Horizon Doom approaches earphone design through the relationship between sound reproduction and human hearing. HI-REALISTIC is the philosophy that guides this work.
Acoustic design from Japan.
01 / Listening
The aesthetics of natural sound
We begin with how people hear.
HI-REALISTIC is Horizon Doom’s sound philosophy and aesthetic standard. It considers both the reproduction of sound and the way a listener perceives it. Our aim is a listening experience that feels natural, comfortable and true to life.
A measured frequency response is an important part of acoustic design, but it does not describe the whole listening experience. We consider measurement alongside listening, paying attention to the character of an instrument, the movement of a musical phrase and the relationship between detail and the whole.
Natural sound is not simply a matter of making every detail more prominent. We seek to preserve the layers and texture of music so that notes, quiet passages and reverberation can form a coherent listening experience.
Pitch
The relationship between registers and the way a melody develops across them.
Timbre
The character of an instrument, from its initial attack to its resonance and overtones.
Dynamics
Changes in intensity, including the small variations that give a performance its expression.
02 / Acoustic design
Acoustic design, considered as a whole
The driver and the structure around it belong to the same design.
Our approach considers the driver, diaphragm, acoustic passages and housing together. The task is to relate these elements to the intended sound, rather than treating any one material or component as a complete answer.
The relationship between an earphone and the ear also matters. Housing geometry, sound passages and the treatment of air pressure are considerations in acoustic design, alongside frequency reproduction and listening comfort.
These considerations take different forms in different models. The acoustic construction and tuning of each product follow its listening purpose; a technology discussed in our research articles should not be assumed to apply to every model.
03 / Expression
Industrial design and artistic expression
Horizon Doom is a Japanese earphone brand centred on acoustic design.
Alongside sound, we consider the form, materials and visual expression of an earphone. These are connected aspects of a product: the way it is heard and the way it is encountered should share a clear direction.
Our interest in art grows from this relationship with music. Artistic expression gives us another way to explore the character of a work, while acoustic design remains the basis of the listening experience.
We do not ask every model to serve the same purpose. A reference sound and an approach dedicated to a particular instrument express different priorities. Each product’s introduction explains that direction and the listening it is intended for.
Products
The collection
From our reference sound to tuning dedicated to individual instruments, explore the approach and intended listening purpose of each model.
The complete articles on HI-REALISTIC, natural sound and acoustic research are available below. Open a title to read it here.
01
Welcome to HI-REALISTIC
Home
Welcome to HI-REALISTIC!
Challenging the conventional logic of high fidelity
Our philosophy is that high-fidelity audio is the entire auditory system’s true response to natural sound, including the central nervous system and the frontal lobe. Rather than simply reproducing any given sound frequency, we calibrate each frequency band and plan the whole according to the universal characteristics of the human auditory system, bringing an extraordinarily natural listening experience. Every note, whisper and echo reflects the complex layers and textures of the real-world soundscape, taking listeners into a world where sound is not only heard but also felt.
The foundation of every change
Distinctive acoustic technology and structures
Our brand uniquely optimizes cutting-edge audiophile technology and acoustic structural design to deliver an unparalleled audio experience. Our proprietary dynamic drivers, balanced armatures and frequency-response electrostatic drivers deliver accurate audio across a wider frequency range, with unparalleled clarity, detail and low distortion. Most importantly, these drivers provide ample headroom for precise control of sound performance.
Our earphones use an ergonomic design, with advanced technology in the acoustic ducts and chambers to enhance audio signals, while strategically positioned vents manage air pressure, reduce ear fatigue and provide a more natural listening experience.
More than music
Music and “you” together form a complete universe.
We collaborate with the Spanish art studio Gary&Wonka to bring technology and art together: sculptors design the exterior, painters create bespoke themed paintings, perfumers personalize the scent of each product, and art historians offer a comprehensive interpretation of our work. We invite you into a subtle sensory interaction with us; your participation creates the work’s final harmony and completeness.
02
The aesthetics of natural sound
The aesthetics of natural sound
We believe that high-fidelity audio is more than the reproduction of sound frequencies. Our approach to designing audio products is deeply rooted in a holistic understanding of the human auditory system. This view holds that true auditory satisfaction comes from the intricate interplay between the ears, neural pathways and the brain’s cognitive centers, including the frontal lobe. Recognizing the universality of human hearing, our designs employ not only state-of-the-art acoustic technology but also the nuances of auditory perception, ensuring that our products deliver an exceptionally natural and lifelike listening experience.
The human auditory system is a marvel, capable of processing everything from the softest whisper to the most complex musical composition. Its sensitivity to pitch, timbre and changes in dynamics informs our design strategy.
Every one of our products undergoes rigorous calibration based on biology to ensure that all frequencies harmoniously reflect natural hearing. Our designs consider the degree to which sound stimulates the nerves in different parts of the brain, aiming for a natural, beautiful and clear effect.
What is a natural listening experience?
It allows sound to become more than sensory input: a profound emotion. Every note, whisper and echo is carefully crafted to reflect the complex layers and textures of the real-world soundscape. This commitment to reproducing natural sound immerses listeners in a sonic world as close to reality as possible.
Our designs are based on the universal nature of human auditory perception. We strive to create products that not only reproduce sound but also evoke fragments of memory deep within the listener. In pursuing this aim, we continually innovate and improve our products, ensuring that each evolution brings us closer to a world in which sound is not only heard but truly felt.
03
Technology
Technology
Brilbell driver (Carbon Wind Chime driver)
Adding a diamond-like diaphragm to a driver unit is a major advance in acoustic technology, combining the traditional moving-coil (dynamic) design with the cutting-edge materials science of diamond-like carbon (DLC) compounds. This combination not only improves sound quality; more importantly, it offers the possibility of complete control over timbre!
The diaphragm is a principal component of an audio transducer. It operates through electromagnetic induction: a coil attached to the diaphragm moves in a magnetic field to produce sound. The diaphragm’s material and design are crucial to sound fidelity and range. Traditionally, diaphragms have been made from paper, plastic or metal alloys, but each material has limitations in hardness, durability and acoustic properties.
Diamond-like carbon coatings, or diaphragms made from diamond-like materials, promise to combine extremely high hardness and stiffness with extremely low mass—properties essential to high-fidelity sound reproduction. The principle behind using diamond-like materials is to make the diaphragm’s movement more precise and responsive, producing clearer, more delicate sound across a wider frequency range, particularly at high frequencies, where traditional materials may bend or resonate and cause distortion.
Diamond-like materials are known for their toughness and wear resistance, extending the service life of dynamic drivers under both normal and extreme conditions.
Although strong, diamond-like diaphragms are extremely light and require less energy to move. This helps improve the efficiency of the moving-coil mechanism and, in turn, the device’s overall energy efficiency.
Integrating a diamond-like diaphragm into a dynamic-driver assembly requires careful design adjustments to balance its stiffness and mass with the desired acoustic properties. We have carried out extensive research and development to optimize the diaphragm’s shape, thickness and connection to the coil.
Adapting a dynamic driver with a diamond-like diaphragm lies at the intersection of materials science and acoustic engineering. Although the cost and complexity of the material present challenges, its potential audio-performance advantages offer a promising path toward outstanding sound quality and durability.
Adaptive pressure
This technology is a major innovation in in-ear headphones, intended to unlock more of the transducer’s potential, further control sound and address the discomfort caused by pressure buildup in the ear canal.
It does not rely on electricity or additional drivers. This approach requires cuts and holes in the earpiece housing to achieve a natural balance of air and sound pressure within the ear canal.
The principle is to create a dynamic chamber structure that automatically balances air and sound pressure, passively adjusting air pressure according to sound-wave frequency and sound pressure, ensuring that users can fully enjoy accurate, natural sound during extended listening.
At the heart of development is the design of precisely cut small holes in the earphone housing, strategically positioned to enable passive airflow. This requires extensive acoustic modeling to understand the interaction between air and sound pressure in the ear canal.
Prototypes undergo rigorous testing to refine the size and position of the holes, ensuring the best balance between pressure equalization and sound quality. User feedback is an integral part of this iterative process, guiding our adjustments toward optimum comfort and sound quality.
We integrate this passive adaptive-pressure system into the earphones without compromising their appearance or functionality, ensuring that these changes have no impact on the user experience.
Dr. Julian Mendoza and his research on auditory-neural intervention
Dr. Julian Mendoza is a neuroscientist whose research interests in auditory processing and neurodegenerative diseases led him to explore the neuroprotective properties of sound.
Dr. Mendoza hypothesized that certain sound frequencies and patterns could enhance neuroplasticity and prevent cognitive decline. He focused on the potential role of stimulating acoustic frequency bands in the brain health of people at high risk of neurodegenerative diseases.
Dr. Mendoza conducted a comprehensive review of existing research on auditory stimulation, neuroplasticity and neuroprotection to identify areas in which innovative acoustic products could make a contribution.
Using advanced neuroimaging techniques and electrophysiological measurements, he tested the effects of different sound frequencies on brain activity in animal models and identified patterns that appeared to promote neural health and connectivity.
Dr. Mendoza worked with our acoustics team to develop a technological model that, through sound modulation assisted by an evoked-potential system, allows users to significantly alleviate depression or anxiety while enjoying music.
Magneto-Acoustic Resonance System (MARS)
The basic premise behind MARS derives from two scientific principles: the ability of sound waves to carry information and the potential for the human body to perceive magnetic fields, although usually at a subconscious level.
1. Sound-wave transmission: Sound waves are vibrations that travel through air (or another medium). The ears can receive them and convert these vibrations into signals the brain can understand. This principle is widely known and is the foundation of all acoustic technology today.
2. Magnetic-field perception: Certain animals, such as migratory birds and sea turtles, use the Earth’s magnetic field for navigation. Although humans do not naturally possess this perceptual ability, research indicates that the human brain can detect and respond to magnetic fields, though not consciously (Wang, C., Bao, L., Lockwood, M., et al., "Human brain wave patterns respond to changes in geomagnetic activity," Nature Scientific Reports, 2019).
Combining these principles, MARS can use optimization of the Brilbell driver to make magnetic-field changes in auditory signals particularly prominent, allowing listeners to perceive magnetic fields as part of the musical experience.
Just as high-fidelity audio and surround-sound systems enhance the depth and immersion of music listening, MARS can bring new emotional and sensory engagement to music through the perception of magnetic fields.
Research into music therapy shows substantial benefits for mental health, cognitive function and physical health. MARS technology can add a new dimension to this, using the potential effects of magnetic fields on the human body for therapeutic purposes, similar to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which is used to treat depression.
By adding a new sensory dimension to music, MARS can encourage a deeper understanding and appreciation of music, opening new avenues for creative expression and educational approaches that engage multiple senses.
04
Summary and disclaimer
A new definition of high fidelity! Ensuring that every melody is true and natural, evoking fragments of people’s memories.
Alleviating depression or anxiety by adjusting the onset rhythm of specific frequencies.
Automatically balancing air pressure and sound pressure for accurate, natural sound.
Traditional dynamic-driver form + “DLC”: achieving complete control over sound!
Encouraging a deeper understanding and appreciation of music by adding a new sensory dimension.
Disclaimer: This technology is still at the clinical experimental stage. Products incorporating this technology must not be used for medical purposes.
