It is the first use of the technology at a major cultural institution globally.
Auracast enables a one-to-many connection from a single audio broadcast, allowing an unlimited number of people to listen to the same thing simultaneously without compromising on sound quality.
More than 3 million Australians have at least one long-term hearing disorder.Credit: Janie Barrett
Although Auracast is available for people of all hearing abilities, the delivery of audio streams directly to compatible receivers such as earbuds, speakers or hearing aids means those with hearing loss have a clearer listening experience than without the technology.
Jones’ experience is not rare – more than 3 million Australians are living with at least one long-term hearing disorder. It creates complications in everyday interactions and makes enjoying live music difficult.
Even assistive listening systems such as hearing loops can make music sound distorted, as they are typically optimised for speech. Listening experiences can also be dulled by poor sound quality. Sometimes audio support is restricted to certain seats due to a limited support range.
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“The systems that we had in place have just been around for so long, with no substantial developments,” said Janelle Ryan, the Opera House’s senior manager for impact access and operations.
“The installation was actually very seamless … It took minutes to install Auracast, whereas it can take days for a hearing loop. It also didn’t affect the fabric of the building.”
Jones said the improved listening experience had renewed her enthusiasm for live music.
“The normal hearers who sat here today and listened to the concert probably thought, ‘Yeah, it’s pretty good’. But for someone who has hearing loss, it was just next level … live music is one of life’s greatest joys,” she said.
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