Enhancing the scalability and flexibility of its wireless sound bar portfolio, CSR plc (LSE: CSR; NASDAQ: CSRE) today introduced a single-chip hardware and software audio platform solution, based on the proven CSR8670™ Bluetooth® audio system-on-chip (SoC), that OEMs and ODMs can employ to quickly and easily develop high-quality, entry-level sound bar products. Complementing the mid and high-end MAPX™ based sound bar platform solutions, the CSR8670 cost optimised solution delivers the audio processing power and software feature set required for creating a variety of entry-level sound bar products.

By integrating the DSP, a microcontroller, analogue and digital interfaces and wireless connectivity into a single SoC device, CSR is able to significantly reduce overall system complexity and BOM cost.  This offers OEMs and ODMs a fast and easy solution for creating single-chip 2.0- or 2.1-channel sound bar designs that support analogue and digital inputs, audio decoding and post processing, wireless subwoofers and Bluetooth® music streaming from smartphones, tablets, PCs and laptops.

Until now, products of this kind have needed to employ a number of discrete components: a DSP for audio decoding and post-processing, a microcontroller for system control and user interface, a proprietary RF interface IC for low-latency subwoofer connections, and a Bluetooth RF IC for connectivity to smartphones, tablets, PCs and laptops. This made for a complex and expensive solution, especially for cost-sensitive markets.

By extending its reach into the entry-level market, CSR gives manufacturers the greatest flexibility to address all segments of the sound bar market, from low end to high end, with a comprehensive range of solutions from a single supplier. The versatility of the CSR sound bar portfolio enables OEMs and ODMs to easily create entry-level products based on a single-chip CSR8670 design, with the possibility to then scale up to more fully featured offerings that combine both CSR8670 and MAPX devices.  As with all other CSR8670-based designs, this single-chip entry-level sound bar system can be enhanced with CSR aptX® technology to provide premium audio wireless streaming sound quality.

A private, invitation-only demonstration of this entry-level sound bar solution, as well as a preview of the mid-range MAPX-based CSR wireless sound bar platform, are taking place during the International CES 2013 show in room 907, SpringHill Suites by Marriot, Las Vegas Convention Center, January 8-11. Attendees wishing to view the private demonstration should contact CSR for an invitation.

All CSR's news at CES can be found on its online press kit: http://www.tradeshownews.com/events/2013-International-CES/CSR/

distributed by