Swedish digital audio company Dirac has announced the launch of Dirac Spaces, a new automotive audio solution designed to recreate the acoustic properties of real-world environments inside the vehicle.
Debuting in the intelligent electric executive flagship SUV, NIO ES9, and powered in combination with the NIO Lyra sound system, Dirac Spaces turns the car’s naturally intimate listening environment into “an authentic representation of a larger, purpose-built space,” says the company.
Dirac Spaces and the NIO Lyra sound system combine advanced hardware, precise spatial reproduction, and high-quality audio content, to deliver improved immersion that more faithfully reflects how sound is experienced in real environments, says Dirac. The system leverages advanced acoustic modeling and real-time signal processing to enable the recreation of distinct listening environments, from intimate studio settings to expansive concert halls. The result, says Dirac, is a “more natural, immersive, and emotionally engaging experience for passengers.” By measuring both the vehicle and a target space, the solution applies Dirac’s proprietary MIMO sound field control technology to accurately recreate the actual acoustic space in your car.
“Today, cars are one of the most important listening environments, but they’ve traditionally been limited by the physical constraints of the cabin,” says Anders Storm, Dirac CEO. “With Dirac Spaces, we are redefining the in-car listening experience by recreating the acoustic signature of real-world environments inside the vehicle, delivering a more natural, immersive, and emotionally engaging listening experience.”
Dirac Spaces is available in two configurations, giving automakers flexibility in how they design and deliver in-car audio experiences. Signature Spaces enable OEMs to partner with iconic venues to offer branded acoustic environments tailored to their vehicles. Designed Spaces, meanwhile, include a set of curated environments based on acoustic measurements of real-world venues and engineered by Dirac, such as Balanced Room, Warm Stage, and Grand Hall, each offering a distinct spatial and tonal experience.
Unlike traditional audio effects that rely on generic reverb, Dirac Spaces maps the acoustic properties of both the vehicle and the target environment, ensuring reflections behave naturally based on the vehicle’s speaker layout. This results in audio reproduced with greater depth, clarity, and spatial accuracy.
Dirac Spaces operates on top of Dirac-optimized systems and does not require additional measurements beyond those already used to tune the vehicle. It supports both stereo and multichannel content, enabling consistent spatial audio performance across a wide range of listening scenarios.
Dirac will showcase Dirac Spaces at Auto China 2026, which runs from April 24 to May 3, 2026. There will be a series of live in-vehicle demonstrations with NIO at the show, highlighting how the solution adapts across different vehicle segments and system configurations.