Newauro Brings Smart Speakers Into the Immersive Audio Domain at CES 2024

In July 2022, the Saffelberg Investment group acquired all assets, teams and rights of AURO-3D and founded a new company, Newauro, with the intention to further support the growth of the format and technology suite across all markets. Based in Belgium like the original Auro Technologies company, Newauro announced that it's collaborating with Eastech to demonstrate its latest AURO-Scene virtual immersive audio technology at CES 2024.

DSP Concepts and StreamUnlimited are working together to support audio product development with a new reference design that offers advanced voice control features. DSP Concepts offers its Audio Weaver and TalkTo software development tools for StreamUnlimited's established range of hardware modules, including the latest Stream1955 next generation System-On-Module based on the latest NXP Quad Core SoC. The platform offers support for all major voice assistants.

British chip company XMOS announced the launch of the XVF3610 and XVF3615 next generation voice processors. These high-performance two-mic voice interfaces for wireless speakers, TVs, set-top boxes, smart home appliances, gateway products and more, are built on the company's xcore.ai chip infrastructure, and are available in a cost-effective and easy-to-integrate package. XMOS also kick-started an alpha program for its all new ‘Avona’ voice reference design.

Following earlier demonstrations at CES 2018, Qualcomm introduced a series of new platforms, SoC and development kits targeting new advanced audio applications and smart speakers, including the support of key wireless technologies, voice and cloud ecosystems. Solutions include its Smart Audio Platform optimized for smart speakers, a 6-microphone far field voice platform qualified for Amazon AVS, Dolby Audio implementations for wireless speakers and much more.

At CES 2018, Roku unveiled plans to make it easier for consumers to enjoy streaming entertainment around the whole home. Roku plans to make it especially easy for Roku TV users to add great audio to their TV experience, including voice control. The new whole home entertainment licensing program will enable OEM brands to build soundbars and smart speakers, surround sound and multi-room audio systems that use Roku Connect software to work together as a home entertainment network.