Khadas Introduces Magnetic Snap-On Ultraslim Hi-Res Headphone Amplifier

Khadas is about to launch an interesting new Ultraslim headphone amplifier with high-resolution audio support for smartphones. The design will be compatible with Apple’s MagSafe (and all the copycat magnetic chargers that are about to arrive in the market), just clipping into to the back of an iPhone 12 or 13. The Khadas TEA features the high-performance ESS ES9281AC Pro DAC, as well as LDAC and aptX HD Bluetooth audio from a Qualcomm QCC5125 chip.

Reacting to the fact that streaming music services have started to offer lossless music streaming options, Qualcomm has now extended its aptX Adaptive set of technologies - supported by its latest Snapdragon Sound processors - to also include a CD-quality lossless option over Bluetooth. The new aptX Lossless technology expands options available for Bluetooth wireless audio, combining codec, wireless link and RF optimizations.

The announcement comes directly from Japan and the brand's Asian and Pacific websites, following the Yamaha Design Laboratory preview unveiled in 2020 to promote the new headphones created by lead designers Masafumi Futo and Yoshinobu Terazaki. Now, Yamaha confirmed the flagship and truly unique YH-L700A headphones will be available August 2021, introducing an advanced ANC implementation with a series of smart optimizations.

In early March 2021, following a series of announcements in development platforms and solutions for wireless audio, Qualcomm announced Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound, a new end-to-end approach to promote high-resolution digital audio and enhanced voice communications across devices. The systems' approach combines and optimizes multiple Qualcomm technologies for mobile platforms, processing, connectivity, plus the latest aptX Adaptive audio technologies needed to improve the sound experience for consumers. But how can manufacturers and new brands benefit? Will there be a lossless extension for aptX Adaptive? We asked the questions to Jonny McClintock, Director of aptX Sales & Marketing at Qualcomm.

Goertek has unveiled a new earbud reference design to help manufacturers looking to implement Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound technology speed their time to market. Powered by the Qualcomm QCC5141 Bluetooth Audio SoC, the Rox reference design is optimized for use in TWS earbuds and hearables and is designed to deliver high-resolution music, crystal-clear voice calls, and lag-free gaming — with superior connectivity and extended battery life.

Following previous announcements in development platforms and solutions for wireless audio, Qualcomm announced Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound, a new end-to-end approach to promote high resolution digital audio and enhanced voice communications across devices. The approach combines and optimizes multiple Qualcomm technologies for mobile platforms, processing, connectivity, plus the latest aptX Adaptive audio technologies needed to improve the sound experience for consumers.

With the audio industry and consumer electronic companies pushing the high-resolution audio concept further, Qualcomm is determined to promote the message that consumers don't have to trade quality for convenience when it comes to wireless streaming, thanks to its aptX HD audio technology. At the IFA 2017 show in Berlin, Qualcomm announced that the aptX HD audio ecosystem is expanding rapidly.

The famous audio equipment brand from Cambridge, Massachusetts, Acoustic Research (now part of Voxx International) released a new portable high-resolution audio (HRA) digital player. The new M20 Hi-Res DAP is slimmer and lighter than the brand’s previous flagship model, the AR-M2, and is even more affordable, with 32GB of internal storage and expansion using Micro SDXC cards (up to 256GB). Essentially, the new M20 focuses on the quality of its audio circuits and DAC, offering a “less is more” approach.

Following the conclusion of its CSR acquisition in August 2015, Qualcomm had much more technology to show at CES 2016, including the launch of the new Qualcomm aptX HD enhanced codec, building on the existing aptX audio codec platform, now supporting 24 bit music quality over a Bluetooth wireless connection. Qualcomm states the enhanced audio codec will help manufacturers make wireless high resolution audio a reality.