Audio Foundry is enhancing its automotive audio technology ecosystem by collaborating with Hear360, a California-based spatial audio company founded by Grammy-winning engineers Matt Marrin and Greg Morgenstein. This partnership was announced at a recent event in San Rafael, CA, where the latest automotive prototypes were also showcased following their presentation at the 2026 AES International Automotive Audio Conference in Detroit.
The event on September 24, part of the 3rd San Rafael Hardware Meetup, brought together local audio engineering and hardware professionals for demonstrations and discussions about ongoing projects. Here, Audio Foundry introduced Hear360 as the latest member of its technology collective.
Modern automotive audio systems are shifting toward advanced spatial reproduction, personalized listening areas, and more speakers, often using headrest and near-field transducers. Hear360’s expertise in spatial rendering and professional audio can be effectively applied to these complex cabin designs.
Hear360’s Spatial Audio Engine can render not only stereo but also multi-channel and object-based audio without being linked to any specific codec or delivery format, allowing for personalization for each listener. This technology is designed to work with various hardware and content, making it adaptable across different product architectures.
Previously, Hear360 has expanded its reach from professional audio to product development in sectors like headphones, gaming, and inflight entertainment. Their spatial processing has been integrated into Sonical’s CosmOS headphone OS and has also been used by HP/HyperX for gaming peripherals, enhancing individualized audio experiences.
Marrin and Morgenstein contribute significant industry knowledge, with backgrounds as recording and mixing engineers for major artists, bringing that studio expertise into product development for automotive audio.
Founded in 2023, Audio Foundry now operates facilities in both Wales and California, focusing on integrating various audio technologies for assessment and innovation in automotive audio systems. Their recent demonstrations featured vehicles like the Volvo EX90 and Karma Revero, combining contributions from technologies involved in spatial audio processing, immersive audio architecture, and more.
With Hear360 joining, Audio Foundry is poised to explore profound advancements in spatial rendering and personalized audio experiences within vehicles, contributing to the growing complexity of automotive audio technology.
For more information, visit Audio Foundry and Hear360.
