Goertek Announces Rox Earbud Reference Design with Support for Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound Technology

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.

During a special event promoted to announce a new generation of Amazon Alexa products, technologies and solutions, Amazon introduced an all-new line-up of Echo devices to expand its Alexa voice assistant ecosystem in the home and now also on-the-go. The all-new Echo Buds, using ANC technology licensed from Bose, join the Echo Auto as another option to take Alexa outside the home. The new Echo speakers also include the Echo Studio, engineered in collaboration with Dolby and supporting HRA and immersive audio reproduction.

Sony continued the High-Res Audio focus at IFA 2016, as shown at CES 2016 earlier this year. At the Berlin show, Sony introduced the new MDR-1000X Wireless Headphones with improved noise cancellation performance, while at the same time releasing its Ultimate 'Signature Series' Audio Range, combining reference MDR-Z1R headphones, NW-WM1Z and NW-WM1A Walkman players, and the TA-ZH1ES headphone amplifier. Unveiled for later release was Sony’s first hearable, the Xperia Ear.

Targeting portable audio applications (smartphones, tablets, portable music players, headphones, etc.) Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM) has developed the AK4962, a new advanced 2-channel 32-bit Advanced Audio DAC with DSP, featuring 32-bit 4ch ADC with microphone/headphone receivers, line-amplifier, audio/voice DSP, asynchronous SRC and microcontroller interface. AKM also announced its AK4490EN 32-bit stereo premium D/A converter and dedicated clock generator, AK8157A, are now available.