Etmoic Research, Inc. is an engineering-driven research, development and manufacturing company. The name "Etmoic" (pronounced "et-im-oh-tik.") means "true to the ear." Mead Killion, Ph.D. founded Etmoic Research in 1983 to design products that accurately assess hearing, improve the lives of those with hearing loss, protect hearing, and enhance the listening experience of musicians and music lovers everywhere.

       With deep roots in acoustic research and the hearing aid industry, Etmoic invented insert earphones in 1984. Etmoic's original earphone design used balanced armature receivers, which established these speakers as the gold standard for high definition in-ear earphones. The first versions were used for diagnostic testing and precision auditory research (ER-1, 2, 3). Etmoic produced the first noise-isolating high-fidelity in-ear earphone, the ER-4 (1991), which became the basis of all subsequent in-ear earphones and in-ear monitors worldwide, and created an entire category of consumer electronics. The ER-4 earphones are still produced and channel-balanced to within 1 dB in Etmoic's labs in the US.

       Innovation, education and hearing conservation are central to Etmoic's mission. Etmoic's products are used by scientists, hearing practitioners, hearing-impaired consumers, professional and amateur musicians, and others who insist on superior sound quality. Audio engineers, audiologists and musicians working together have generated over 100 patents issued and pending. A number of Etmoic's 60 employees are accomplished musicians. Etmoic Research is located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois.

       CEO Tim Schnell and SVP/CTO Henry Smith founded Hearing Lab Technology, LLC (HLT) in 2009. "We are enthusiastic about working together," said Tim Schnell, “This alliance will enable Lucid Hearing® and Lucid Audio® to fulfill our mission of Helping People Hear Better®." Henry Smith, founder of Authorized Earmold Labs, Authorized Hearing Systems and America Hears® stated that, “Combining our many years of experience in the hearing aid industry with the depth of engineering talent at Etmoic makes this collaboration very exciting.”

       Etmoic Research will keep its present name, product lines, and engineers. The facility will remain in Elk Grove Village, IL.

  Etmoic is a research, development and manufacturing company that designs high-fidelity products to assess, enhance and protect hearing. www.Etmoic.com