Still in front D&M PSS

STILL IN FRONT

Belgium-based D&M PSS, part of the American/Japanese D&M Holdings, offers best-in-class automotive and consumer hi-fi audio solutions to some of the biggest OEMs throughout the world. Industry Europe looks at the latest from this world-leading innovator.

When Industry Europe last spoke to D&M PSS in 2008, the company had recently been taken over by D&M Holdings – an Amercican/Japanese group with a diverse family of audio products under its global umbrella. Formerly known as Philips Sounds Solutions and owned by Royal Philips Electronics, the company has been one of the world leaders in the development and production of high quality audio solutions for more than 30 years. Today its products serve mainly the B2B automotive and consumer electronics markets, in both of which it has a number of high-profile clients. It continues to lead the field in the automotive sector and its consumer client base is also expanding in the premium audio segment.

The companies’ headquarter are based in Dendermonde, Belgium but it has a continuously expanding global presence. Its development centres are in Belgium, China and India but it also has production facilities in Belgium, China, Mexico, Hungary and Ukraine. In addition to this, there are sales offices in Belgium, India, the USA and China. Automotive products

The company’s products for the automotive market include a broad range of standard cone speakers and tweeters. It also offers a number of more innovative flat and lightweight solutions. Its CosCone speakers, for example, are some of the flattest speakers available on the market today as well as the lightest, weighing just 150 grams. This allows automotive manufacturers to free up space to increase storage and flexibility when it comes to placing the speakers.

The combination of size and superior performance D&M PSS has achieved with the CosCone are down to PSS-patented designs for the membrane and spider. The shape and reinforcement strut pattern of the membrane allow for a much flatter cone while maintaining the membrane stiffness.

In addition, D&M PSS’ range of subwoofers has been developed to accurately reproduce the lowest frequencies. For higher-end applications meanwhile, its amplifiers can bring real high-fidelity sound into the car. It also offers its clients a choice of branded product options.

D&M PSS works closely with its automotive clients around the world to develop customised solutions to meet their specific

needs. These clients include global giants such as BMW-Mini, GM, Jaguar-Landrover, PSA, Toyota and Volkswagen.

Consumer applications

D&M PSS is also a leading supplier of innovative consumer audio solutions for premium OEM clients. The focus categories DSP Sound Bars, Docking Stations and Networked Audio are all showing growth and becoming more technologically complex.

In the area of DSP Soundbars, it provides sound projection solutions which can reproduce surround sound from a one-box solution. Sound field shaping technology offers a rich surround sound experience while avoiding the challenges of proper speaker placement and without cluttering the room with multiple speakers and unattractive wiring.

D&M PSS is able to offer compact personal infotainment solutions for portable music devices such as MP3 players and mobile phones. Many of its home docking stations are equipped with Apple’s Airplay wireless audio streaming technology which can turn the device into a powerful home audio system. Lastly, it has many years of experience in the multimedia segment and is a leader in premium PC speakers and surround sound systems. Its consumer customer base includes major players such as B&O, Denon, Bowers & Wilkins, Loewe and Philips. n