Dias - Developing the "big sound"

Gadgets of the week - Sunday Times

2008-12-05T06:43:00.000-08:00

Hubert put together what is now the T12 last year. It is now on sale in Harrods, John Lewis, and Amazon. Reviews have been very positive, including the following from the Sunday Times.

"WHAT IS IT? This British-designed speaker system provides stereo sound from a single speaker housed in a smart bar-shaped cabinet. Many rival television sound bars employ digital trickery to provide the illusion of surround sound from a single cabinet that contains multiple speakers, but the Orbitsound does not take this approach. Instead, it reengineers the principles of stereo reproduction to provide a true stereo sound field from a single compact enclosure that is uniform throughout the room rather than having one sweet spot. This, of course, sounds like nonsense, but InGear has tested one and it worked well, whether connected to a television source or using the built-in iPod dock.

SHOULD I BUY ONE? If you opt for a sound bar to sit under your TV, it’s academic exactly how many speakers are housed within it. Even so, this innovative, well-made kit is powerful yet easy on the ear. "

http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/gadgets_and_gaming/article5252031.ece

They do identify the key problem about new technology - when you explain Airsound to someone you can get:

Its not possible (and I know my stuff)
or
I don't care (I dont listen to sound, and I am not that interested)

As the article above says - it worked well - but if you need to hear a demonstration and you don't live near to Harrods, we would happily arrange one for you if you live in the Wiltshire/M4 corridor.

We do have an offer on the T12 at the moment. To find out more visit

Special offer on the T12

2008-11-05T06:49:00.001-08:00

The T12 is being offered by Diasmusic on Special offer. Each T12 comes with a Sonic Soundscape for £249.99, making a fantasic offer.

The T12 has been rated by many reviewers as a great product due to the clear sound and the absence of deadspots normally associated with stereo playback.

Diasmusic were the first company to produce a production model of an Airsound system, The Sonic Soundscape, and during the last year or so we have found that we are still amazed by the sound quality it produces.

To enquire or visit the store click here

airSound progress

2008-08-19T11:25:00.001-07:00

Ted Fletcher, the inventor of airSound has introduced a range of single point stereo machines. The T12 has received a 5 star review in Macworld and was the editors choice.

The original demo unit spent a little time in our house. A little more powerful that the Soundscape (our model), with the same distinct clarity and breadth of sound.

We produced our model in white - and this one is in black. I know there were a number of people that would have prefered a black model, in which case get in contact!

"We’ll be honest – Orbitsound’s latest offering to the premium iPod user's market wowed us all here at Macworld It combines a unique selling point and high-quality audio playback, thanks largely to the powerful bass speaker, making it a compelling option for high-quality digital music playback from an iPod.
The solution consists of the iPod dock-equipped head unit, called ‘the soundbar’, the subwoofer, remote control and cable collection. This carries the iPod dock, status LEDs and outputs for the subwoofer and a set of inputs for an auxiliary source, such as a CD deck or – our favourite – television. The system looks stunning beside a TV - even better, it offers video out, so you can wire your home-entertainment system up to it for video playback from your video-equipped iPod or iPhone. The soundbar measures 54 x 9 x 9.6cm, and the 22.5 x 22.5 x 46cm subwoofer is a passive loudspeaker designed to produce powerful sound at bass frequencies.
The infra-red remote control is large enough not to lose down a gap in the sofa and is also well laid out and simple to use. It lets you switch between the iPod or auxiliary device for sound playback, offers library navigation, bass, treble, fast-forward, rewind, play/pause and volume controls.
What makes the soundbar so effective is its combination of well-thought-out technologies. The stereo sound field is produced by the speakers mounted in the side of the unit, which work with the main signal to produce real stereo sound. The soundbar also hosts the analogue processors, the amplifier and eight loudspeakers.
The shelf-sized speaker is powerful enough on its own, picking up a good amount of musical detail and delivering an impressive quality of playback that's significantly better than a radio receiver or online music streaming service. " Macworld review 5 August 08

A Sonic Attraction

2007-12-18T04:00:00.000-08:00

It is always nice when you get an endorsement from someone who is well known and just happens to understand music.

Hello Hubert,

Thanks again for taking the time to demo your Airsound system the other day.

I'm e-mailing you to tell you that I couldn't be more pleased with it. I think you've pulled off something quite remarkable with it -- you might even be a genius! I've been playing a lot of my old favourite CDs and music DVDs and have been pleasantly surprised every time. The sound is warm, well balanced and beautifully detailed. If you stuck it a cherry or walnut cabinet and sold it for £1000 pounds no one would argue.

I look forward to hearing the next generation which is currently at the prototype stage and will certainly be looking to buy one of those too.

The next time I'm in the area I'll drop off a Suzanne Vega CD for you.

In the meantime, congratulations and keep up the good work. And feel free to use any of this e-mail that you wish as an endorsement for your product on you website or wherever.

Very best wishes

Bruce

Bruce Thomas - fabulous bass player - with the Attractions, and has also played with many other s - including Al Stewart, Paul Rodgers, Steve Howe, Wings, Paul McCartney, Nic Lowe, Pretenders, Madness, Billy Bragg, and Suzanne Vega
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Diner/2674/thomas_bruce_a.htm

For further information about the Airsound system - the Sonic Soundscape - please see Dias Music

A fantastic Testimonial

2007-10-01T07:29:00.000-07:00

Brilliant Stereo Sound That Follows You Across the Room

I’ve got a new best friend. It’s cool white, very discrete and called Dias. Thanks to Dias for the past week I’ve been listening to some great sounds while I work or unwind.

Brilliant sound is what Dias is about. I like a good stereo sound, over the years I’ve invested a lot in audio equipment and music CD ripping is my business now. But getting a good sound here, while I work, is difficult so I love the sound I get now. Yes, the quality is high – very high – but that’s not the main thing. Thanks to Dias I get a great stereo sound wherever I am in the office.

Incredibly Dias stereo sound follows you round the room.

There is much more! To read on please see Jeff's Blog

http://podserve.blogspot.com/

Jeff has enjoyed the sound so much he has offered to demonstrate the Sonic Soundscape in the SE of London and surrounding area.

Faringdon Gateway Demonstration

2007-10-01T07:24:00.000-07:00

29 October 6:30 PM

The Sonic Soundscape is a speaker and amplifier ideal for playing music from MP3, iPod, PC or TV. It is the first speaker system to use AIRSOUND™ 'single point stereo', which adds considerable depth and clarity to all forms of sound.

It is being demonstrated at the Faringdon Business Centre on the 29th October at 6:30 PM with a free glass of wine from Den Boer Wines

Thames Valley Innovation Event 16th October

2007-10-01T06:54:00.000-07:00

Dias Music Ltd will be demonstrating the Sonic Soundscape at the Thames Valley Innovation Showcase on the 16th October.

For more details of the event follow either of the below links:

http://www.businessinberkshire.co.uk/thamesvalleyic/extra3.html

http://www.thamesvalley.co.uk/content/index.asp?id=111

How good is your recording?

2007-10-01T06:25:00.000-07:00

Recording music onto your iPod is a compromise between quality and space. The default on iTunes is set at 128kps, and having done lots of demonstrations I have found that many people use this default standard.

Using the Sonic Soundscape I was a bit alarmed when I started hearing distorted music, booming bass, and some of the high frequency music could not be heard through all of the hubub.

I have been back through my cd's and re-recorded a lot of material using the Apple “lossless” format, which seems to be 800 Kps, and although the file sizes are larger, the quality of sound is measurably improved, and all the features of the Sonic Soundscape can be heard to best effect. This could be things such as hearing the audience clap on a live recording to bring you closer to “being there”. Alternatively it could be hearing the microphone being turned on and Robert Plant breathing on “Going to California”. Little things I know, but it does let you enjoy the music a little more.

How big do your speakers need to be?

2007-05-21T08:09:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Carole for the picture below - she thought of us as our speaker is compact and does deliver clear sound without needing to have the volumes turned right up.

Sonic Soundscape testimonial

2007-05-11T05:44:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a testimonial can really give you a lift!

"I was very impressed when given the initial demonstration of the speakers, but it wasn't till I got home and plugged them in that I really appreciated the quality and overall affect. I have them hooked up to my television via the composite cables. I also route my computer and Wii through the television so it made sense to add these to my all-in-one solution.

The sub woofer offers substantial bass but is not what sells this impressively priced deal. I will confess to not knowing how the new Soundscape technology works, but I can tell you it works very well indeed. We have quite a wide sofa and a variety of seating positions. The Soundscape
ensures a consistent experience no matter where you are seated. For those who feel they will lose out on a surround definitely have to try this as an alternative. My experience is that you get a much more atmospheric sound. Having used the speakers with a couple of games (mostly FPS's), at increasingly immodest volumes, I can quite literally state it adds a real extra dimension to the whole sensation.

Even if you are not sold on the new technology the sound quality of is far far better than a similar price unit and I think equal to many units quadruple the price. If you are looking for excellent sound quality at a good price you've just found yourself a bargain. I am a satisfied and happy customer"

Hopes this is ok. I was watching lost the other day using the speakers and couldn't shake the feeling there were palm trees swaying in my kitchen!

For Further information see http://www.diasmusic.com

Dias music launches new sound system

2007-05-03T07:40:00.000-07:00

A Revolutionary new sound system has been launched by entrepreneurs based in Chippenham. Dias Music yesterday launched the Airsound speaker system, which acts as a single speaker alternative to surround sound. The new system is being promoted by Roger Croft and designer Hubert Dias … The Airsound speaker is currently only being sold through the Dias Music website, [http://www.diasmusic.com/] but the firm is planning to expand and offer demonstrations through agents across the UK. For text, 188 words, click here.
Hubert Dias HDias24194@aol.com was born in Kampala Uganda, the son of the Late Augustine Dias and Lydia Dias. He studied at Norman Godinho School & Kololo Secondary School in Uganda and Sacred Heart College Droitwich, UK. He now lives in Wiltshire. An accomplished musician, he plays the guitar in a Christian band Witness, as well as a function and festival bands see: www.2day.ws/shadowsofsantana. He started his business career in 1984 with Printed Circuit Board design and manufacture from a factory in Swindon but now imports them from the Far East. One of his other businesses is Dias Guitars, www.dias-guitars.com. His wife Antonieta was born in Uganda and lived in Jinja and Goa. They have two children, Owen and Lara.

http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/

DIAS MUSIC LAUNCHES NEW SOUND SYSTEM

2007-05-01T00:53:00.000-07:00

08:00 - 27 April 2007

Revolutionary new sound system has been launched by entrepreneurs based in Chippenham.

Dias Music yesterday launched the Airsound speaker system, which acts as a single speaker alternative to surround sound.

The new system is being promoted by former Department of Trade and Industry business mentor Roger Croft and designer Hubert Dias, who is already involved in research and development for the next model in the series.

The Airsound speaker is currently only being sold through the Dias Music website, but the firm is planning to expand and offer demonstrations through agents across the UK.

Mr Croft said: "We are the first people to bring this sound on to the market and we have worked very closely with the inventor to do that.

"The advantage of the Airsound is you get a spatial feeling which you wouldn't get from two speakers.

"As you move around the room the sound stays with you.

"It will suit people who move around a lot and anyone who feels they have lost their living room to the demands of their children wanting to watch television."

http://www.thisisbath.com/

DUO FIND FUNDING IS A SOUND IDEA

2007-03-19T04:00:00.000-07:00

11:00 - 13 March 2007
One company hoping to make the most of the offer is Hartham Park-based Dias Music.

The firm has been set up by ex-DTI man Roger Croft and designer Hubert Dias and has produced a new speaker system called Assisted Sound which works along different lines to stereo.

The concept was developed last year and in the autumn was at the prototype stage.

Since then, several have been sold and users have given the firm some helpful feedback.

Now the new system has gone into production in China and when the finished product arrives, the company plans to sell them online.

So it has applied for SmartBusiness match funding to help with its online trading plans.

"When we heard about this scheme we felt it was a very good way of helping get our product to online markets," said Roger.

"Also, we both knew that the particularly expensive bit of website design is the part where you add on e-commerce.

"We also wanted a site that, as time goes on, we could build on and add new products.

"Hopefully that will be possible with the help of this scheme."

The company's website is due to be launched soon.

http://www.thisisbath.com/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=163061&command=displayContent&sourceNode=163044&contentPK=16842179&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch

How good are ipods anyway?

2007-03-09T07:19:00.000-08:00

When I started this venture I had a couple of mp3 players and a portable cd player, as did Hubert.

We primarily bought a new video ipod each just to make sure the prototypes were working.

I must admit that I am a convert, especially with a docking system and remote - the ipod travels everywhere with me now, and I have it filled up with lots of songs.

The big benefit is being able to move rooms, taking your ipod with you - and just being able to dock in the new room and carry on listening to the same piece of music with minimal hassle.

This especially works well for me in the kitchen - where previously I found that my previous music player was not the best, or getting the right music at the right time was always a hassle - looking for cds etc means going to different rooms or giving up precious shelf space.

One of the difficulties anyone has in deciding which sort of speaker system to bring out is the balance between sound quality (and probably a sub woofer) and portability. Our first model does need a plug, doesn't take batteries, but the sound is superb.

We have played around with smaller speakers, but the quality is not as good.

If you have paid £150 + for a good mp3 player do you want good quality speakers?

Hopefully we have managed a good compromise in the Sonic Soundscape, but Hubert is already getting ready for other models, possibly more portable, possibly larger. If you have any comments - do let us know.

The Story So Far (Part 1)

2007-02-16T07:33:00.000-08:00

My story started when Hubert invited me to his house to listen to some music. He was excited, and convinced that he had something worthwhile. This was in October 2006.

I am a music fan, and despite the box being a little rustic, the sound was fantastic. Rather than just hearing sound coming at you the sound was dispersed. The high end frequency sounds especially move and create a wall of sound that was impressive from such a small box.

I had lots of questions, but fairly quickly I decided that I wanted to be a part of what whatever was going to happen.

The first steps were to improve the system, and get it to a point where we could make lots at an affordable price.

We needed to make a prototype, and the first 2 were flown to us in a couple of weeks. The inventor of Airsound, Ted, was closely involved.

The results don't look too far away from where we are today, but there have been many small changes.

The first prototypes on the R+D desk in China