Earbuds are intentionally worn with the controller on the left. OBST is designed to be worn with the earbuds reversed, so the in-line controller sits on your left rather than your right.
Here's the reason — along with where we are with our own custom OBST earbuds, which will solve this by design.
About OBST
OBST (Optimum Bio Sound Therapy) is an FDA registered Class I medical device delivering precision acoustic neuromodulation via the auditory pathway.
Why the earbuds are worn reversed
OBST sends a different signal to each ear, and the left and right channels are not interchangeable. The orientation of the earbuds determines which signal reaches which ear.
- The earbuds we currently supply are a standard consumer product, where the in-line controller naturally sits on the right
- Worn that way, the channels would be swapped and OBST wouldn't work as intended
- So they're worn the opposite way around — which is what places the controller on your left
That's the only reason for it — a deliberate, temporary trade-off while our own custom earbuds are in development.
Tip for a more comfortable fit
Because the earbuds are worn on the opposite side to their original design, the natural angle of the earpiece can feel a little off at first. A simple adjustment often helps:
- Once each earbud is in place, gently rotate it in the ear — up to around 90 degrees, in opposite directions for each ear
- This lets the earpiece settle more naturally into the shape of each ear canal
- Many users find this small adjustment makes the fit noticeably more comfortable, especially for longer or overnight sessions
Experiment gently to find the angle that feels best for you — there's no single "correct" rotation.
Why we started with off-the-shelf earbuds
We started with off-the-shelf earbuds so we could get OBST into people's hands quickly, rather than wait on custom tooling.
- It allowed us to make the technology available to users who needed it without long lead times
- It has enabled us to gather meaningful real-world feedback that informs our ongoing development
- The trade-off has been the slightly unintuitive orientation — which is what brings most users to this question
Our custom OBST earbuds
Our own custom OBST earbuds have been in active development and testing for over 24 months, working with established earbud manufacturers to refine the design specifically for OBST.
- We're now on our fourth round of sample testing
- We'll share more news with users as testing progresses
The custom OBST earbuds will solve the orientation question by design and improve the experience end-to-end:
- Controller placed on the correct side by design — no reversal required
- Improved form factor and comfort, particularly for longer and overnight sessions
- Hardware optimised end-to-end for the OBST signal
A final note
In the meantime, please continue wearing the earbuds with the controller on your left — this ensures OBST delivers the correct signal to each ear. If you have any questions about fit, orientation, or use, our support team is happy to help.