SonaVyx vs DIRAC: 2026 Comparison
Feature Comparison
| Feature | SonaVyx | DIRAC (Bruel & Kjaer) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (Pro: $29/mo) | $2,000-$5,000+ (license dependent) |
| Platform | Any modern browser | Windows only |
| Install Required | No | Yes (Windows installer + hardware dongle) |
| Real-Time Analyzer | Yes (1/1 to 1/24 octave) | No (post-processing focus) |
| Transfer Function | Yes (H1 estimator, coherence) | No (impulse response focus) |
| Impulse Response | Yes (sweep + MLS) | Yes (sweep, MLS, balloon pop, pistol) |
| RT60 | Yes (T20/T30/EDT per ISO 3382) | Yes (T10-T60, EDT, full ISO 3382) |
| STI/STIPA | Yes (IEC 60268-16, direct + IR) | Yes (IEC 60268-16, full STI from IR) |
| SPL Meter | Yes (IEC 61672-1 Class 2) | Limited (via B&K hardware) |
| AI Diagnostics | Yes (Claude API, health score) | No |
| Problem Detection | 7 automatic detectors | No |
| Room Parameters | C50, C80, D50, Ts, G | C50, C80, D50, D80, Ts, G, LF, LFC, IACC |
| Export Formats | CSV, FRD, WAV, JSON | WAV, DIRAC format, PDF reports |
| Cloud Sync | Yes (venue history, trending) | No |
| Standards Compliance | IEC 61672, ISO 3382, IEC 60268-16, AES-2id | ISO 3382-1/2/3, IEC 60268-16, ISO 18233 |
| Multi-Position | Venue session history | Full multi-position averaging per ISO 3382 |
| Guided Workflows | 5 step-by-step workflows | Measurement wizard |
| Report Generation | 3 templates + certificates | Professional PDF reports |
| Mobile Support | Full mobile browser | No |
| Hardware Integration | Any USB/built-in mic | B&K microphones recommended (2270, 4190) |
Pricing Comparison
DIRAC is a professional room acoustics suite from Bruel & Kjaer, one of the most respected names in acoustic instrumentation. Licensing starts around $2,000 and can exceed $5,000 depending on the modules purchased (Room Acoustics, Building Acoustics, STI). When combined with recommended B&K measurement microphones ($1,000-$3,000), the total investment for a DIRAC-based measurement system can reach $5,000-$8,000. This pricing positions DIRAC firmly in the professional consulting and engineering market. SonaVyx provides its entire measurement suite for free in the browser, with Pro features at $29/month.
Standards Compliance
DIRAC is the gold standard for ISO 3382 compliance. It implements ISO 3382-1 (performance spaces), ISO 3382-2 (ordinary rooms), ISO 3382-3 (open plan offices), and ISO 18233 for building vibration. Its room acoustic parameter calculation is comprehensive, including lateral fraction (LF/LFC) and inter-aural cross-correlation (IACC) that few other tools provide. SonaVyx implements ISO 3382-1 core parameters (T20, T30, EDT, C50, C80, D50, Ts, G) and adds IEC 61672-1 SPL metering and AES-2id transfer function measurement. For pure room acoustics research, DIRAC offers deeper ISO coverage. For everyday measurement across multiple domains, SonaVyx covers more ground.
Platform Comparison
DIRAC runs only on Windows, and some configurations require a hardware USB dongle for license verification. This means you need a Windows laptop at every measurement site. DIRAC also works best with specific B&K hardware — while it can use any ASIO-compatible audio interface, the calibration workflows are optimized for B&K microphones. SonaVyx runs in any modern browser on any device, using the built-in or external microphone. No license dongle, no specific hardware, no Windows requirement.
When to Choose DIRAC
DIRAC is the right choice if you are a professional acoustics consultant billing ISO 3382 compliance reports, need advanced parameters like IACC and lateral fraction, require multi-position spatial averaging per ISO 3382, work in building acoustics or performance space certification, or if your clients specifically require B&K measurement chain traceability. DIRAC's pedigree and depth in room acoustics is unmatched.
When to Choose SonaVyx
SonaVyx is the right choice if you need accessible, zero-cost measurement tools for everyday work, require real-time analysis (RTA, transfer function) alongside room acoustics, want AI-powered diagnostics and automatic problem detection, need mobile device support for quick site checks, work in live sound or AV installation where speed matters, or cannot justify the $2,000-$8,000 DIRAC investment. SonaVyx brings professional measurement capabilities to engineers who need practical tools without enterprise pricing.
Summary
DIRAC is the definitive professional room acoustics measurement platform, backed by Bruel & Kjaer's decades of acoustic instrumentation expertise. It offers the deepest ISO 3382 implementation available and is the standard in academic and consulting acoustics. SonaVyx cannot match DIRAC's depth in spatial room acoustic parameters, but it offers a dramatically broader measurement suite (RTA, transfer function, SPL, problem detection, AI diagnostics) accessible from any device at zero cost. For ISO 3382 consulting, DIRAC remains the professional choice. For everything else — live sound, AV installation, quick site surveys, education — SonaVyx delivers more capability with zero barriers to entry.
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