# Sound-Filtering Headphones CES 2017's Stages Listening Technology Offers Superior Audio Quality By Joey Haar | Published 2017-01-02 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/listening-technology References: [theverge](http://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2016/12/5/13841776/stages-hero-headphones-noise-cancellation-augemented-sound) & [stages.co](http://www.stages.co/) Stages patented listening technology represents what will surely amount to the next leap forward in [augmented hearing](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hearing-wearables). Showcased at CES 2017, Stages technology turns anyone into a supreme listener, allowing users to focus their hearing in different directions and even listen specifically for speakers, keywords and phrases. Interestingly, the technology comes embedded an array consisting of 8 microphones organized in a circular fashion in order to listen from a full 360 degrees -- an aspect no other product on the market current has. Stages developed two products with this technology: the Hero and Sidekick. The Hero is an advanced audiophile-quality, over-the-ear [noise cancelling pair of headphones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/epic-lux-lab-edition) with wired or wireless compatibility. The Sidekick is a [portable, rechargeable tabletop product](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cheero-kikiyasu-hearing-amplifier) that offers the same sound personalization as the Hero and is compatible with nearly all headphones/earbuds. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.0/10 - Popularity: 68% | Activity: 75% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Gadgets](https://www.trendhunter.com/gadgets) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Augmented Hearing:** Stages technology represents a disruptive innovation opportunity in the field of augmented hearing, allowing users to focus their hearing in different directions and listen specifically for speakers, keywords, and phrases. - **360-degree Listening:** The use of an array of 8 microphones organized in a circular fashion for full 360-degree listening presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for audio technology, providing a more immersive and customizable listening experience. - **Personalized Sound:** The development of Stages' Hero and Sidekick products, which offer personalized sound quality and compatibility with various headphones/earbuds, creates a disruptive innovation opportunity for the personal audio industry, catering to individual preferences and needs. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Audio Technology:** Stages' listening technology opens up disruptive innovation opportunities in the audio technology industry by offering advanced sound personalization and 360-degree listening capabilities. - **Wearable Technology:** The introduction of Stages' Hero headphones with augmented hearing capabilities presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the wearable technology industry, allowing for a more immersive and tailored audio experience. - **Consumer Electronics:** Stages' Hero and Sidekick products with their advanced audio quality and compatibility options create disruptive innovation opportunities in the consumer electronics industry by delivering personalized sound solutions for a variety of devices. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [AI Conversation Headphones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/proactive-hearing.md) - [Augmented Reality Headphones Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/augmented-reality-headphones.md) - [Ambient Noise-Filtering Wireless Earphones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/noisefiltering-wireless-earphone.md) - [Disruptive Headphone Technologies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/disruptive-headphone.md) - [Elevated Audio Product Lines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/innovative-audio-technologies.md) - [Room-Recreating ANC Headphones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wireless-anc-headphones.md) - [Wearable Private Media Hubs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/perisphere.md) - [Electrostatic Technology Audio Headsets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/audeze-crbn-electrostatic-headphones.md) - [Spatial Audio-Enhanced Wireless Headphones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/space-nc-zero.md)