Areal has appointed Polar as official distributor for its full professional audio portfolio in Great Britain.
From its Belgium headquarters, Areal develops hardware and software that make immersive audio accessible in real-world live sound, installation, and content creation scenarios. The manufacturer’s Upmix Engine hardware converts stereo content into spatial audio in real time, providing venues and rental companies with an answer to the challenge of accommodating stereo performances on immersive systems. The company is also set to launch the SR1 spatial reference headphone, combining a quad-driver architecture in each earcup with Areal’s Acoustic Image Mapping technology, for accurate immersive monitoring beyond the studio in postproduction, broadcast, and education applications.
Polar is an established distributor of audiovisual and communications equipment. The company is recognised for delivering comprehensive solutions via three divisions serving the integrated A/V, professional audio, and music and performance sectors. Polar has dedicated teams of certified technical engineers in both the North and South of England, ensuring a high level of pre/post-sales support for customers.
‘When we started talking to Polar, we were struck by the team’s value-added approach, passion for technology and deep reach into our target markets,’says Areal Commercial Director, Kristof Jeuris. ‘We knew from the first meeting, this was the right partner to proactively showcase the benefits of SR1 and the Upmix Engine to customers in Great Britain. We look forward to working together to accelerate the adoption of immersive audio in this important territory.’
‘Although Areal is a new name in the pro audio world, we’re impressed by the maturity and attention to detail in their first two products,’ adds Polar MD, John Midgley. ‘The years of development and refinement at events like Tomorrowland shine through in the streamlined, logical Upmix Engine design. Likewise, the SR1 forms an elegant, self-contained spatial system with your laptop. Early reactions from our customers have been universally enthusiastic, so we’re excited to share Areal’s innovations with a wider audience nationwide.’
The partnership with Polar marks another step in Areal’s international distribution rollout. The company is rapidly building a selective partner network focused on technical credibility, service capability, and long-term market development. Further distributor announcements will follow throughout 2026.
More: https://polar.uk.com