Products and Solutions
Pure-Tone Threshold (PTT) Test
Can you tell me more about the Pure-Tone Threshold (PTT) Test?
This test is modeled after the Békésy tracking procedure and lends itself particularly well for app-based mobile hearing tests, in part because it was designed as an automated test procedure for determining air-conduction thresholds in the first place. Accuracy was determined through diagnostic accuracy studies (DATs) run in our lab or in conjunction with various biotech and academic partners. DATs compare the test you are interested in to a gold standard under identical test conditions. We’ve also run studies to establish reliability. Efforts are currently in place to make accuracy, reliability, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) data more transparent through collaborations with various university medical centers with the intent of subsequently publishing the results in peer-reviewed journals. Some studies have already been published, such as this validation study by Yesantharao et al.(2022).
Can you explain how Mimi developed its hearing test and ensure its accuracy?
We have developed two tests, a pure-tone threshold and a masked threshold test, the premise of both of which are based on published literature and the scientific principles which underlie hearing testing in general. Everything we do at Mimi is done in a team approach, with hearing test technology and sound processing development driven by our research team. The team is a group of highly educated and talented individuals with PhDs or Masters spanning from Auditory Psychoacoustics, Audio Engineering, Data Science and Translational Neuroscience.
Is the Mimi Hearing Test reliable?
Under ideal test conditions and when used as intended, the tests provide accurate results. Our tests have been built and tested by both scientists and audiologists. The Mimi Hearing Test App offers a Pure-Tone Threshold (PTT) Test – a type of hearing test that uses an automated procedure modeled after the Békésy tracking method. This makes it especially suitable for app-based mobile hearing tests. Originally, it was developed to automatically determine how well you can hear sounds of varying pitches through air-conduction. The accuracy of the PTT test has been confirmed through accuracy studies conducted in our lab and with various partners. These studies compare the PTT test to a recognized standard under the same conditions. We have also conducted studies to verify the reliability of the test.The test meets the Consumer Technology Association/American National Standards Institute standard ‘Frequency Pure Tone Average Testing Methodology and Reporting Metrics for Consumer Facing Hearing Solutions’ (ANSI/CTA-2118).
Is the PTT Test certified?
From May 2024: The Mimi Hearing Test is no longer a CE-certified medical product (class 1) – based on the European Union’s regulatory framework. The current Mimi PTT Hearing Test follows the ANSI/CTA-2118 standard, employing the Four Frequency Pure-Tone Average Testing Methodology and Hearing Wellness Reporting Metric for Consumer-Facing Hearing Solutions.
How do I take the PTT Test?
Taking the PTT Hearing Test is straightforward and only takes a few minutes. Here’s how you do it:
Listen for the Tones: The app will play a series of beeps at different pitches and volumes. Every time you hear a beep, tap the screen. The tones start very softly and get louder until you can hear them.
Test Both Ears Separately: The test checks one ear at a time to see if there’s any difference in your hearing between the two.
Review Your Hearing Results: Once the test is complete, you will receive a detailed hearing profile. It will let you know if there are certain pitches you don’t hear as well and recommend ways to optimize your audio experience.
Sound Personalization
What is Mimi Sound Personalization?
When you use regular listening devices, most likely they will not meet the requirements of your individual hearing abilities. This is where Sound Personalization steps in. The goal of Sound Personalization is to overcome the one-size-fits-all agenda when it comes to personal audio devices. Mimi Sound Personalization tunes audio to your hearing abilities and preferences. After being guided through a quick hearing test, the technology restores detail, richness, and contrast of sound. It enables you to listen at a lower volume, without missing any details.
How does Mimi Sound Personalization work?
Mimi customizes your audio by assessing your hearing ability, either through a demographic estimation based on age, or through the result of a short hearing test. A unique hearing profile is then created based on your hearing ability. Mimi technology continuously analyzes and adapts the audio in real time. The software mimics the function of the healthy human ear and uses your unique Mimi hearing profile to emphasize the parts of the audio signal that are less pronounced for you.
How does Mimi sound processing work?
Mimi’s biologically inspired and complex signal processing solves problems an EQ cannot. The technology provides a real-time simulation of the human ear, and only those frequencies you are not able to hear are unmasked. The processing naturally restores detail, richness, and contrast of sound.
What is the difference between Mimi Sound Personalization and a regular Equalizer (EQ)?
You could also use the Equalizer (EQ) on your device to manually adjust settings like treble, mids and bass, but these parameters are often too superficial and limiting. These chosen settings do not give an indication if you are experiencing the best sound for you and your hearing ability, and are not adaptive to your listening behavior.
Mimi’s biologically inspired and complex signal processing solves problems an EQ cannot.
Years of scientific research went into our dynamic multiband compression system which is backed by several patents and corroborated by a series of publications. In order to properly parametrise our processing system we have researched and developed a fitting paradigm that is based on the well-researched loudness restoration concept and uses the output of our hearing testing as a foundation to compensate for each individual’s hearing loss.
While it has been well proven that sensori-neural hearing loss is fundamentally non-linear, still many solutions on the market try to address compensation by applying linear signal amplification (EQ-based). Although this creates an initially noticeable effect, merely applying static linear gains on the signal will rather contribute to a further deterioration of the user’s hearing and also not account for the complex interaction of the mastered streamed audio signals with the listeners hearing system.
Both internal and external studies, as well as countless reviews of our in-the-market products, have proven the effectiveness of our system to help people hear previously lost details of the signal and experience a wider and more immersive sound with Mimi
Why can it sound louder when listening with Mimi Sound Personalization?
With Mimi processing, you can hear details in the sound that may not have been inaudible before, which results in a richer audio experience. Mimi’s processing is a non-linear dynamics processor which utilizes loudness, psychoacoustics, and equalization (colouration) to overcome any potential difficulties associated with hearing loss. The non-linear nature of the processing means that some parts of the signal will be higher in intensity, while other pieces are reduced. The resulting signal will sound fuller, and more detailed, while reducing the peak intensity of the signal.
Voice Clarity
What is Mimi Voice Clarity?
Mimi Voice Clarity is an AI-powered voice enhancement solution that helps you have clearer conversations. It preserves important speech, like announcements or people speaking to you, while reducing distracting background noises such as wind, traffic noise, babble noise (many people talking simultaneously), keyboard clicks, and construction sounds.
What types of products can integrate Mimi Voice Clarity?
Mimi Voice Clarity is designed for integration into True Wireless Earbuds (TWS), Open Wireless Stereo (OWS), Over-The-Ear headphones (OTE).
What devices does Voice Clarity work on?
You can use Mimi Voice Clarity with Mimi-enabled True Wireless Earbuds (TWS), Open Wireless Stereo (OWS), or Over-The-Ear headphones (OTE).
What are the benefits of using Mimi Voice Clarity?
With Mimi Voice Clarity, you’ll experience clearer speech and improved communication, especially in noisy environments. Whether you have mild-to-moderate hearing loss or not, the intelligent sound processing helps you hear everyday conversations and important audio cues more easily.
Will this work if I have hearing loss?
Mimi Voice Clarity is especially helpful for users with mild to moderate hearing difficulties.
Dialogue Focus
What is Mimi Dialogue Focus?
Mimi Dialogue Focus is an AI-powered solution that separates dialogue from background noise in media applications, improving dialogue clarity without raising the overall volume.
How does Mimi Dialogue Focus work?
Mimi Dialogue Focus works by isolating the voice content into a separate audio stream, which is then mixed with the original signal. To enhance dialogue clarity, the original audio is attenuated while the voice stream is amplified. This significantly improves speech intelligibility, especially in complex or noisy sound environments, while preserving the quality of the original recording. You can also choose from different predefined intensity levels to find the balance that best suits your listening needs.
When should I use this product?
You can use this feature when you're struggling to understand the dialogue when watching TV or any streamed media.
Mimi for Headphones
Which headphones or earbuds are compatible with Mimi?
You can find a full list of Mimi-enabled devices on our Partners page.
Do I need to download an app to use Mimi on my headphones?
Yes, you’ll need the companion app for your Mimi-enabled headphones to set up and use Mimi.
Can I use my Mimi account across multiple headphones?
Yes, you can log in with your Mimi account on any pair of Mimi-enabled headphones.
Can I change or update my hearing profile after I have taken the first test on my headphones?
Yes, you can retake the hearing test in the headphone companion app at any time and update your profile as needed.
What happens if I don’t create a hearing profile on Mimi-enabled headphones?
You can still use your headphones as normal,, but you won’t benefit from Mimi’s personalized sound or voice clarity features.
Mimi for TV
What is Mimi Sound Personalization for TV?
Mimi Sound Personalization is a technology that adapts the audio signal of the TV in real time to the user’s hearing ability. It restores details in the audio signal that would otherwise not be heard by users with less-than-perfect hearing, so that they hear more and experience better sound.
Why is Sound Personalization a great feature to have on my TV?
Mimi enhances the TV viewing experience. When Mimi is activated you may find it easier to understand dialogue, and background sounds or music become more audible.Individual sounds are also easier to distinguish within complex audioscapes. This is particularly great for movies where you can have a lot of different sounds in a single scene, or when watching sports, where you have a commentator, the crowd, and the players.With Mimi these details are all much easier to hear, which makes the experience much more immersive and enjoyable.
How does Mimi Sound Personalization cater for people of different hearing abilities viewing together?
Mimi Sound Personalization provides the most benefit for people with less-than-perfect hearing. In viewing scenarios where users have varying hearing abilities, Mimi is always best applied for the viewer with the greatest degree of hearing impairment.Mimi would always advise users to create a profile based on a hearing test to determine hearing ability, however in the absence of this a demographic user profile should be created based on the age of the oldest person viewing. As we age our hearing ability degrades, therefore catering to the likelihood of the oldest viewer having the poorest hearing ability, will provide the best overall experience for all viewers.People with hearing impairment often increase volume levels in an attempt to hear more, which can lead to an uncomfortable viewing experience for those with normal hearing. Mimi restores detail and improves clarity, even at lower volume levels, while intensity can be adjusted from entirely transparent, through to strong, as required.Enabling Mimi to cater for the lowest hearing ability will ensure the most comfortable and optimised viewing experience for everyone.
How do I test my hearing and set up my hearing profile on the television?
There are three options to set up your hearing profile on your TV:
1. TV Hearing Test
2. Create your Hearing ID with a short hearing test on the Mimi Hearing Test App. The Mimi Hearing Test is intuitive and easy to use. It measures your hearing ability at different frequencies to create your personal Mimi Hearing Profile. Once completed, you can then add your hearing profile to the television, to personalize all sound in real time. Temporarily unavailable: The hearing profile can be added to the television with a QR code, which will sync your Hearing Test app with the TV.
3. Based on your year of birth.
What are the benefits for my television viewing experience?
The area of hearing ability that typically deteriorates first is the perception of high pitched tones. The adaptation processes of the ear to the hearing situation also become less effective and with it, the accuracy of hearing. For example, music sounds blurred and less brilliant, and details of voice conversations are lost.Mimi Sound Personalization compensates for this less-than-perfect hearing and adapts your TV's audio to your hearing ability. Instruments become more distinguishable and dialogue clearer, for a better and more enjoyable sound experience. You will also hear more details at a lower volume, thereby protecting against over-exposure to noise that can affect long term hearing health. For spoken content, Mimi caters specifically for frequencies found in the speech range, optimizing the TV’s audio to deliver the maximum information to the brain for increased understanding. This results in increased speech clarity and improved intelligibility.
Mimi for Gaming
How do I set up Mimi Sound Personalization on my gaming headset?
To set up Mimi Sound Personalization, download the headset's companion app on your smartphone or computer. Follow the in-app instructions to take a brief hearing assessment. Once completed, the app will create your personalized sound profile, which will be automatically applied to your headset for a customized audio experience.
Can I adjust or update my sound profile after the initial setup?
Yes, you can update your sound profile at any time. Simply retake the hearing test in the companion app, and the new profile will be applied to your headset. This is helpful if you notice changes in your hearing over time or want to fine-tune your audio preferences for different gaming experiences.
Is Mimi Sound Personalization suitable for all types of games and audio content?
Yes, Mimi Sound Personalization is designed to improve audio across a wide range of content, including first-person shooters, RPGs, and even streaming music or movies. The personalized sound profile enhances clarity, spatial awareness, and detail, providing a more immersive experience regardless of the type of content you’re engaging with.
Will using Mimi Sound Personalization impact my headset's battery life?
While Mimi Sound Personalization processes audio in real-time, the impact on your headset’s battery life is minimal. The personalization technology is optimized for efficiency, so you can enjoy enhanced audio quality without significantly draining your headset's battery.
Mimi for Chrome
What is the Mimi Chrome Extension?
In a world of one-sound-fits-all, we asked, ‘What if we could make personal sound accessible for everyone?’ Mimi for Chrome was our answer! We have taken the power of our patented testing, fitting, and audio processing technology and packed it into a sleek easy-to-use browser extension. Crafted by the team behind the #1 hearing test app, this extension tunes sound to your unique hearing. Whether you're an audiophile, deal with hearing impairment or seek richer audio, experience full-range frequencies and details without increasing volume.
Who benefits from using Mimi Chrome Extension?
Mimi Chrome Extension is a game-changer for individuals with mild hearing impairments, offering an inclusive way to enjoy personalized media content without specialized hardware. But it's not just for them - anyone can elevate their audio experience with Mimi’s cutting-edge technology.
How do I install the Mimi Chrome Extension?
Step 1: Install
Open Chrome Web Store and add the Mimi extension to your browser. Pin it for quick access.
Step 2: Quick Start
Select your year of birth and get an age-based demographic personalization.
Step 3: Login
Take a hearing test and create your Hearing ID, or log in with your existing Mimi profile.
What are the benefits of using the Mimi Chrome Extension
Your browser audio personalized to you at low effort.
Experience the full range of frequencies and details without turning up the volume.
More immersive audio for music, movies, and game
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