HUB: Home Audio Streaming Innovation

Watching HD TV using wireless headphones doesn’t always provide users with the best sound quality. US-based inventors found a solution to combine high-resolution and wireless audio in one product design. HUB, by ekko is a Wi-Fi audio hub for headphones and speakers that lets users simultaneously listen to the same audio source and independently control their volume. This innovative system uses its own ultra-low latency network to transmit sounds.

Innovation for a New Sound Experience

The circle-shaped devices are called “plucks” and function as wireless receivers. Each user can pick one pluck and connect it to any type of headphones. For a better user-experience the developers made it possible for each user to manage their own volume. HUB is an innovation that performs at a high level in terms of sound quality, offering a resolution sound of 96 kHz / 24-bit audio. Wi-Fi technology allows for a higher quality sound and a longer range compared to Bluetooth or other technologies.

“We wanted to give people watching high-definition movies the choice to also enjoy high-resolution, wireless audio using any pair of headphones. WAV and FLAC lossless audio formats are becoming more popular as well, and we wanted to preserve the fidelity of the sound if they chose to go wireless” say Ekko co-founder Sean Murray.

HUB doesn’t need a Wi-Fi router to function as it creates its own Wi-Fi network. The base station connects to any audio source and streams the sound to both headphones and powered speakers or stereo system. HUB is compatible with streaming media apps too. Ekko’s innovative system is fully controllable through its mobile application for both iOS and Android. Users will be able to listen to their favorite music or watch movies for up to 4.5 hours until the battery needs to be charged on the base station. The base station can stream to up to 10 sound pucks, providing users with a unique sound experience. The design of the device is elegant, modern and sleek; it blends in with other home items. The industrial design comes in two versions:  HUB mini, including two pucks and the HUB with four.

HUB’s debut on Kickstarter has been very positive so far as its campaign has already been fully funded. We are truly inspired by inventors who develop products such as HUB that aim at providing users with the best quality and the most unique experience possible.

About: MAKO Design + Invent is the original firm providing world-class consumer product development services tailored to startups, small manufacturers, and inventors. Simply put, we are the leading one-stop-shop for developing your physical product from idea to store shelves, all in a high-quality, cost-effective, and timely manner. We operate as one powerhouse 30-person product design team spread across 4 offices to serve you (Austin, Miami, San Francisco, & Toronto). We have full-stack in-house industrial design, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, patent referral, prototyping, and manufacturing services. To assist our startup and inventor clients, in addition to above, we help with business strategy, product strategy, marketing, and sales/distribution for all consumer product categories. Also, our founder Kevin Mako hosts The Product Startup Podcast, the industry's leading hardware podcast. Check it out for tips, interviews, and best practices for hardware startups, inventors, and product developers. Click HERE to learn more about MAKO Design + Invent!