Seems like the application of some DSP to speakers is becoming a trend
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/press/hom...dspeakers/
The pack could be closing in - to stay ahead we are going to be needing some form of room correction which for most of us should be an even greater step forward than SAM.
I now there is a big buzz about room correction around the internet at the moment but do consider that with a 2 channel system its capabilities are very, very limited. Two is nowhere near enough sound sources for a proper job.
It is probably not bad for a poor room with acoustically poor speaker positions and one listener. It is very much better, where possible to sort the room and speaker positions such that it is not needed. Then everybody can enjoy an ever frequency response.
There is a lot more to good sound quality than eliminating room mode peaks at a single listening position.
IMHO and IME.
You can have reasonable confidence that nothing much will come of this for domestic high end stuff.
And when reviews use the phrase "form factor" - whatever that is - I stop reading.
"With Dirac’s smart speaker concept, loudspeaker manufacturers such as Pioneer are able to increase performance and shorten the design process across a diverse range of form factors."
Why don't they use English and just say "circumstances"?