Dirac technology supports Pioneer to create smart loudspeakers
June 3, 2014
Uppsala, Sweden – Audio technology provider Dirac Research today announced that they have reached a licensing agreement with Pioneer Corporation. Pioneer plans to utilize the Dirac HD Sound technology to deliver superb audio playback from their next generation of loudspeakers. The first speakers to utilize the technology is the Pioneer Desk Live series, a lineup of powered speakers with a sleek, modern form factor slated for desktop computer applications as well as audio enthusiasts seeking high performance from smaller, stylish loudspeakers.
The objective of the new product line is to deliver high resolution and precise staging from a near field design using engineering innovations from Pioneer combined with Dirac’s award-winning digital audio processing. These technological advances have enabled Pioneer to deliver unprecedented accuracy and musicality from an attractive lifestyle speaker lineup suited to any décor or application. The first of these new models will become available in Japan in mid-July, 2014 with a succession of models and markets to follow.
“Both Dirac and Pioneer have a long history of making great audio products and we are excited for an opportunity to bring Dirac HD Sound technology to Pioneer’s high performance loudspeakers,” commented Steve Hase, Executive Vice President of Licensing at Dirac. “This cooperation with Pioneer and our most recent automotive venture with Volvo highlight the flexibility and diverse capabilities of Dirac’s audio processing technologies,” Hase added.
“Our vision is to combine the best of traditional speaker design with world class digital audio technology in an entirely new way,” stated Hideki Nara, General Manager, Speaker Business Planning Department, Industrial Solutions Business Division at Pioneer Corp. “By using Dirac’s cutting edge solutions, we have been able to realize this vision and design loudspeakers with higher performance and increased flexibility. We consider Dirac to be a highly reliable engineering partner.”
Dirac HD Sound is an advanced digital audio processing technology that utilizes impulse response and frequency response optimization. With Dirac’s smart speaker concept, loudspeaker manufacturers such as Pioneer are able to increase performance and shorten the design process across a diverse range of form factors.