Swedish audio technology company Dirac Research will be bringing its latest solutions to the OnePlus 6T, the two companies announced Thursday. The said additions will be coming in the form of Dirac HD Sound and Dirac Power Sound, a pair of technologies meant to improve the overall audio experience produced by smartphone speakers and connected headphones. The Chinese original equipment manufacturer described Dirac’s software as an important part of its strategy of blending premium hardware and software in order to create the best possible customer experience. By embracing the Swedish firm’s solutions, the firm is hoping to differentiate its latest Android handset from its rivals and appeal to audiophiles.
As part of the newly confirmed collaboration, Dirac Research has taken upon itself to optimize the OnePlus 6T’s micro-speaker with the goal of having the smartphone produce a cleaner sound with more embellished highlights, more powerful bass, and a listening experience that’s generally more natural. While this partnership did not start with the OnePlus 6T, it’s described as being of particular importance due to the fact that the latest OnePlus device doesn’t feature a 3.5mm audio jack and instead relies on a USB Type-C port for wired audio. Dirac hence paid special attention to optimizing this output format, particularly in regards to the OnePlus Bullet earbuds. That’s where Dirac HD Sound comes in, having been designed to measure and correct impulse and frequency response of any connected headphones in order to ensure a cleaner sound.
Background: Dirac Research and OnePlus have been collaborating for three years now, having first started working together while the OnePlus 2 was in development. They also partnered for the OnePlus 6 earlier this year which leverages the same technologies as its direct successor. The Chinese firm’s marketing apparatus is currently out in full force as it’s seeking to make the most of the ongoing holiday season, traditionally the most lucrative period of the year for handset makers and other consumer electronics companies.
Following the release of the main OnePlus 6T series, the company also resolved to introduce limited-edition variants of the thereof, including a Thunder Purple model and one themed after Marvel’s Avengers franchise. Yet another such device is scheduled to be announced in mid-December in the form of a McClaren-themed gadget. Arguably the company’s largest achievement of 2018 is its recently formed partnership with T-Mobile that provided it with a major entry point into the world’s largest market for high-end handsets. While the firm is yet to provide some concrete details on its commercial performance, the OnePlus 6T is already believed to be its fastest-selling product to date and one that will likely break other internal sales records in the coming months.
Impact: The continuation of OnePlus’s partnership with Dirac Research signals the firm plans to maintain its commitment to the mobile audio segment even after ditching the 3.5mm headphone jack. By most indicators, its collaboration with the Swedish technology company will continue moving forward, helping it to differentiate its products from competing solutions by catering to audiophiles, especially now when OnePlus started transitioning toward USB Type-C connectors as the default audio output solution of its Android smartphones.
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