2014-10-21

Visit Inteno at BBWF E15 and listen to wireless audio over DECT

Wireless audio provides more freedom and enjoyment without the clutter and hassle of cables. But streaming high-quality audio is a challenge. A proof-of-concept project by Inteno, Dialog and Audio Pro shows how DECT is a solution, allowing Gateway makers and telecoms companies to offer a whole new range of services.

DECT is a mature and proven wireless connectivity technology. It made its name in cordless telephony, where it is the de facto global standard with an installed base of more than half a billion products. In recent years DECT is used in a wider range of applications such as home automation and security.

There are, of course, a number of possible wireless technologies, but DECT offers the best fit for the needs of wireless audio applications. For example, with a link budget of up to 120 dB and a typical indoor range of around 100 meters, DECT can easily cover the average house and garden without resorting to complex “mesh topologies” or restricting the positioning of the base station.

Unlike Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, DECT operates in a technology-exclusive frequency band rather than the already congested 2.4 GHz band. This guarantees no interference from other nearby wireless applications, so no annoying loss of signal. What’s more, the band is royalty free, helping reduce costs.

A key challenge for multi-speaker wireless audio set-ups is ensuring the signals to each speaker remain synchronized. This is particularly difficult for packet-based technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which is why many Bluetooth speaker systems include both speakers in one unit.

By contrast, as a time-domain technology, DECT offers built-in synchronization between left and right speakers to within 1 µs. Hence it is possible to create true stereo systems with separate speakers that can be placed anywhere the user likes for maximum convenience and listening enjoyment.

The demo

To fully explore the benefits DECT brings to wireless audio, Inteno teamed up with IC manufacturer Dialog to create a proof-of-concept demonstrator. The demo integrates DECT wireless audio into the Inteno gateway CG300 using a Dialog wireless audio module based on its SmartBeat SC14492 IC. To make it easy to access audio content, Inteno extended the FileMe application with a DLNA control point capabilities. This enables the FileMe Android and iOS application to detect and stream audio to any media render in the home. The iopsys enabled gateway CG300 provides a DLNA media renderer capable of streaming audio through the DECT driver. Using DLNA technology, any control point can now play any audio file available from remote or local through the selected DECT speakers.

“Integrating the DECT wireless audio functionality was a relatively easy task to do,” explains Conny Franzén, CEO of Inteno. “We see it as yet another differentiator and a proof of the flexibility of our iopsys software platform. Enabling DECT wireless audio in the Gateways allows our customers to offer new services and create new revenue streams.”

To complete the demo, Dialog and Inteno worked with speaker manufacturer Audio Pro. Using the SmartBeat SC14492 IC, the Audio Pro ADDON T12 Bluetooth speaker was modified to accept DECT signals, by a simple modification to the I²S interface. In tests using an IC evaluation board, Audio Pro achieved line-of-sight transmission ranges up to 550 meters.

“DECT-based wireless audio is very interesting for speaker companies like ours,” says Tobias Hansson, R&D Manager from Audio Pro. “It would allow us to expand our portfolio with a new generation of fully synchronized stereo systems, giving consumers the convenience of wireless all around the house audio with excellent sound quality and no interruptions.

A chart topper

The Inteno-Dialog-Audio Pro demonstrator is the first proof-of-concept for DECT wireless audio in broadband IADs and Gateways. It is further evidence of the flexibility and growing applicability of this familiar wireless technology.

“The success of the proof-of-concept demonstrator shows just how well-suited DECT is for high-quality wireless audio streaming,” says Adrie van Meijeren, Business Development Manager at Dialog Semiconductor. “The optimized combination of DECT and the Opus Custom codec make it possible to create wireless audio systems with unprecedented sound quality, range and user friendliness at an affordable price.”

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