Making Apple's EarPods sound half-decent? Dirac has an app for that…
Swedish company Dirac Research has launched its Dirac HD Player app for iPod Touch, iPhones and iPads, designed to optimise the often-critcised sound of Apple's standard Earphones and EarPods.
Its audio engineers have used the same digital technology the company supplies to the likes of Naim, Rolls Royce, BMW and Datasat 'to overcome the acoustic limitations inherent to the earphones supplied by Apple'.
Using precise acoustic measurement of of the standard Earphones and EarPods, the company has created a tailored sound processor delivering 'extended bass response, smooth accurate midrange and artefact-free high frequencies truly representative of the original recording.
See what's inside the Apple EarPods
Dirac CEO Mathias Johansson says that 'The Dirac HD Player is compatible with the iTunes library—you just listen to your music and create playlists like you are accustomed to doing, while the optimisation runs in the background. There is no need for any technical know-how
'Our advanced algorithms make the earphone actually perform better, producing the most clear, natural sound possible from these devices. You cannot achieve this with legacy solutions such as psychoacoustic sound effects or graphic equalisers'.
The Dirac HD Player app is available as a free Lite version, or in a full version for £1.99 with extended functionality including support for playlists, and works with iPhone 4/4S/5, fourth and fifth-generation iPod Touches, iPads from iPad 2 onwards, and the iPad mini.
Comments
The Dirac app makes my Earpods sound about as good as my $700 Shure 1840 in mids and highs, and far better in the bass where the 1840 is weak. I'm a long-time experienced audiophile, so no exaggeration here - it's for real and should obsolete most of the headphones out there. Even the very fine upper harmonic detail is comparable between the Earpods and Shure 1840, and way outshines my $350 Sennheiser Momentum (Sennheiser and Shure using headphone amp BTW).
No, no, no! Had high hopes for this but it really is not that great. I always use the Audio Exciter App by Aphex and I would encourage everyone to use that over this. I did a comparison using this Dirac App on my old 4s and the Audio Exciter App on my 5 and seriously, the Audio Exciter is not only MUCH louder but fuller, richer, brings out lots of mid detail and just makes anything played on an iPhone or iPad sound so much better. I really can't recommend it highly enough and it is light years better than this. Seriouly, try that instead. And no, I do not work for or know the developers....
I've put it on my iPhone 5, made a big improvement with the new style earphones when set to iPhone earphones.
Then tried it with Sennheiser CXL400's I wear in work and Sennheiser CX685's I use in gym and for running.
Again a bit improvement but the best sound seems to be when it is set to earpods for iPhone 4/4s.
Very tempted to get the full version for playlist support
Whether you're using the original Apple or after market headphones this app is a lot better sound wise than the standard iPod app
The free one didnt make much difference but i use apple earbuds!
Bongiovi DPS app is far superior to this and you can also get a system wide plugin for windows!
If you can afford an iPod, surely you can afford £30 for some decent earphones? Why would you WANT to use the rubbish ones that come in the box, app or not?
Brilliant, a real improvement !!!! Far more depth and clarity.
Tried with iPhone 5 and earpods, my first impression is that it's good. I prefer the sound with the app installed so well worth trying.
Or is it just for Apple ones?
Does it work with other earphones/headphones?
Or is it just for Apple ones?
Tried it with an iPad mini and original white earbuds last night, and on a brief listen it sounds really impressive. I'd certainly say the free Lite version is a no-brainer for anyone still using the original earphones they got with their Touch, iPhone or whatever
anyone tried it yet?