American high-end audio specialist AudioControl has unveiled the Hyperion APR-16 Immersive Sound Processor, a no-compromise flagship designed squarely for professional AV integrators and reference-grade home theaters. Debuting at ISE 2025 and later showcased at CEDIA Expo 2025, the APR-16 marks the launch of the new Hyperion series—and signals a decisive push into next-generation immersive cinema.
At its core, the APR-16 is built for scale, precision, and longevity. It supports up to 16 channels of decoding and upmixing for modern immersive formats, delivering the kind of headroom and routing flexibility demanded by serious, purpose-built theaters. AudioControl says the processor meets—and exceeds—all 21 performance criteria of the CEDIA/CTA-RP22 Immersive Audio Design Recommended Practice, while also earning HAA certification for scientifically validated acoustic accuracy.
Dirac ART at the center
One of the APR-16’s defining features is its deep integration of Dirac Live technologies, including Room Correction, Bass Control, and Active Room Treatment (ART). Together, these tools allow real-time optimization of the listening space—taming room modes, synchronizing multiple subwoofers, and delivering a more coherent, spatially precise soundfield. For installers and calibrators, Dirac modules can be selectively licensed and activated, making it possible to tailor each system exactly to the room and the client’s preferences. As the first Hyperion model to fully exploit Dirac ART, the APR-16 positions itself at the cutting edge of immersive audio calibration.
Reference-grade digital architecture
Audio performance is anchored by ESS SABRE ES9039Q2M 32-bit DACs, chosen for their ultra-low distortion, wide dynamic range, and ruler-flat frequency response. An ARM-based DSP platform handles signals up to 24-bit/192 kHz, ensuring a transparent signal path and effortless handling of complex immersive mixes without bottlenecks or sonic coloration.
On the video side, the APR-16 is fully future-ready. Seven HDMI 2.1 inputs and one HDMI output with eARC deliver the full 48 Gbps bandwidth required for 8K/60 Hz and 4K/120 Hz, alongside support for HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG, VRR, and HDCP 2.3. The unit is also ISF-certified, ensuring studio-grade video passthrough without unwanted processing.
Analog and digital audio connectivity is equally comprehensive. Inputs include unbalanced RCA, balanced XLR, optical, and coaxial digital, while outputs provide 16 assignable RCA and 16 assignable XLR channels, enabling everything from traditional layouts to advanced multi-subwoofer and height-speaker configurations.
Installer-first features and control
True to its professional focus, the Hyperion APR-16 includes Dante/AES67 network audio for distributed systems, robust EDID and HDCP management, RS-232 and TCP/IP control, multiple Ethernet ports, 12V triggers, and IR input. Day-to-day operation is handled via a clean web-based interface, a 7-inch front-panel touchscreen, or the included IR remote, while cloud-based firmware updates ensure the platform continues to evolve.
Housed in a solid 3U rack-mount chassis, the APR-16 measures approximately 45.5 × 43.5 × 13.3 cm and runs on a universal 100–240 V power supply with modest power consumption. More than just a processor, AudioControl positions the Hyperion APR-16 as a scalable foundation—a toolset that gives installers virtually unlimited freedom to design, route, and refine high-end home theaters without artificial constraints.
