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PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Clyne Media, Inc.
Tel: (615) 662-1616

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Immersive Audio for Hearing Care: Sonova’s Innovative Demo Shelter Powered by Genelec Smart IP

Natick, MA, February 10, 2026 — As a leading provider of cutting-edge hearing care technology, Switzerland’s Sonova has long been dedicated to enhancing quality of life through sound. Through its family of brands — Phonak, Unitron, AudioNova, Sennheiser, and Advanced Bionics — Sonova offers a comprehensive portfolio of hearing solutions, including personal audio devices, wireless communication systems, hearing aids, cochlear implants, and audiological services. This commitment takes the company to trade shows and exhibitions across the world, where it showcases the power and importance of high-quality hearing solutions. Live demonstrations of Phonak hearing aids are always a highlight at events such as the EUHA International Congress of Hearing Aid Acousticians, and now Sonova is taking these to the next level. A state-of-the-art Sound Demo Shelter powered by Genelec loudspeakers has revolutionised these demos to deliver a truly immersive sound experience. With their minds set on accurately replicating the experience of being hard of hearing, Sonova’s Hearing Performance Engineer, Fabian Hohl and his team set out to create a demonstration that would allow unimpaired listeners to understand the impact of hearing care solutions. “We previously tried to build a sound demo to simulate the experience, but it proved overly complicated,” says Hohl. “The stress of an event like EUHA is always high, so working night shifts every time to set up the live sound demo only added more pressure. We knew there had to be a better way — and that’s when the idea for the Sound Demo Shelter was born.” Purchased second-hand from the German army, a communications container allowed Sonova to put everything needed for a successful demo in one mobile space. “Once we had the container, our focus turned to audio,” Hohl continues. “When showcasing the features of hearing instruments, the quality of the sound is crucial. I was looking for a PoE solution that would be visually discreet and without lots of messy cables. If you look at the loudspeaker market, the only truly professional brand who offers this solution is Genelec with their Smart IP range.” To guarantee they were choosing the right loudspeakers for such a demanding project, Sonova contacted Genelec’s Swiss distributor, Arocom to provide a demo of Genelec’s Smart IP models. ‘After testing both the compact 4410 and the larger 4420 model, we opted for sixteen 4420 loudspeakers,” he states. “They were arranged inside the Sound Demo Shelter in two overhead circles of eight, mounted on the ceiling above two GRAS KEMAR mannequins, with a single 7360 subwoofer in the center.” GRAS KEMARs are the industry standard tool for acoustic research, simulating the experience of sound waves passing through the human ear. The two KEMARs are set up to highlight different features of the hearing aids, with visitors outside the container able to switch their headphones between the two in order to compare the audible benefit of each feature. “The two circles of 8x 4420s enable us to create an authentic 3D sound,” Hohl explains. “It’s powerful for showcasing how cutting-edge hearing aids handle real-world, spatially complex listening situations. The setup allows us to simulate experiences such as sound coming from multiple directions or group conversations." “Visitors experience a guided sound demonstration of how Phonak’s hearing aid features tackle real-world listening situations,” says Hohl. “Depending on the innovation of the solution, the listening experience may simulate different scenarios, such as at a restaurant or a party, streaming media, or in reverberant spaces." “The upgraded sound demo has helped build trust through self-experience as attendees can hear the difference and judge the impact of the innovation based on their acoustic impression,” he adds. “It’s the perfect tool for Sonova’s needs. We can take it wherever we need, whether it’s internal or external events, exhibitions, visitor or investor meetings.” For Sonova, this Sound Demo Shelter is far more than a showcase tool — it’s a dynamic, adaptable solution brought to life with Genelec loudspeakers and perfectly aligned with their mission to raise awareness and deepen understanding of hearing care solutions. Crediting the Smart IP loudspeakers for their unparalleled clarity and precision, Hohl concludes: “Audio allows visitors to engage with hearing aid performance in an environment that feels remarkably true to life — and with superior loudspeaker quality, we can recreate a natural soundscape that reflects the power of the technology Sonova offers.” For more information, please visit www.genelec.com.

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Photo file 1: Sonova_PR_Image_1.JPG Photo caption 1: Genelec Smart IP technology provides PoE-powered installation with uncompromising audio precision. Photo file 2: Sonova_PR_Image_2.JPG Photo caption 2: Sixteen Genelec 4420 Smart IP loudspeakers arranged in two overhead circles enable realistic 3D sound reproduction. Photo file 3: Sonova_PR_Image_3.JPG Photo caption 3: GRAS KEMAR mannequins simulate human hearing, allowing visitors to experience the impact of advanced hearing care solutions. Photo file 4: Sonova_PR_Image_4.JPG Photo caption 4: A second-hand communications container transformed into a fully mobile hearing demonstration space for exhibitions. PDF file: Sonova_Case_Study_Genelec_.PDF PDF caption: Genelec Sonova case study Genelec, the pioneer in Active Monitoring technology, is celebrating over 45 years of designing and manufacturing active loudspeakers for true and accurate sound reproduction. Genelec is credited with promoting the concept of active transducer technology. Since its inception in 1978, Genelec has concentrated its efforts and resources into creating active monitors with unparalleled sonic integrity. The result is an active speaker system that has earned global acclaim for its accurate imaging, extremely high acoustic output from small enclosures, true high-fidelity with low distortion, and deep, rich bass. Genelec is also marking its 20th year of Smart Active Monitoring™ technology, which allows studio monitors to be connected, configured and calibrated for the user’s specific acoustic environment. Each Smart Active Monitor or subwoofer is equipped with advanced internal DSP circuitry, which tightly integrates with the GLM (Genelec Loudspeaker Manager) software application, running on Mac or PC. GLM’s reference microphone kit allows the user’s acoustic environment to be analyzed, after which GLM’s AutoCal feature optimizes each Smart Active Monitor for level, distance delay, subwoofer crossover phase and room response equalization, with the option of further fine tuning by the user. By minimizing the room’s influence on the sound, Smart Active Monitors deliver an unrivalled reference, with excellent translation between rooms. Visit Genelec on social media: https://www.facebook.com/Genelec https://www.linkedin.com/company/genelec-oy https://www.instagram.com/Genelec_oy/ https://x.com/Genelec https://www.tiktok.com/@genelec_oy Other brand and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. —For more information on the complete range of Genelec Active Monitoring Systems, contact: Genelec Inc., 7 Tech Circle, Natick, MA 01760. Tel: (508) 652-0900; Fax: (508) 652-0909; Web: http://www.genelec.com/.