Dirac Technology Supports Pioneer To Create Next Generation Smart Loudspeakers

Compact USB-powered loudspeakers featuring Dirac HD Sound® target computer users and décor- conscious music enthusiasts

Uppsala, Sweden – June 3, 2014 – 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 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.

About Dirac Research AB
Dirac Research is a Swedish audio research firm specializing in high-performance digital sound optimization, room correction and sound field synthesis. The company was founded by researchers from the Signals & Systems Group of Uppsala University, Sweden. With Dirac’s patented toolbox for efficient and accurate audio system optimization, customers such as BMW, Bentley, Rolls Royce and Datasat Digital Entertainment have achieved dramatically improved sound quality and a shortened time-to-market. Dirac Research maintains offices in Sweden, Tokyo, Detroit, Seoul and Shanghai. www.dirac.se.