SMSC launches highly integrated wireless headset audio processor with tri-band support

2012 International CES, HAUPPAUGE, USA: SMSC announced the availability of the industry’s most fully integrated and advanced wireless audio processor, the DARR84, aimed at delivering uncompressed wireless multichannel and multipoint audio with tri-band support for consumer audio and gaming applications.

This device is the latest in SMSC’s KleerNet family of low latency, low power wireless audio solutions. SMSC will demonstrate its wireless audio family of products at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas from January 10 – 13, 2012 at Booth # MP25766 in the South Hall 2 Meeting Place and at the Hilton Hospitality Suites.

“Wireless audio gaming is a hot consumer market where headset technology that can support alternating game audio and voice chat for up to 4 players is an exciting prospect,” said Jordan Watters, SMSC’s VP, Marketing and Business Development. “With our ready-to-go reference design and compatible KleerNet interoperable software, we are enabling our customers to offer robust audio quality headsets and headphones at attractive consumer price points.”

The DARR84 integrates a 24-bit audio DAC, headphone amplifier, ADC microphone amplifier and an analog audio input to reduce the overall solution costs. One of the key differentiating features of this wireless audio processor is the ability to mix game audio with chat, all while reducing system BOM requirements through the integration of multiple front end audio interfaces.

The higher integration of the DARR84 is also well-suited for developing high quality speaker products for home theatre applications, such as wireless front/rear speakers and multi-channel sound bars with a sub-woofer. The DARR84 wireless audio processor from SMSC is an excellent choice for companies integrating Wi-Fi and Bluetooth into their consumer electronics products, including gaming headphones and headsets, VOIP and high-end audio applications. Its support of 2.4, 5.2 and 5.8 GHz frequency bands allows it to seamlessly coexist with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n standards, which minimizes the impact of Wi-Fi on wireless audio as well as the impact of the wireless audio on Wi-Fi throughput.

The DARR84’s digital audio transmission technology makes it possible to detect and correct transmission errors before they reach the listening device using SMSC's specialized Wireless (DNA) Detect 'n Avoid RF monitoring techniques for high quality audio transmission and management of interference commonly associated with other RF devices such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and microwave ovens. The DARR84 also has an integrated SRC, making it easy to support multiple audio sampling rates.

SMSC’s DWLC84 and DWHS84 reference designs enable the development of speakers and sound bars with a variety of options to reduce total BOM costs and to deliver high quality gaming headsets at attractive consumer price points.