Riven’s DSP For “Two Seat” Audio

By James Chevrette

Todd Luliak of Riven Audio identified two holes in the current car audio DSP market and developed a service to address them.

Riven Audio LLC has operated out of Piedmont, Oklahoma since August 2023. Luliak was frustrated by the industry’s focus on one-seat-audio or a vehicle offering only one acoustic sweet spot. The sweet spot refers to the optimal listening position between stereo speakers where the listener can hear a balanced and accurate stereo image as intended by the recording or mix. Luliak, a veteran and long-time car audio competitor, wanted the typical car audio system to expand into “two-seat audio,” where there’s a sweet spot for both the driver and passenger. The two-seat sweet spot can be achieved by using a center channel speaker in the vehicle. Although this does exclude some vehicles, it opens up new possibilities for enthusiasts.

In 1957, Klipsch came out with the first three-channel audio system using a center channel speaker. Other examples of products with center channel upmixer solutions, past and present, include:

• Alpine H800
• JBL MS-8
• Audiotec Fischer/Helix “RealCenter”
• Cello Magic 8

Riven uses its own software, circuit boards and hardware in its SRP Processor that works in conjunction with a traditional DSP. Luliak’s proprietary software breaks down the two-channel stereo inputs into individual parts. These parts can then be reassembled or placed within three channels of output: left, right and center.  This creates a center image for both the driver and passenger for a two-seat optimal acoustic experience.

All Riven products are hand-built, and many of the components are soldered by hand. This is a labor of love for Luliak. At the recent “SQ at the HQ” event at KICKER Headquarters in Oklahoma, Jeffrey Hald used the Riven processor to earn the top spot in the two-seat Sound Quality category.

The Riven Audio processor comes in two different models.

• 2-channel analog and USB input with 3-channel analog outputs
• An optical model that supports a TOSLINK optical input, analog input or direct USB audio input from any supported device (firmware configurable)

For more information, go to the Riven website or email at [email protected]