Asked what he considers high-end immersive audio, Yves Trélohan points to a few factors that separate the ultimate from the merely good.
Sound that disappears
The first is sound management sophisticated enough that the listener forgets about the technology entirely. The products exist to support the experience — a movie or a concert — so the listener understands what the director is trying to convey and feels transported into it, whether in a home theatre or a commercial cinema.
Every format, done properly
The second is format support: a true high-end product has to play all available content in the best possible way, and Trélohan notes that very few products on the market actually support every leading format well — the same challenge behind why StormAudio supports Auro-3D, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X all at once.
Signal quality and room optimization
The third is sound quality itself. With systems running 24 speakers, the signal each individual speaker receives becomes critical — and so does room optimization. While the integrator carries real responsibility here, Trélohan sees it as StormAudio’s job as manufacturer to supply the best possible tools for that job. The real difference between a standard and an ultimate product lies in flexibility: how well the solution adapts to whatever theatre configuration the integrator is working with, in terms of speaker layout, room tuning and calibration.
For room optimization specifically, StormAudio partners with Dirac, a Swedish company whose engineers have spent over 20 years refining their software — one of the reasons StormAudio chose them. That partnership lets StormAudio deliver strong results across configurations and across different levels of dealer expertise: some dealers are home theatre design experts, some simply set systems up, and some are genuine audio specialists. StormAudio aims to offer the right tools for each level — something Trélohan says very few products in the market manage, since most are built for either standard or advanced use, not both.
The Mercedes S-Class analogy
He draws an analogy with a Mercedes S-Class: a sophisticated car that only requires a standard driving license, no mechanical expertise. StormAudio designs its products the same way — a lot of embedded technology, but the customer doesn’t need to understand any of it to get the best result. Setting up the room properly is like driving the car properly: StormAudio aims to make that as intuitive as possible, however complex the underlying technology — the same design principle that runs through the ISP 3D.20 Elite processor.
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Frequently asked questions
What does Yves Trélohan consider high-end immersive audio?
A combination of sound management sophisticated enough to disappear, support for every available format, and signal quality that holds up even in complex setups such as 24 speakers.
Which room correction system does StormAudio use?
Dirac, a Swedish company with more than 20 years of experience in room-optimization software.
Are StormAudio products only for experts?
No. Trélohan compares it to a Mercedes S-Class: sophisticated engineering under the hood, but drivable on a standard license. StormAudio products are designed so both entry-level installers and audio specialists get good results.
