- GN, Hearing Australia, the National Acoustic Laboratories and the Sydney Opera House have collaborated to bring Auracast™ broadcast audio technology to the iconic venue – a world first for a major cultural institution.
- This ground-breaking innovation sets a global benchmark for accessibility in the arts, removing barriers for people with hearing loss.
- GN, the global innovation leader in hearing technology, has been working across the tech sector to ensure hearing aid users have early access to this breakthrough technology in venues globally.
SYDNEY, Australia – March 18, 2025 – Advanced accessibility technology is set to transform the listening experience at the Sydney Opera House for people with hearing loss following a collaboration between GN, Hearing Australia and the National Acoustic Laboratories.
Starting today, the Opera House has become the first global cultural institution to introduce Auracast™ broadcast audio, an audio innovation for live performances, into its venues for hearing aids users. The advanced assistive listening technology offers a superior sound experience via Bluetooth® Low Energy (LE) Audio and Auracast broadcast audio, a major step forward in removing barriers and achieving greater inclusion for the one in five people globally who live with hearing loss.
TV presenter Osher Günsberg, a hearing aid user, welcomed representatives from the audiology sector, the deaf and hearing loss community, as well as the media to the Opera House to experience the new technology with a live performance broadcast directly to hearing aids and earbuds.
The presence of representatives from Samsung Electronics, Google and the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) underscored the broad support for Auracast and its potential to enhance accessibility across a wide range of devices and platforms. These leaders 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 and available seating limited to areas with coverage.
Auracast provides access to high-quality broadcasts to listen to sound shared from a nearby transmitter through hearing devices to Auracast-compatible audio devices. GN has been working closely with technology companies for several years to ensure hearing aid end-users have early access to this breakthrough technology.
Peter Karlstromer, CEO of GN commented: “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.”
Hearing aid wearer Marian Jones stated: “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. 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.”
Janelle Ryan, Senior Manager Impact Access & Operations Sydney Opera House explained, “During our Decade of Renewal, we set out to improve accessibility at the Opera House and transform the live performance experience, inside and out. This exciting new technology builds on that momentum, helping us to remove barriers to the arts and engage more meaningfully with the audiences around us. It also moves us closer to our ambition of becoming Everyone’s House as we open up our venues to more of the community than ever before.”
The Sydney Opera House has permanently fitted its Western Foyer venues – including the Drama Theatre, Playhouse and Studio – with Auracast transmitters.
GN was the first hearing aid manufacturer to pioneer hearing aids that connect with Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast in 2023. The company has now integrated this technology across its entire new ReSound and Beltone portfolio and introduced an app-based Auracast assistant. Event attendees who do not wear hearing aids were able to experience Auracast using the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro.
The Auracast launch event opened with a keynote address by Ingrid Dahl-Madsen, Danish Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand and Ambassador designate to Fiji. Dahl-Madsen highlighted the significance of the moment – celebrating 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.
Find out more about Auracast™ broadcast audio here.
© 2025 GN Hearing A/S. All rights reserved. ReSound and Beltone are trademarks of GN Hearing A/S. The Bluetooth word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. The Auracast word mark and logos are trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
About GN
GN brings people closer through our leading intelligent hearing, audio, video, and gaming solutions. Inspired by people and driven by innovation, we deliver technologies that enhance the senses of hearing and sight. We help people with hearing loss overcome real-life challenges, improve communication and collaboration for businesses, and provide great experiences for audio and gaming enthusiasts.
GN was founded more than 150 years ago with a vision to connect the world. Today, inspired by our strong heritage, GN touches more lives than ever with our unique expertise and the broadest portfolio of products and services in our history – bringing people closer to what is important to them.
We market our solutions with the brands Jabra, ReSound, SteelSeries, Beltone, Interton, BlueParrott, Danavox, and FalCom in 100 countries. Founded in 1869, GN Group employs more than 7,000 people and is listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen (GN.CO).
Visit our homepage GN.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and X.
About Hearing Australia
Hearing Australia has provided expert hearing care to Australians for over 75 years, helping thousands of children, adults, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, pensioners and veterans stay connected with their families and communities every week. Now, more than ever, good hearing is important to keep in touch with loved ones and stay connected to the world around you. With more than 450 audiologists, we offer services through tele-services, online, in home and in centre across over 450 locations Australia-wide. Our goal is to keep you connected to the people and life you love. No matter your age, no matter your hearing need, we make hearing easier for everyone.
About National Acoustic Laboratories
NAL’s mission is to lead the world in hearing research and evidence-based innovation to improve hearing health and transform the lives of people with hearing difficulties. NAL’s team of world-class researchers and innovators focus on projects that deliver impact – centring the customer and their unmet needs through truly translational research.
About Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is the symbol of modern Australia. It is one of the world’s busiest performing arts centres, the nation’s premier tourism destination and an architectural masterpiece of the 20th century. A global beacon for creativity, it is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and its social value has been estimated by Deloitte at $11.4 billion. Its broad and diverse programming attracts audiences in person and online, with more than 16 million people attending performances and tours over the past decade. In its ambition to be Everyone’s House, the Opera House continues to evolve alongside the community it was built to serve
