A Closer Look at Denon’s Acquisition of Nura and the Launch of Denon PerL and PerL Pro Headphones

Introduction

Startups often face a silent fate, being acquired by larger companies and eventually disappearing into obscurity. The same fate befell nura, an innovative Australian firm that recently became a part of the audio brand portfolio of Masimo, the Southern California medical device company. This acquisition is part of Masimo’s strategy to expand its own arm of audio brands, having previously acquired well-known companies like Bowers and Wilkins, Polk Audio, and Denon. While the Nura brand has disappeared, its technology and engineering talent now support Masimo’s Adaptive Acoustic Technology (AAT) platform. This article explores the details of this acquisition and the subsequent launch of Denon’s PerL and PerL Pro headphones.

The Acquisition of Nura by Masimo

The acquisition of nura by Masimo came as a surprise to many in the industry. Masimo had been steadily acquiring renowned audio brands, but their acquisition of nura marked a distinct move into the technology and engineering talent space. nura’s unique technology and engineering expertise were seen as valuable additions to Masimo’s AAT platform, which focuses on adaptive sound technology. The COO of nura, Blair Tripodi, explained that the acquisition was primarily aimed at bolstering Masimo’s AAT platform by bringing in talented engineers.

Initially, the acquisition was positioned as a partnership between nura and Denon, one of Masimo’s audio brand subsidiaries. However, the acquisition resulted in the disappearance of the nura brand. Tripodi mentioned that a Denon product with Masimo AAT was expected to be released in mid-2023. The AAT platform inherited the legacy of the nura platform and continued to develop under the new name.

Denon PerL and PerL Pro Headphones

Recently, Denon, under the umbrella of Masimo, announced the launch of their first product resulting from the acquisition of nura. The Denon PerL and PerL Pro headphones bear a striking resemblance to nura’s True headphones, bringing relief to fans of the previous brand. The name “PerL” is a combination of “personalized” and “listening,” which pays homage to nura’s custom sound profiles that set their products apart from others in the market.

Both PerL and PerL Pro are fully wireless headphones that rely on the Denon PerL Headphone app to create personalized sound profiles. The headphones also feature active noise cancellation, with the Pro version equipped with eight microphones and the regular PerL version featuring four microphones to enhance sound blocking capabilities. According to Masimo, the PerL Pro headphones provide a streaming experience similar to listening to a CD, thanks to their advanced Bluetooth technology. The headphones also create a surround sound effect, enhancing the overall audio experience.

The Denon PerL and PerL Pro headphones are available for purchase on the official Denon website. The regular PerL version is priced at $199, while the Pro version is priced at $349. These headphones have been highly anticipated by audiophiles and fans of nura’s technology, as they combine the best elements of both brands while incorporating advancements in sound technology.

Expanding on Adaptive Acoustic Technology

Masimo’s acquisition of nura not only brought the AAT platform under its umbrella but also opened up new possibilities for the development of adaptive sound technology. The AAT platform leverages the expertise of nura’s engineers to deliver personalized sound experiences. By incorporating AAT into the Denon PerL and PerL Pro headphones, Masimo is showcasing its commitment to innovation and enhancing the audio quality of its products.

Adaptive Acoustic Technology involves the use of advanced algorithms and machine learning to personalize sound profiles for each listener. It takes into consideration factors such as hearing sensitivity, ear shape, and personal preferences to optimize the audio experience. With the integration of AAT into the Denon PerL headphones, users can expect a truly immersive and tailor-made sound experience like never before.

In addition to personalized sound profiles, the Denon PerL and PerL Pro headphones also offer high-fidelity audio streaming. Unlike standard Bluetooth technology that compresses and decompresses audio during wireless streaming, the PerL Pro headphones provide a streaming experience similar to listening to a CD. This means that users can enjoy high-quality streaming sources with excellent audio fidelity. The compact and comfortable design of these wireless headphones further enhances the overall audio experience, making them a top choice for discerning listeners.

Conclusion

The acquisition of nura by Masimo and the subsequent launch of the Denon PerL and PerL Pro headphones demonstrate the advancement of adaptive sound technology and personalized audio experiences. Masimo’s integration of nura’s technology and engineering talent into their AAT platform has resulted in headphones that provide a unique blend of personalized sound profiles, high-fidelity streaming, and active noise cancellation. With their commitment to innovation, Denon continues to push the boundaries of audio technology, setting new standards in the industry.

Summary:

The innovative Australian firm nura, known for its custom sound profiles, was acquired by Masimo, a Southern California medical device company with a growing audio brand portfolio. Despite the disappearance of the nura brand, its technology and engineering talent now support Masimo’s Adaptive Acoustic Technology (AAT) platform. Under the Denon brand, Masimo recently launched the PerL and PerL Pro headphones, which offer personalized sound profiles, active noise cancellation, and high-fidelity streaming. These headphones mark a significant advancement in adaptive sound technology and provide a unique audio experience. The integration of nura’s expertise into the AAT platform showcases Masimo’s commitment to innovation.

nura suffered the same silent fate as countless startups before it. The innovative Australian firm was actually acquired by Masimo, which has been amassing its own arm of audio brands. The Southern California medical device company previously bought numerous household names, including Bowers and Wilkins, Polk Audio and Denon.

Unlike those companies, however, the Nura brand has disappeared as a result. COO Blair Tripodi told me in April, “Nura was a technology addition and an acquisition and hire of engineering talent to support Masimo’s Adaptive Acoustic Technology (AAT) platform.”

The deal was initially positioned as an outward-facing partnership, with a press release titled “Nura joins forces with Denon.” He didn’t offer much information about the acquisition, but highlighted “a Denon product with Masimo AAT, expected mid-2023.” AAT, the new name of the Nura platform, is already in force.

Meanwhile, the first product was announced earlier today. The Denon PerL and PerL Pro bear more than a passing resemblance to the Nura True, which may come as a relief to Nura fans. Meanwhile, the strange name is a partial mixture of “Bysonalized” and “Llistening,” an obvious reference to Nura’s (now Denon’s) custom sound profiles, which made the products stand out in a sea of ​​equal headphones.

Both headphones are fully wireless and rely on the Denon PerL Headphone app to create custom profiles. Both also feature active noise cancellation, via the Pro’s eight-microphone feature to PerL’s four, which should improve sound blocking. Masimo also says the following about the Pro,

While standard Bluetooth technology compresses and decompresses audio during wireless streaming, the Denon PerL Pro headphones provide a streaming experience similar to listening to a CD. This means that users can enjoy high-fidelity streaming sources with excellent audio fidelity. PerL Pro also creates a surround sound effect that enhances the overall audio experience in a compact and comfortable wireless headset design.

You can buy PerL and PerL Pro for $199 and $349, respectively, via Denon’s site.