What Cetacean Research Technology does

Cetacean Research Technology, operating as CetResTec, LLC since 1994, is a privately held Golden, Colorado-based manufacturer of underwater acoustic instrumentation — principally hydrophones, hydrophone systems, and autonomous digital recorders — for the marine bioacoustics and underwater sound monitoring markets. The company designs proprietary transducer products across multiple product families (CR1A/CR2/CR3, C56/C57/C75/C305, SQ26 series) spanning infrasonic to ultrasonic frequency ranges with depth ratings up to 2,000 meters, plus the RUDAR family of self-contained autonomous recording devices (nRUDAR-mk2, uRUDAR-mk2, full RUDAR). It bundles these sensors with third-party signal analysis software (SpectraPLUS via Pioneer Hill Software) and a custom data acquisition interface (SpectraDAQ-200) to offer complete sensor-to-analysis workflows.

The company serves a horizontally segmented customer base spanning research and academic institutions (Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of Pavia Center for Bioacoustics), government and military (US Navy), media production (National Geographic Television, Oceanic Preservation Society for the Academy Award-winning documentary The Cove), commercial whale watching operators worldwide, industrial and engineering firms conducting underwater noise compliance monitoring, and recreational/educational users. Revenue is generated through direct hardware sales via the company's website and quote-based direct sales, supplemented by consulting services for custom system design (e.g., The Whale Museum junction box). Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and the business operates with 1-10 employees, no external institutional funding, and a founder/owner-operated structure.

Name

Cetacean Research Technology

Legal name

CetResTec, LLC

Website

https://cetaceanresearch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cetacean Research Technology, founded 1994 in Golden, Colorado, designs and sells hydrophones, hydrophone systems, and autonomous underwater acoustic recorders to research institutions, government/military, media producers, industrial noise monitors, and whale watching operators worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Underwater Acoustic Sensors (Hydrophones)

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Sonar, Undersea Sensors & Acoustic Detection Systems (IMABAGAD)

Keywords

• Underwater acoustic sensors
• Hydrophone systems
• Marine bioacoustics equipment
• Autonomous underwater recorders
• Underwater sound monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Golden

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Hydrophone Hardware Sales: Sale of individual hydrophones and hydrophone systems including sensors, preamplifiers, cables, and accessories for underwater sound recording applications.
2. Signal Analysis Equipment: Sale of signal analysis software (SpectraPLUS variants), data acquisition interfaces (SpectraDAQ-200), and related signal processing equipment.
3. Consulting Services: Consulting services related to underwater acoustics, bioacoustics instrumentation, and custom system design such as the custom junction box for The Whale Museum.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cetacean Research Technology designs, manufactures, and sells hydrophones, hydrophone systems, autonomous underwater acoustic recorders (RUDAR series), and associated signal analysis tools for underwater sound and bioacoustics applications. The company offers complete end-to-end systems spanning sensors, preamplifiers, recording devices, and analysis software for marine mammal research, commercial whale watching, industrial noise compliance monitoring, and educational use.

Product overview

Cetacean Research Technology provides underwater and bioacoustics instrumentation and consultation services since 1994. The product portfolio centers on hydrophones and hydrophone systems, ranging from individual hydrophone components (CR1A, CR2, CR3, C57, C75, C56, C305, SQ26-08, SQ26-01) to complete integrated systems (SQ26-H1, CR1-UDP, C57-PAS for whale watching; RUDAR, nRUDAR-mk2, uRUDAR-mk2 for autonomous recording). The company also offers signal analysis tools including SpectraPLUS software and SpectraDAQ-200 hardware, plus a comprehensive range of accessories including preamplifiers (ART USB Dual Pre, Reson VP1000/VP2000), recorders (Zoom H1n, TASCAM DR-680mkII), speakers, and protective gear. The products serve commercial whale watching, industrial noise monitoring, recreation/tourism, and research/professional audio applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RUDAR™: Remote Underwater Digital Acoustic Recorders - autonomous underwater recording devices including nRUDAR-mk2, µRUDAR-mk2, and DIVEAR variants.
• GelRelease™

Products and services

• CR1A Hydrophone Multi-purpose non-preamplified hydrophone ideal for detection and recording of very loud signals and quieter cetacean sounds, also usable for terrestrial applications. Features linear frequency range 0.00016kHz to 48kHz and 500m depth rating.
• C57 Hydrophone Extra rugged hydrophone shaped for towing with less flow noise, used in noise measurement and research applications.
• C75 Hydrophone Preamplified omnidirectional hydrophone with linear frequency response 0.010 to 170kHz, usable to 250kHz, and selectable preamplifier gain with removable in-line high-pass filter.
• CR3 Hydrophone Omnidirectional hydrophone with linear frequency range 0.0004kHz to 180kHz, usable up to 240kHz, and self-noise of 54dB at 1kHz for ultrasonic monitoring.
• SQ26-08 Hydrophone General purpose hydrophone with frequency range 0.020 to 50kHz and effective sensitivity -169dB re 1V/microPa; requires a recording device or preamplifier with bias-powered microphone input.
• SQ26-01 Hydrophone Low cost, rugged hydrophone commonly used in towed arrays, AUVs, and autonomous recorders, with linear frequency response to 28kHz and usable response to 50kHz.
• CR2 Hydrophone Hydrophone ideal for detection and recording of extremely loud signals such as close-range dolphin echolocation, high-power sonar, pile drivers, air gun arrays, and underwater explosions.
• C56 Hydrophone Modular hydrophone designed to connect up to five units on a single cable to form an easy-to-use six-channel array for detection of infrasonic, audible, and ultrasonic sounds.
• C305 Hydrophone Wide frequency response hydrophone for monitoring ultrasonic signals not detectable by competing brands, with directional receive pattern and high frequency capability.
• SQ26-H1 Hydrophone System Most compact underwater recording system, originally designed for recreational use and popular with commercial whale watching companies and budget buyers; records underwater sounds up to 40kHz.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hydrophones recorded sounds for National Geographic's Crittercam sperm whale footage in 1997, which won an Emmy Award for Best Sound in 1998.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Pioneer Hill Software, LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationCetacean Research Technology, in association with Pioneer Hill Software, LLC, provides SpectraPLUS spectral analysis software for the bioacoustics and underwater sound communities worldwide. SpectraPLUS-SC and SpectraPLUS-DT versions are offered with features for real-time spectrum analysis, recording/playback, and post-processing of acoustic data.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cetrestec
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CetResTec
• Facebookfacebook.com/Cetacean.Research
• Instagraminstagram.com/cetrestec
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cetrestec

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cetacean Research Technology