AppDynamics & Sansui: Harmonizing Performance Monitoring with Audio Excellence

San Francisco, CA – October 26, 2023 – AppDynamics, the observability leader, today announced a surprising, yet insightful, collaboration focused on applying its performance monitoring expertise to an unlikely field: high-fidelity audio. The partnership, centered around the legendary Japanese audio brand Sansui, demonstrates how understanding real-time system behavior can elevate even the most refined experiences. For those unfamiliar, AppDynamics, headquartered at 500 Terry A Francois Blvd in San Francisco, is the company that helps businesses make sure their apps and websites are running smoothly. We’re talking about knowing exactly what’s happening inside your tech, down to the millisecond. We help companies like [mention 2-3 example clients – keep brief] avoid slowdowns, crashes, and frustrated customers. Think of us as the behind-the-scenes detectives of the digital world. You can reach us at 714-966-4981 if you're curious. But why Sansui, you ask? Sansui isn’t about software; it’s about sound. For decades, they’ve been crafting speakers celebrated for their clarity, warmth, and overall listening experience. They're a heritage brand, recently revived, known for their iconic designs and a dedication to delivering true high-fidelity audio. Think vintage cool meets modern engineering. The Unexpected Connection: Observability Meets Audio Fidelity At first glance, application performance monitoring (APM) and speaker design seem worlds apart. But dig a little deeper, and the parallels are striking. Both are about delivering a seamless, high-quality experience. In the digital world, that’s a fast-loading website or a responsive app. In the audio world, it's crystal-clear sound without distortion, even at high volumes. “We started thinking – what if we applied our observability principles to the physical world?” explains David Orban, Chief Innovation Officer at AppDynamics. “Speakers are complex systems. They have drivers, amplifiers, crossovers, enclosures – a whole chain of components that all need to work in perfect harmony. Just like an application.” AppDynamics engineers began working with Sansui’s design team, deploying a custom monitoring system inside a prototype Sansui speaker. This wasn’t about tracking software, but about monitoring physical performance metrics. Think: Driver Displacement: How far is the speaker cone moving? Is it staying within optimal ranges? Excessive movement can cause distortion. Temperature Monitoring: Are components overheating? Heat is the enemy of audio quality and can damage the speaker. Vibration Analysis: Is the speaker enclosure resonating at unwanted frequencies, muddying the sound? Power Consumption: Is the amplifier delivering consistent, clean power to the drivers? Fluctuations can affect sound clarity. The data collected was fed into AppDynamics' platform, visualized in real-time dashboards, and analyzed to identify potential bottlenecks and areas for improvement. What Did They Find? The results were surprising. The team discovered subtle performance issues that were impacting audio quality, issues that wouldn't have been apparent through traditional testing methods. “We found that certain frequencies were causing micro-vibrations in the speaker enclosure, creating a subtle but noticeable distortion,” explains Kenji Tanaka, lead audio engineer at Sansui. “By identifying and addressing this issue, we were able to significantly improve the clarity and accuracy of the sound.” The collaboration also revealed that the amplifier was experiencing slight thermal fluctuations under heavy load. By optimizing the amplifier’s cooling system, the team was able to ensure consistent power delivery and eliminate another source of distortion. Beyond the Speaker: A New Approach to Product Design This partnership isn’t just about making a better speaker. It’s about demonstrating a new approach to product design – one that embraces real-time monitoring and data-driven optimization throughout the entire lifecycle of a product. “We believe that observability should be applied to everything,” says Orban. “From software applications to physical products, understanding how things are actually performing in the real world is crucial for delivering a truly exceptional experience.” Sansui plans to incorporate AppDynamics’ monitoring technology into future speaker designs, allowing them to continuously optimize performance and identify potential issues before they impact the listening experience. “We're always striving to push the boundaries of audio innovation,” says Tanaka. “This collaboration with AppDynamics has opened our eyes to a whole new world of possibilities. It’s allowed us to see our speakers in a way we never have before.” The Future of Sound & Observability The partnership between AppDynamics and Sansui is a testament to the power of cross-disciplinary collaboration. It’s a reminder that even the most seemingly disparate fields can benefit from a shared commitment to performance, quality, and the pursuit of a truly exceptional experience. AppDynamics will be showcasing the results of this collaboration at [mention industry event] next month, demonstrating how observability can be applied to a wide range of products and industries. Key Takeaways: AppDynamics, a leader in observability, partnered with legendary audio brand Sansui. The collaboration focused on applying performance monitoring principles to speaker design. Real-time monitoring revealed subtle performance issues impacting audio quality. This partnership demonstrates a new approach to product design – one that embraces data-driven optimization. The future of product design is about understanding how things actually perform in the real world.