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Got odd ears? Don’t worry. NXT, which makes flat-panel loudspeakers, reckons
it can make headphones sound better for people whose left and right ears are
slightly different shapes. Conventional headphones use miniature pistons
enclosed in ear muffs. Because the sound pumps into the ear canal from a point
source, its quality varies considerably, depending on the shape of the ear and
the way the headphones are worn. NXT has designed small flat panels which cover
the entire outer ear (WO 00/46786). These flex to radiate sound diffusely. So
everyone hears the same sound, regardless of the shape of their ears.