OceanEar turns ocean sound into spatial 3D audio experiences using HRTF technology. It provides live hydrophone listening and immersive binaural recordings for iPhone.

HRTF (Head-Related Transfer Function) is a technology that simulates how your ears perceive sound in 3D space, making underwater audio feel natural and immersive.

What equipment do I need?

You need an OceanEar hydrophone kit (includes hydrophone, USB-C cable, and app) and an iPhone with Bluetooth earbuds for the spatial audio experience.

Where are the hydrophone recordings made?

OceanEar recordings are made in the waters around Wellington, New Zealand, including Port Nicholson, Ōwhiro Bay, and the South Island coast.

How does live hydrophone listening work?

OceanEar's app connects to a hydrophone via USB-C and streams real-time underwater audio to your iPhone, processed through HRTF for spatial positioning.

Listen.The ocean has a soundtrack.

Live binaural hydrophone audio, in your headphones.

Reserve Kit See how it works ↓

OCEAN EAR

HYDROPHONE · Wellington

Headphones on. Tap play. Don't skip this.

VOL

Live

Real-time.
Real direction.

Live hydrophone audio, binaural-rendered in real time. Head-tracked, so the source stays put when you move.

Live monitoring Head-tracked 2-channel stereo

Record

Record it. Export it.
Drop it in your DAW.

Raw stereo or binaural render. WAV or AAC. GPS, timestamp and notes baked into every file. No conversion, no plugins, no laptop on the boat.

AAC export GPS metadata Stereo width control

Bonus

Or just listen.

Ambience mode turns the live hydrophone into a generative soundscape. Run it through a speaker at home, the studio, the bach.

Specs

Built for the field.

No conversion, no plugins, no laptop. Just plug in.

Phone	iPhone 12 or later · iOS 17+
Connection	USB-C, class compliant
Recording	AAC (M4A container)
Sample rate	48 kHz
Channels	2-channel stereo
Spatial	Binaural render with head-tracking
Metadata	GPS, timestamp, notes per file
Hydrophone spec	on request

Full hydrophone datasheet on request. hello@oceanear.co.nz

Early Access

Want to hear it
for yourself?

First batch ships from Wellington. App invite goes out as soon as your spot opens.

OceanEar Kit, hydrophone, USB-C cable, app on iPhone, Bluetooth earbuds

$449 NZD EARLY BIRD · LOCKED IN

No payment now. We'll send a payment link when your kit ships.

Includes Hydrophone · USB-C Adapter · OceanEar App (TestFlight)

🌊

You're on the list.

We'll send your TestFlight invite when your spot opens up.

Limited first batch · Built in Wellington · Ships internationally