Sound Bed or Vibroacoustic Technology?
April 1, 2025
By Kyel Godfrey-Ryan
We are often asked what is the TUNE? Why do your competitors use different words to describe the same thing? Why are you so much more expensive than the other devices in the market?
These are all great questions, let me break it down for you. As a starting off point, we call our technology a TUNE, sometimes referred to as a TUNE Bed, because it is a device that tunes the body. We worked with a team of neuro-aesthetic engineers with the goal of building an instrument to carry specific frequencies. Our technology is based on decades of research from a technology called Vibroacoustic Technology.
Here are some key takeaways when analyzing other products who use the term Vibroacoustic Technology (VAT):
Do their frequencies range from 5-20 hertz?
Do they have an open design, or is their device closed with the transducers fully encompassed
Are their compositions based off of a specific note/vibration?
If the answer is yes to any or all of the above, that is not VAT, nor is it related to the medical technology or research behind VAT. When you see a technology where the transducers are encased: that is called a Sound Bed.
Sound Bed
Sound Beds or Vibrational Beds have existed in massage practices for many years. They have small, palm-size transducers that emit single-note vibrations above 30 hertz and can aid in the relaxation response. They do not contain infrasonic wave ranges, which is a core component of VAT. Another requirement of VAT is the production of a clean tone, which is not possible when the transducers are encased in vinyl. Encasing a transducer turns it into a motor, losing its core function. Think of your speakers at home, are they wrapped in thick plastic? Of course not, because that would alter the sound quality and experience.
Magical Healing Note
The other aspect of Sound Beds that are differentiated from VAT is the concept of a single, magical note that produces a specific effect on the body. Though I am drawn to the concept of the ‘love frequency’ or a single ‘healing tone’, science, human biology and even the vibrational frequencies emitted from every carbon-based substance on the planet prove this is untrue. The concept of a magical single tone that can produce any transformational effect of the body is a myth.
Why I chose VAT as the basis for TUNE
When I began playing with the concept of TUNE in 2014, the world of Vibroacoustic Technology sat in two distinct categories; scientific or medical institutions and the spiritual healing community. I was first introduced to this technology in a functional wellness clinic in NYC. Since my first experience I have been dedicated to making this accessible, effective and efficient.
History of VAT
VAT originated from the medical community in a project with NIH and the Mayo Clinic. This technology was originally created to treat depression, though the medical trials quickly demonstrated that there were far more uses. There have been successful trials to reverse all five forms of PTSD, as well as replicated trials with its effects on Parkinson's, Dementia and neurodegenerative diseases. I learned that VAT is a common medical treatment in Finland and that Harvard was leading all cancer studies connected with VAT. Duke, Berkley and the University of Toronto have all built labs studying the effects of using the right vibrational sets to communicate with the body to produce the results of transformational change.
What I found most compelling was the frequency compositions and how specific, multilayered, frequencies produced clear, replicable results. I was interested in the power of the technology combined with the accessibility of the process, but my goal was to build a system to make everyday life easier. We were playing with different somatic therapies in my private practice at that point, but nothing rebalanced the nervous system like VAT. This was the beginning of creating medical-grade frequency sets, finding neural composers and designing a frame (the TUNE) that allowed for the most powerful, clean experience on the market.
Why does the TUNE cost so much?
The starting off point is the raw materials required to produce our frequencies ranges. There are only a few brands, globally, that even produce 5hertz transducers and amps, and only two of those are American companies. Our transducers are 10in in diameter and designed with massive magnets to produce the cleanest, strongest, infrasonic waves on the market. Our transducers produce frequencies that are so powerful they require a medical waiver.
100% of everything we use for the construction of the TUNE is made, assembled and designed in America. This is incredibly important to me and it's a non-negotiable. We hand build and calibrate every TUNE in a second generation woodworking facility in New England. The raw materials of our technical hardware, wood and cushions cost more than any competitor in the markets cost for their entire product.
TUNE is a product and a service. We have evolved and expanded to include a small computer in each TUNE that is connected to our fleet management system globally. We push self-healing software updates, upgrades and new content to the TUNEs regularly. This allows for detailed, customized experiences, one touch global updates and a dynamic, interactive journey for all of our end users.
TUNE v. Sound Beds?
I am thrilled that there are so many brands in the market today. When we first launched in 2017, we were the only mainstream brand, which meant I was required to create the entire lane. Much of my time those first 4 years entailed education of audiences around sound technology as a whole. I am incredibly proud that I have been part of the universal understanding today that: vibration is the language of the body.
I don’t see other products as competitors, even though I have used that phrasing here. The truth is, I am thrilled they exist and often recommend them. There is space for everyone, in fact, I am happy to see that as each year that passes, more brands enter this lane. It's exciting to witness so many brands bringing SoundsBeds into the mainstream; as they are a lovely technology that produce a pleasant experience.
TUNE is a technology that thrives in wellness/spa/fitness clubs, private clubs, hotel/retreats and in the enterprise space including medical/research facilities. The businesses that embrace TUNE the fastest are usually located in first and second tier cities with an audience whose goals include health and personal optimization. There are benefits from a single TUNE session, but transformation is only available when you incorporate tuning into your life with the same frequency as exercise.
