuni's headband is adjustable, the Yuni is a bit on the large side, necessitated by having two speakers on the same side -- this may make it too bulky for very young heads. Also, note that headphones specifically designed for children are created to limit the volume at 85 decibels to protect young ears, and the Yuni does not have this feature. Adolescents, however, should be able to use the Yuni with no problem!
A: Many people want to ensure that the valued youngsters in their lives are able to hear single-sided stereo too. While the Yuni's headband is adjustable, the Yuni is a bit on the large side, necessitated by having two speakers on the same side -- this may make it too bulky for very young heads. Also, note that headphones specifically designed for children are created to limit the volume at 85 decibels to protect young ears, and the Yuni does not have this feature. Adolescents, however, should be able to use the Yuni with no problem!