Harman Enters Strategic Automotive Technology Partnership with Dirac

Building on existing automotive audio collaboration, HARMAN will integrate Dirac digital audio solutions and tuning technology into more systems and initiates worldwide distribution agreement

STAMFORD, CT/UPPSALA, SWEDEN -- December 3, 2015: HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated , the premier connected technologies company for automotive, consumer and enterprise markets, and Dirac Research AB, an audio technology company specialising in high-performance digital sound optimisation, today announced a strategic partnership to extend Dirac’s digital audio solutions and superior tuning technology to HARMAN’s best-in-class automotive audio and infotainment system applications. Through this partnership, HARMAN will also become a worldwide distributor of Dirac’s sound technologies to automotive sound system suppliers and car manufacturers, bringing together HARMAN's legacy of premium audio and Dirac’s mission to develop technologies for the ultimate sound experience.

This collaboration builds on HARMAN’s existing partnership with Dirac that provides the Bowers & Wilkins premium in-car surround system for the Volvo XC90 with Dirac’s advanced sound optimisation technology Dirac Unison™. HARMAN will implement Dirac’s advanced digital audio technologies to enhance the in-car entertainment experience for consumers and enable automakers to further differentiate and elevate their sound systems across brands and car lines.

“Dirac continues to be a leader in the development of audio quality optimisation technologies, and we are pleased to integrate their exceptional solutions with HARMAN’s superior audio systems to bring best-in-class audio to our automotive partners around the world,” said Michael Mauser, Executive Vice President and President, Lifestyle Audio at HARMAN. “Integrating Dirac technologies into HARMAN’s products will further create great lifestyle experiences for today's connected generation through premium automotive audio and infotainment systems.”

“HARMAN has become the premier audio and infotainment provider for automotive applications, and we’re thrilled to work closely together and add our digital audio solutions to the most compelling automotive audio portfolio in the world,” commented Mathias Johansson, CEO of Dirac. “The team at Dirac will be fully vested in developing new digital audio solutions for the automotive market segment as we collaborate with HARMAN to bring the highest level of value and innovation to the most sophisticated automotive environments.”

HARMAN automotive partners will now have the opportunity to license Dirac’s advanced technologies for sound optimisation directly within eligible models, including room correction, sound field synthesis, active room treatment and more. Additionally, HARMAN will work closely with Dirac R&D engineers to ensure seamless integration of Dirac’s existing and new technologies into automotive audio and infotainment system applications.