New premium car sound system features Dirac Dimensions™ sound field synthesis technology

New BMW 6 series coupe and cabriolet feature Dirac Dimensions™technology in the Bang & Olufsen High-End Surround Sound System.

The Bang & Olufsen High-End Surround Sound System introduced in the new BMW 6 series coupe and cabriolet features cutting-edge sound processing technology Dirac Dimensions™. Dirac Dimensions™ creates premium stereo and surround sound by genuine 3D sound field control using the car’s 16 loudspeakers.

Similarly to placing the driver and passengers in a reference home theater with high-end loudspeakers, Dirac Dimensions™ optimizes the sound reproduction of the automotive sound system to match that of the best home audio systems.

By joint digital control of all of the car’s 16 loudspeakers, the technology – which uses patent-pending control algorithms – creates new virtual loudspeakers optimally placed outside of the car. To combat the difficult acoustic interior of the car, Dirac Dimensions™ also emulates the acoustic environment of a reference listening room in the passenger compartment. The result is the most lifelike listening experience that physics allows in an automotive environment.

“By embracing the most advanced audio signal processing on the market, BMW again emphasize their commitment to reaching the best sound in class. It is a privilege to be part of their journey of taking automotive sound systems into a new paradigm,” said Dr. Mathias Johansson, CEO of Dirac.

How Dirac Dimensions™works
Dirac Dimensions™ is the first in-car audio optimization system to offer true MIMO (multiple-input multiple-output) control of the entire sound field. Frequency response, spatial attributes, impulse responses, and the acoustic summation of all loudspeakers are optimized jointly to deliver the most realistic audio reproduction possible.

Sound engineers at Dirac team with automotive manufacturers to analyze acoustic properties within the car using the Dirac Dimensions™ Measurement and Design Tool. Based on the results, engineers can then “draw” an optimal listening environment in the Dirac Dimensions™ Room Editor, placing virtual speakers at desired locations while defining other target parameters for the desired performance. The result is balanced, accurate sound seemingly decoupled from the physical loudspeakers and extending beyond the car’s compartment in every direction. The system is frequently referred to as the first practical sound field synthesis system in the world.