Shure announced it is partnering with and becoming a minority investor in EDGE Sound Research, a start-up that is developing experiential audio technologies.

EDGE Sound Research was founded in 2019 by two University of California, Riverside students, Ethan Castro and Valtteri Solomaki. The pair used on Castro’s experiences as a hard-of-hearing music producer and engineer and Solomaki’s background in information systems and marketing strategies.

The two companies have already worked together on certain projects. Shure’s DCA901, an array microphone tailored for broadcast, used EDGE Sound Research’s Virtual Sound Engine.

“Through this partnership, Shure aims to leverage EDGE Sound Research’s groundbreaking developments to further its mission of delivering exceptional audio quality and innovation,” said Chris Schyvinck, president and CEO of Shure. “By combining Shure’s 100-plus years of expertise and market presence with EDGE Sound Research’s breakthrough technologies, this collaboration aligns perfectly with Shure’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of audio technology and creating extraordinary listening experiences.”

The companies plan to focus their collaboration on a few different groups. Sports leagues, with a focus on elevating audio performance to strengthen the value of media rights, broadcasters, in an effort to make audio stand out as a clear differentiation in subscription tiers, teams and venues, to evolve immersive storytelling environments and for fans, capturing the right mix of audio.

EDEG Sound Research has been working with the NBA, MLB and US Tennis Association to enhance their broadcasts for fans.

“We’re excited to be partnering with such an established audio leader like Shure,” said Valtteri Salomaki, co-founder and CEO of EDGE Sound Research. “The most iconic moments in history have been captured by Shure microphones, and we’re thrilled about the possibilities of creating the new generation of sound experiences.”