Dirac Research Enters the Gaming Headset Market Through Major Licensing Deal with Prominent Consumer Technology Manufacturer

Leading Chinese company has licensed Dirac’s breakthrough 3D audio surround sound solution for a gaming headset that will debut in the second half of 2018.

UPPSALA, SWEDEN, May 31, 2018 — After establishing itself as the industry-leader in digitally-optimized sound solutions for the automotive, home theater, and mobile spaces, Dirac Research today announced its expansion into the gaming headset market with the development of breakthrough 3D audio surround sound solution that has been licensed by a leading Chinese consumer technology company for a gaming headset that will be introduced later this year.

According to Lars Isaksson, Dirac’s Business Director and General Manager of AR/ VR, the licensed 3D audio solution produces a best-in-class immersive and externalized surround sound listening experience that’s ideal for gaming, while maintaining an ultra-low CPU important for power-constrained devices.

“Dirac enters a new market only when we are completely confident that we have a solution that delivers a truly best-in-class experience for its end-users,” stated Isaksson. “This is true of Dirac Unison in the automotive market, Dirac Live in the home theater market, Dirac Panorama Sound in the mobile market, and is most certainly true of our new 3D audio surround sound solution for the headset market. Our reputation is hard-earned, well-deserved, and will only be further bolstered as the gaming headset market experiences our 3D audio technology.”

In addition to the 3D audio solution, which creates an immersive, surround sound listening experience that’s ideal for gaming, the new gaming headset will also include the Dirac HD Sound solution, which produces a powerful and pristine listening experience ideal for music listening.

“With the flip of a switch, users of the new headset can toggle between two sound modes based on their activity – gaming or music listening,” continued Isaksson. “The reality is that convincing a gamer that a helicopter is flying over their head or a hockey puck just hit the glass requires a different solution than reproducing music in the way the artist intended it – and this new headset delivers consumers the highest quality, most convincing audio in both scenarios.”

Dirac’s newly-formed XR Business Unit first debuted its 3D audio capabilities in January 2017, where they were met with critical acclaim. Since the launch, the company has undergone a series of 3D audio-specific wins, including a major fundraising round to fuel product development efforts, key European and North American hires to develop industry relationships, recognition for Best VR/ AR Industry Technology at the Tech XLR8 Award Ceremony, the launch of a second-generation solution at MWC 2018, and now, most recently, its debut into the gaming headset space through a major deal with an industry leader.

Dirac’s suite of audio optimization solutions is currently used by industry leaders in the automotive, home theater, and mobile markets such as Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Volvo, Harman, NAD Electronics, Storm Audio, Datasat, Pioneer, Huawei, Xiaomi, OPPO, OnePlus, and many more.