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  • Tech - News - Startups
  • Updated: April 06, 2021

Google Quietly Acquires 3D Audio Startup Dysonics

Google Quietly Acquires 3D Audio Startup Dysonics

Google has acquired Dysonics, a startup company for 3D audio technology — a move that is now suspected to be geared towards improving Pixel buds.

The acquisition happened in December, according to a filing with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, but was not reported. The company previously developed a wireless motion sensor for headphones, called Rondo Motion, which modified the sound output based on how your head was turned (giving you VR-like spatial awareness). Dysonics also partnered with Virgin America at one point to bring its 3D sound to in-flight entertainment systems.

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Some Dysonics employees have changed the information on their LinkedIn profiles to inform them of a job change. For example, startup co-founder and CTO Robert Dalton Jr. noted on his profile that he is developing "audio equipment" for a new employer. Another Dysonics employee noted on his profile that he " works on a team that creates sound processing algorithms for various Google hardware devices."

According to reports, Google has become the owner of Dysonics' intellectual property, including patents for the startup's binaural audio technology, which allows sound to be transmitted as a person hears it. Obviously, Google intends to add surround sound to its branded Pixel Buds headphones, which support is already present in some Apple AirPods headphones. In addition, these technologies can be useful for amplifying the sound of Nest smart speakers, as well as in the development of augmented and virtual reality devices.

Though it’s unclear how Google plans to leverage this acquisition, the obvious deduction is that this could improve the audio for future versions of your Pixel Buds and Nest speakers. A report by Protocol notes that Dysonics is known for initially developing headphone motion sensors that can provide a spatial audio experience and have previously partnered with Virgin Airlines to provide enhanced surround sound for its inflight entertainment systems. Coincidentally, a new pair of Pixel Buds has recently been spotted, although the fruits of the acquisition may not reach this product.

Another possibility is that Google is studying the creation of virtual reality products. Even after the death of its Daydream VR platform, Google has shown some renewed interest in the AR / VR space. Last year Google acquired North, a maker of smart AR glasses, as an investment in its "hardware endeavours and the future of environmental computing." Given Dysonics' expertise in developing spatial audio software for virtual reality, the acquisition would fuel Google's efforts in an AR future that may not be too far off. But before that, it would be nice to see some of this 3D audio tech in future Pixel Buds.

 

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