Sydney Opera House is the first major cultural institution globally to introduce revolutionary Auracast broadcast technology, setting a benchmark for accessibility in the arts and removing barriers for people with hearing loss.
In a world first, hearing aid manufacturer GN, Hearing Australia, National Acoustic Laboratories and the Sydney Opera House have collaborated to bring Auracast broadcast audio technology to the iconic venue. The ‘hear the future’ event on 18 March 2025 was an overwhelming success, indicating live performances are about to get a whole better for people with hearing loss.
A highlight was the emotional reactions of people in the audience with hearing loss who, for the first time in years, could hear music and vocals the way they are meant to be experienced.
Auracast is a Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Audio technology, and streams high-quality audio to unlimited listeners, making it ideal for large venues and public spaces. Sound quality is described as excellent with no distortion.
GN, the first manufacturer to pioneer hearing aids that connect with Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast, had been working with technology companies for years to ensure hearing aid users have early access to the breakthrough technology in venues globally.
The Opera House became the first global cultural institution to fit Auracast transmitters into its Drama Theatre, Playhouse and studio venues for hearing aid users. The advanced assistive listening technology provides access to high-quality broadcasts from a nearby transmitter through hearing devices to Auracast-compatible audio devices.
It’s a major step forward in removing barriers and achieving greater inclusion for the one in five people globally who live with hearing loss.
MC Mr Osher Günsberg, TV presenter, former roadie/DJ and hearing aid user, welcomed representatives from the audiology sector, the deaf and hearing loss community, industry and media to experience the technology. They heard a live performance broadcast directly to hearing aids and earbuds featuring the powerhouse vocals of singer Dannielle Cartisano enhanced by the magic of Celeste Strings ensemble.
GN has integrated Auracast across its entire new Beltone and ReSound hearing aid portfolios and introduced an app-based Auracast Assistant. Event attendees who did not wear hearing aids experienced Auracast using Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro.
Next level emotional response
“As soon as the music started, I had tears in my eyes; it was an emotional reaction,” said hearing aid wearer Ms Marian Jones. “I haven’t heard like that for so long, the whole breadth, how natural it sounded and the distinction between the instruments.
“People without hearing loss listening to it today might think it was good, but for someone with hearing loss, it was next level.”
Jones said music had always been a compromise. “I go to events knowing I will not have the same level of engagement as everyone else and miss some things. Live music is one of life’s great joys but like many people with hearing loss, I’ve found my enjoyment has been dulled by poor sound quality or being restricted to certain seats. I’ll go more now because I know it’s going to be great.”
Jones, principal research audiologist at Cochlear, added: “Hearing the beautiful music via Auracast was the crispest and clearest experience I’ve had in years. It was quite emotional to see the reactions from others with hearing loss at the performance. This is so important to drive forward accessibility.”
Günsberg, who spent years avoiding social situations due to hearing loss before receiving hearing aids, said he also found it very emotional to feel that again. He said the venue was now a beacon of accessibility. “With telecoil I struggled to hear, but this is game-changing technology for millions of people worldwide and will make the world more inclusive and accessible,” he said.
Representatives from Samsung Electronics, Google and the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) underscored the support for Auracast and its potential to enhance accessibility across a range of devices and platforms. They showcased Auracast-enabled products that demonstrated how it enhances listening experiences in public spaces and venues.
Hearing aid users can face barriers at live performances, with current assistive listening systems such as induction hearing loops optimised for speech while music can sound distorted. Available seating in theatres and other arenas is often limited for loop wearers to areas with coverage.
Inclusive for everyone
Mr Peter Karlstromer, GN CEO, travelled from Denmark and said Auracast would make the world of sound inclusive for everyone. “We are at the forefront of bringing Auracast to hearing aid wearers so they can easily connect to and enjoy great sound no matter where they are.
“We are very proud to collaborate with the Sydney Opera House, National Acoustic Laboratories and Hearing Australia to enable Auracast and inclusive performances at this iconic venue. We hope it will encourage more to follow suit and enter the next era of connectivity; it’s time to get Auracast out to the world and make it standard across all industries.”
While telecoil did not provide the full experience or frequency range and was difficult to connect, Auracast provided hearing aid users the richest possible experience, he said.
Ms Janelle Ryan, Sydney Opera House senior manager impact access and operations, said the technology helped remove barriers to the arts and engage audiences more meaningfully.
“It literally took minutes to install compared to hearing loops that can take half a day, and didn’t interrupt the fabric of the building. It was extraordinary – almost plug and play,” she said.
“The community will come and drive a groundswell of support for more venues to have this technology.”
Opening the event, Ms Ingrid Dahl-Madsen, Danish Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, said she was excited to celebrate the new era which represented a significant leap in accessible listening globally and in Australia. She highlighted the connection between Denmark, a global leader in hearing technology innovation, and Australia, home to the Sydney Opera House, designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon.
During a panel discussion, Ms Emma Scanlan, Hearing Australia principal audiologist for adults, said Auracast was so important because it normalised hearing assistance for everyone and would enable people with hearing loss to access many more environments.
“It’s not all about speech, music has been one of the most difficult areas for people with hearing loss to engage with,” she said.
Dr Padraig Kitterick, NAL’s head of audiological science, said barriers to hearing affected every aspect of life but technology enabled people with hearing loss by giving them tools and teaching them to connect. Auracast was brilliant because it was universal and for everyone.
He said loops and telecoils were important to support speech and Auracast was not a replacement for telecoil, but it had a bigger range of benefits including music and high-quality low latency stereo stream.
Ms Noelle Chun, Google’s senior product marketing manager from the US, said it was committed to accessibility and some Android phones were now supporting Auracast. “The Auracast promise is huge for us and Android, and Google, hopes to introduce it to more phones,” she said.
Günsberg concluded: “It’s the dawn of a new era of accessibility.”
Read more
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