VAVA Voom or How to Face the Challenge of Designing a Better and Affordable Bluetooth Speaker

VAVA Voom is an affordable Bluetooth 4.0 speaker with innovative features and the sound quality of much larger speaker systems. The first product for the VAVA brand, VAVA Voom was carefully engineered and designed in collaboration with Wai-Loong Lim, founder and CEO of Y Studios, whose list of clients include Sonos, Activision, TiVo and Intel.

Texas Instruments (TI) introduced a low-power smart amplifier that allows designers to develop next-generation smartphones, tablets, portable audio docks or Bluetooth speakers with industry-leading audio quality at peak volumes while maximizing battery efficiency. The TAS2555 audio amplifier with integrated speaker protection uses back electromotive force and low power of 5.7 W to produce bigger sound from small devices.

A great solid-state project where National Semiconductor’s (since 2011, a part of Texas Instruments) LM4702 meets up with Renesas lateral MOSFETs, this article by Jack Walton was originally published in audioXpress July 2007 and it is still cited as a reference today. An ideal project for the DIY enthusiasts.

The 802.15.4 wireless connectivity market is set to continue its transition towards IP-enabled solutions, increasing from 6% of the market in 2015 to over 30% by 2019, says market researcher ABI Research. Alongside this, the market share of combo ICs from the total shipments of 802.15.4 chips is set to grow from 1% to over 12%.

Some audio manufacturers seem to be following the same familiar paradigm regarding file distribution and streaming audio as they have previously done with physical media formats. The problem is, in areas such as media players, servers, DACs and the like, the audio industry no longer dictates the rules.

Texas Instruments released a family of six new audio ADCs, combining professional performance with portable integration. The PCM1865 family includes devices with a dynamic range as high as 110 dB. TI’s new multichannel devices simplify audio front-end design while reducing standby power consumption.

While standards for immersive object-based sound are still being discussed by the SMPTE, DTS decided not to wait any longer and to go after the Dolby Atmos immersive audio format, by announcing its own object-based codec technology, DTS:X. During the CES 2015 multiple audio companies are confirming support for the new DTS:X technology.

To help manufacturers easily add Wi-Fi and dual-mode Bluetooth to embedded applications, including audio streaming for home entertainment applications, Texas Instruments’ new WiLink 8 family makes development easier and faster with certified TI modules and a complete software offering. The new generation of wireless digital audio streaming solutions from TI now features 2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth combo modules.

The November 2014 edition of audioXpress is dedicated to our DIY audience with the first instalment of a rewarding project on “How to Build an Audio Mixer“ by George Adamidis. We also have two great articles on audio amplifiers: one is Class-AB MOSFET-based and the other is a push-pull AB amplifier using KT 120 vacuum tubes. Of course, we continue to discuss the latest Wireless Audio technologies and Audio for Mobile Devices. In the third article in the Nordic Audio series, we explore Scan-Speak’s audio history. We also bring you an article explaining the thinking and product design considerations for the unique Genelec M Series studio monitors. That and much more is already online.