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DIRAC Spatial Audio Solution for Wireless Headphones

DIRAC Research AB is convinced that it is now possible to provide the basis for implementing the DIRAC Spatial Audio Solution directly into the DSPs of Bluetooth wireless headphones, thus guaranteeing a completely new music experience.


What for years was considered frowned upon in the hi-fi segment is now gradually finding its way into the most diverse products, namely the optimisation of the reproduction chain with the help of the most modern DSP-based algorithms, which are primarily dedicated to room correction, but also to the optimisation of special characteristics of loudspeaker systems. Such solutions have always been commonplace in home cinema, but hi-fi enthusiasts have hardly been able to get used to them, at least until now.

One of the manufacturers whose solutions are increasingly attracting interest in the hi-fi sector is the technology company DIRAC Research AB. The technologies of this company can be found in many amplifiers that have been launched recently or are currently on the market, and interestingly enough, even purists are enthusiastic about the results that can be achieved.

DIRAC Research AB now wants to focus on another market, one that has seen a huge upturn in recent years, namely headphones. DIRAC Spatial Audio Solution for Wireless Headphones is now being presented.

The direct integration of DIRAC Spatial Audio Solution for Wireless Headphones into “wireless” headphones is intended to enable headphone manufacturers to continue to differentiate their offerings in a highly competitive market and to offer their customers so-called immersive, in any case high quality sound from standard stereo content, regardless of the playback device or media player. DIRAC Research AB is convinced that this new solution will provide a superior music, movie and gaming experience.

“The integration of spatial audio onto the headphone DSP is an industry-first and a major leap in the evolution of audio technology. Traditionally, digital sound optimization technology for headphones has had to run on smartphones, media player, or other playback systems. Dirac’s ability to integrate its algorithms directly into wireless headphone chipsets opens up a new world of innovation and differentiation.”

Peter Cedmer, Director of Product Management Headphones at DIRAC Research AB

The DIRAC Spatial Audio Solution for Wireless Headphones has two main features: spatial audio and driver optimisation. The spatial audio function is made possible by DIRAC Research AB’s patented Dynamic HRTF technology, which creates an immersive stereo listening experience similar to that of a home cinema system from standard stereo content, without the need for specially encoded spatial audio content.

The driver optimisation function is provided by another patented technology, Magnitude Response Correction and Impulse Response Correction, which digitally improves headphone performance without expensive hardware upgrades. The result is maximised sound quality with a clearer, more balanced sound with richer, tighter bass, the company promises.

“While TWS earphones miniaturize, and the size of the speaker drivers are further reduced, consumers continue to expect great sound quality from these increasingly small devices. Our solution empowers wireless headphones to stand out in a fiercely competitive market by delivering superior sound quality from smaller form factors than ever before. The speaker optimization feature can even be offered alone, without the spatial audio feature, to OEMs that focus solely on maximizing headphone sound quality.”

Peter Cedmer, Director of Product Management Headphones at DIRAC Research AB

According to the company, it is particularly easy for OEM manufacturers to implement these technologies in their solutions, while of course not having to sacrifice their characteristic sound while maintaining high accuracy and consistency across all product models. Headphone manufacturers can easily integrate the DIRAC Spatial Audio Solution for Wireless Headphones into chipsets from leading Bluetooth DSP providers such as Mediatek, BES and Qualcomm.

“We’ve already had two leading companies – Klipsch and RHA – integrate Dirac into soon-to-be-announced headphones, and we’re in active talks with several more. As Dirac becomes standard in more headphones, OEMs will have more opportunity to competitively differentiate from one another and deliver their customer-base an increasingly impressive sound experience.”

Peter Cedmer, Director of Product Management Headphones at DIRAC Research AB

The company from Uppsala in Sweden is, as mentioned above, very confident that these new technologies will soon be found in many headphone models and is therefore convinced that DIRAC Spatial Audio Solution for Wireless Headphones is nothing less than a revolution in headphones, so it remains exciting…

Getting to the point

The direct integration of DIRAC Spatial Audio Solution for Wireless Headphones into “wireless” headphones is intended to enable headphone manufacturers to continue to differentiate their offerings in a highly competitive market and to offer their customers so-called immersive, in any case high quality sound from standard stereo content, regardless of the playback device or media player. DIRAC Research AB is convinced that this new solution will provide a superior music, movie and gaming experience.

Manufacturer:DIRAC Research AB
Distribution:DIRAC Research AB
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Michael Holzinger

Michael Holzinger, founder and editor-in-chief of HiFi BLOG and sempre-audio.at, has been working for years as a journalist in the fields of IT, photography, telecommunications and consumer electronics.

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