cell_towerTesting Tomorrow’s Sound: The Auracast Trial
How Bristol hard-of-hearing advocates partnered with transport operators and manufacturers to pioneer Bluetooth LE Audio at Bristol Temple Meads.
September 2025 marked a watershed milestone for accessibility in Bristol. In partnership with the Severnside Community Rail Partnership and Jonathan Hoskin of Ampetronic Listen Technologies, a delegation from the Centre for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People tested a revolutionary assistive listening technology: Auracast™ broadcast audio.
The Challenge: Cavernous Railway Station Acoustics
Bristol Temple Meads is renowned for historic Victorian arches and massive echo reflections. Traditional PA announcements turn into a muddy roar for hearing aid wearers. Auracast bypassed the echo entirely by streaming pristine digital audio directly into trial receivers!
Securing Auracast hardware before mainstream market release required strategic community initiative:
NHS St Michael's Link
Sarah Swift, Head of Audiology at St Michael's Hill, connected our initiative directly with David from Danalogic (GN ReSound).
Trial Earsets & Smartphone
Danalogic loaned trial Bluetooth LE Audio hearing aids, and Ampetronic provided an Auracast broadcast transmitter and smartphone assistant.
Traditional T-Loops (Telecoil)
- Vulnerable to electrical 50Hz hum from lights and power lines.
- Requires expensive copper wiring under floors and carpets.
- Mono audio only with variable signal strength depending on head tilt.
Next-Gen Auracast™ LE Audio
- Crystal-clear digital stereo audio with zero electromagnetic buzzing.
- Unlimited simultaneous listeners with zero latency.
- Works on hearing aids, cochlear implants, AirPods, and standard Bluetooth earbuds!
The success of the Temple Meads trial has established Bristol as a flagship proving ground for broadcast accessibility:
Target Public Venues Across Bristol
We are actively collaborating with Bristol Beacon, Bristol Hippodrome, Ashton Gate Stadium, and Council public enquiry desks to support the transition to universal Auracast broadcasts over the next 24 months.