Areal SR1 Spatial Reference Headphones

Professional Immersive Monitoring, Wherever You Work

The Areal SR1 is a professional spatial reference headphone system designed for mixing, monitoring and reviewing immersive audio without requiring permanent access to a multichannel loudspeaker room. It provides a practical, self-contained monitoring environment for music production, post-production, broadcast, game audio, education and other spatial-audio workflows.

Unlike conventional headphone systems that convert multichannel audio into a binaural signal, the SR1 uses multiple physical drivers inside each earcup. Areal’s proprietary AIM™ Acoustic Image Mapping technology distributes directional information between dedicated drivers, helping the listener identify front, rear and height placement using their natural ear geometry rather than a simulated or personalised HRTF profile.

Four Drivers in Each Earcup

Each closed-back earcup contains one full-range driver for conventional stereo monitoring and three additional spatial drivers for directional information. This quad-driver configuration provides eight individually controlled output channels across the headphone system, creating a consistent physical reference for stereo and immersive material.

The SR1 supports stereo, 5.1, 7.1 and 7.1.4 channel layouts, making it suitable for a wide range of surround and immersive production formats, including Dolby Atmos® workflows.

Dedicated Multichannel Controller

The supplied controller connects to a Mac or PC using USB-C and operates as a class-compliant multichannel audio device. It incorporates an eight-channel output stage, a high-resolution 24-bit DAC and a dedicated headphone amplifier, removing the need for additional virtual soundcards or monitoring plug-ins.

Hardware controls provide immediate access to stereo and immersive monitoring modes, while the rotary volume control allows accurate and repeatable level adjustment. This makes it easy to compare a conventional stereo mix with its multichannel presentation without interrupting the creative workflow.

Built for Mobile and Studio Workflows

With the SR1 and a compatible computer, immersive sessions can be prepared, edited and referenced almost anywhere. Engineers can continue working away from the main studio, carry out quality-control checks on location or develop a mix before completing final decisions on a calibrated loudspeaker system.

The system is also well suited to universities, training facilities and production departments where access to immersive studios may be limited. Multiple users can work with a repeatable monitoring setup without requiring individual ear measurements or HRTF calibration.

Key Features

• Professional headphone monitoring for stereo, 5.1, 7.1 and 7.1.4 audio
• Four drivers per earcup: one full-range driver and three spatial drivers
• AIM™ Acoustic Image Mapping technology
• Physical directional mapping without binaural emulation
• No individual HRTF measurement or personalisation required
• Dedicated eight-channel controller and headphone amplifier
• High-resolution 48 kHz, 24-bit PCM conversion
• Class-compliant USB-C connection for Mac and PC
• Instant switching between stereo and immersive monitoring
• Closed-back, over-ear construction
• Replaceable earpads for long-term professional use
• Suitable for music, post-production, broadcast, games and education

Technical Specifications

• Driver configuration: Four drivers per earcup
• Frequency response: 40 Hz–20 kHz, ±2 dB typical
• Impedance: 32 ohms per channel, nominal
• Total harmonic distortion: Less than 0.2% at 94 dB SPL
• Headphone design: Closed-back, over-ear
• Headphone weight: Approximately 320 g without cable
• Cable: 1.5 m braided cable
• Computer connection: USB-C, class-compliant multichannel audio
• Audio channels: Eight outputs, with four channels per ear
• Supported audio format: PCM at 48 kHz/24-bit
• Supported layouts: Stereo, 5.1, 7.1 and 7.1.4
• Controller dimensions: 160 × 90 × 40 mm
• Controller weight: Approximately 280 g