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DRAPER — This isn’t your grandpa’s hearing aid. Utah company Axil, through their ProSounds branch, developed a hearing protection and enhancement ear bud designed for anyone from seniors to hunters.
The Hear-2-Protect product has raised over $110,000 so far, more than 400 percent of their original goal on the crowdfunding site Indiegogo.
The Hear-2-Protect product is designed for consumers who suffer from some level of hearing loss as well as consumers who want to avoid loud noise settings.
“It is both recreational and industrial. The product can be used at concerts, auto racing, on an airplane, shooting, or while working construction. Small children to large adults and everyone in between can wear them all day long,” Prosounds President Weston Harris said.
Harris wants consumers of H2P to enjoy the outdoors more.
“Many people are looking for this type of solution," he said. "The few products before this have been very niche. This is the first product of its kind with superior digital technology and a comfortable modern design. It cuts out ambient sound, making the sound quality phenomenal.”
The H2P device hopes to not only attract consumers with its versatility, but also its price. According to Harris, it is more affordable than most hearing aid devices.
“Old-school hearing aids can cost more than $2,000,” he said.
H2P is currently sold for $299.
Harris said his team is the direct manufacturer of the original product with a new platform and new digital circuit.
“We wanted to maintain good quality and use technology advancements,” he said.
The device took six years to complete. Three prototypes were part of the preliminary process. His 12-member team hails from around the globe with engineers from Asia, Germany, and Minnesota working together on the device.
H2P was originally slated to be released in November, but because of its huge early success, the launch date has been moved to August.
“It is gratifying and rewarding for our whole team to see something you have poured your imagination, heart and soul into be validated in the marketplace,” Harris said. “It is the most successful campaign for any hearing enhancement ever.”
Born in Provo, Harris followed his father Robert Harris into the hearing enhancement business. He later branched out to his own hearing center and other hearing enhancement projects. He has also been a part of teams which introduced unique tech products for the outdoors including outdoor video and outdoor smart technology.
Carlos is a student at Utah Valley University and currently works as a news writing intern for KSL.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @Car1osBaquerizo or email him at carlosbaquerizo@ymail.com.
