For the person who immerses their lifestyle in music, Comply™ foam tips, earphones and earbud enhancers transform the experience from ordinary to extraordinary. Our spirit is a passion for music and the people who want to feel it without interruption.

The patented technology behind Comply™ foam tips is unrivaled, combining engineering expertise of the ear canal with innovative memory foam technology to reduce ambient noise, improve sound quality and provide a comfortable stay in-ear fit. - Perfect for any active lifestyle. The devices are built from relentless research, with precise design and attention to detail.

Comply™ foam tips and Comply™ Whoomp!™ Earbud Enhancers are manufactured and sold by Hearing Components, a 3M spin-off founded in 1990 by biochemist Robert Oliveira. The technology was developed through several grants by the National Institutes of Health to improve and protect hearing.

In addition to applications in consumer electronics, the technology is currently used in hearing aids, military communication devices, commercial aviation, and earsets where communication is critical in industrial high noise environments. Hearing Components is located in the Twin Cities suburb of Oakdale, Minn.

Bob Oliveira, Ph.D., founded Hearing Components in 1990 and still serves as President and CEO. A biochemist and inventor, Dr. Oliveira leads a research team that has earned seven Small Business Innovative Research grants from The National Institutes of Health. His work: Define how ear canals work (activity and geometry) and create products to improve the physical fitting of earphones, communication devices and hearing aids.

From that research, Dr. Oliveira owns more than 15 patents, has published over 30 articles or chapters on topics related to the human ear canal, and presents on his research throughout the world. He has been an elected member of the Board of Directors of the Hearing Industries Association and the American Auditory Society. His background includes a doctorate in biochemistry from Iowa State University and post-doctoral work in bio/immunochemistry and aging at the Oak Ridge National Laboratories.

Dr. Oliveira worked at 3M for 18 years where he developed products in biochemical diagnostics and disposable surgical products. He led the Cochlear Implant business there for five years. In 1990, he spun Hearing Components out of 3M as a stand-alone independent business. Contact Dr. Oliveira at roliveira@hearingcomponents.com.

The patented technology has been applied to a number of consumer electronics products, to help listeners immerse themselves in the listening experience. The technology channels the pure sound into the ear canal while filtering unwanted noise. Comply™ products include:

Comply™ foam uses high-tech, viscoelastic polyurethane foam technology, which allows the ear piece to rest where it should be - in the ear canal, not over the ear. This passive noise reduction technology sends the pure music to the smaller space of the ear canal - without leaking bass and while sealing out unwanted noise.

Comply™ foam tips are 30 times softer than the silicone used on ordinary, factory-supplied ear buds. The foam tips literally go unnoticed when placed in the ear and all you're left with is a clear and crisp sound.

The moldable foam forms to the dynamic shape of the ear canal so that even while moving around, the foam tips remain in place.

In addition, the casings for the higher-end NR-1 and NR-10 headphones are sealed separately to ensure maximum performance. And unlike active noise reduction systems, no separate batteries are needed.

After receiving several grants for exploring the ear, Hearing Components understands the ins and outs of the ear canal. The National Institutes of Health has awarded more than 7 grants to Hearing Components to study the ear and how we hear, with the intent to improve and protect hearing.

Using laser scans, Hearing Components research shows that the ear canal shape and size varies when the position of the mouth changes. The main cause for physical fit problems or discomfort with custom made hearing devices is the ever-changing size of the ear canal as people move.

While conducting extensive research on noise reduction and the ear canal, Hearing Components began designing and manufacturing unique products to improve the sound quality of personal hearing devices.