We made
Bluetooth Audio
work for Earshots
Inspiration
James Bell-Booth, the Founder and CEO of innovative audio start-up Earshots, takes exercise and wellbeing very seriously. He loves staying active but hates when standard earphones dislodge, fall out, or demand constant adjustment because of movement or moisture from rigorous activity. He found it incredibly irritating that trying to listen to audio can detract from the great experience of being active – rather than enhancing the experience as it should.
It was while taking part in an adventure race that James decided enough was enough. He knew he couldn’t be the only one experiencing these frustrations with audio listening devices. And so, the idea of Earshots was born. Wireless, waterproof earphones with impeccable sound quality and Bluetooth connectivity – held in place by a magnetic clip to withstand sweat and rigorous activity like mountain biking, CrossFit, and more.
Changing the Game
Earshots had produced a first generation of their product through an ODM in China – something which allowed them to prove the concept in market quickly and affordably.
Although a well-trodden path for start-ups, this approach comes with a hefty compromise – Earshots didn’t own the product nor its IP, the manufacturers did. And as soon as Earshots needed to change the hardware in a material way (beyond shape and colour) they hit a wall. This solution was neither sustainable nor scalable, and it left Earshots without the control they needed to take the next step in their business.
Virscient had overcome many of these problems before on other client projects, so Earshots reached out to see how we could help them take control of their own destiny.
“We started working with Virscient in late 2020 on the new version of the product that we began selling in 2022. Earshots felt we wanted to have more control and understanding of our firmware and our hardware for the second version. Fortunately we were introduced to Virscient and found that they were a perfect partner to help us” said Bell-Booth.
Reliable and Extensible
Virscient and Earshots worked together to define and design a next-generation hardware platform based around the Qualcomm QCC5141 extremely-low-power premium tier Bluetooth Audio SoC. The aim was not only to deliver state-of-the-art performance in the second-generation product, but also to provide a platform that would support future innovation.
Ensuring comfort, durability, and long battery life was important, but rock-solid Bluetooth connectivity was cricital to the user experience, so careful RF engineering and antenna design was needed.
“We wanted to deliver a great connectivity experience. That involved both some firmware work and antenna design work. Our customers want high performance streaming with no cut-outs. If the experience isn’t seamless and great, then customers don’t feel delighted by your product”
Making the Vision Real
Virscient led Earshots through the development of both the hardware and embedded software for their product, providing engineering and development services, project management, and also general strategic technology consulting.
“Virscient understand the technical side better than anyone, but they’ve also got a strong handle on the workflow required to put out world-class products” said Bell-Booth.
“That indirect advice and guidance has been invaluable for Earshots as we look to lay the foundations for our next phase”
Results
Engaging with Virscient has helped Earshots boost their potential by way of a stronger product platform that is equipped for the future. They can now increase their sales, access more lucrative channels, and operate with greater confidence in their new engineering processes.
The QCC5141-based product platform has built-in flexibility which means Earshots are one step ahead when it comes to their product roadmap.
The Earshots Gen 2 MagFit wireless earphones are in market, receiving strong reviews, and were named as one of Time Magazine’s top inventions of 2022.
They deliver excellent sound quality for the category, with over 10 hours play time per charge, crystal-clear voice calls, and all the convenience of a Bluetooth true wireless experience.
Contact
We made it work for Earshots. Let’s make it work for you
We made
Bluetooth Audio
work for Earshots
Inspiration
James Bell-Booth, the Founder and CEO of innovative audio start-up Earshots, takes exercise and wellbeing very seriously. He loves staying active but hates when standard earphones dislodge, fall out, or demand constant adjustment because of movement or moisture from rigorous activity. He found it incredibly irritating that trying to listen to audio can detract from the great experience of being active – rather than enhancing the experience as it should.
It was while taking part in an adventure race that James decided enough was enough. He knew he couldn’t be the only one experiencing these frustrations with audio listening devices. And so, the idea of Earshots was born. Wireless, waterproof earphones with impeccable sound quality and Bluetooth connectivity – held in place by a magnetic clip to withstand sweat and rigorous activity like mountain biking, CrossFit, and more.
Changing the Game
Earshots had produced a first generation of their product through an ODM in China – something which allowed them to prove the concept in market quickly and affordably.
Although a well-trodden path for start-ups, this approach comes with a hefty compromise – Earshots didn’t own the product nor its IP, the manufacturers did. And as soon as Earshots needed to change the hardware in a material way (beyond shape and colour) they hit a wall. This solution was neither sustainable nor scalable, and it left Earshots without the control they needed to take the next step in their business.
Virscient had overcome many of these problems before on other client projects, so Earshots reached out to see how we could help them take control of their own destiny.
“We started working with Virscient in late 2020 on the new version of the product that we began selling in 2022. Earshots felt we wanted to have more control and understanding of our firmware and our hardware for the second version. Fortunately we were introduced to Virscient and found that they were a perfect partner to help us” said Bell-Booth.
Reliable and Extensible
Virscient and Earshots worked together to define and design a next-generation hardware platform based around the Qualcomm QCC5141 extremely-low-power premium tier Bluetooth Audio SoC. The aim was not only to deliver state-of-the-art performance in the second-generation product, but also to provide a platform that would support future innovation.
Ensuring comfort, durability, and long battery life was important, but rock-solid Bluetooth connectivity was cricital to the user experience, so careful RF engineering and antenna design was needed.
“We wanted to deliver a great connectivity experience. That involved both some firmware work and antenna design work. Our customers want high performance streaming with no cut-outs. If the experience isn’t seamless and great, then customers don’t feel delighted by your product”
Making the Vision Real
Virscient led Earshots through the development of both the hardware and embedded software for their product, providing engineering and development services, project management, and also general strategic technology consulting.
“Virscient understand the technical side better than anyone, but they’ve also got a strong handle on the workflow required to put out world-class products” said Bell-Booth.
“That indirect advice and guidance has been invaluable for Earshots as we look to lay the foundations for our next phase”
Results
Engaging with Virscient has helped Earshots boost their potential by way of a stronger product platform that is equipped for the future. They can now increase their sales, access more lucrative channels, and operate with greater confidence in their new engineering processes.
The QCC5141-based product platform has built-in flexibility which means Earshots are one step ahead when it comes to their product roadmap.
The Earshots Gen 2 MagFit wireless earphones are in market, receiving strong reviews, and were named as one of Time Magazine’s top inventions of 2022.
They deliver excellent sound quality for the category, with over 10 hours play time per charge, crystal-clear voice calls, and all the convenience of a Bluetooth true wireless experience.
Contact
We made it work for Earshots. Let’s make it work for you