HAUPPAUGE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SMSC (NASDAQ: SMSC), a leading semiconductor company enabling content rich connectivity systems, today announced the availability of the industry’s most fully integrated and advanced wireless audio processor, the DARR84, aimed at delivering uncompressed wireless multichannel and multipoint audio with tri-band support for consumer audio and gaming applications. This device is the latest in SMSC’s KleerNet™ family of low latency, low power wireless audio solutions. SMSC will demonstrate its wireless audio family of products at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas from January 10 – 13, 2012 at Booth # MP25766 in the South Hall 2 Meeting Place and at the Hilton Hospitality Suites.
“Wireless audio gaming is a hot consumer market where headset technology that can support alternating game audio and voice chat for up to 4 players is an exciting prospect,” said Jordan Watters, SMSC’s Vice President, Marketing and Business Development. “With our ready-to-go reference design and compatible KleerNet interoperable software, we are enabling our customers to offer robust audio quality headsets and headphones at attractive consumer price points.”
The DARR84 integrates a 24-bit audio DAC, headphone amplifier, ADC microphone amplifier and an analog audio input to reduce the overall solution costs. One of the key differentiating features of this wireless audio processor is the ability to mix game audio with chat, all while reducing system BOM requirements through the integration of multiple front end audio interfaces. The higher integration of the DARR84 is also well-suited for developing high quality speaker products for home theatre applications, such as wireless front/rear speakers and multi-channel sound bars with a sub-woofer. The DARR84 wireless audio processor from SMSC is an excellent choice for companies integrating Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® into their consumer electronics products, including gaming headphones and headsets, VOIP and high-end audio applications. Its support of 2.4, 5.2 and 5.8 GHz frequency bands allows it to seamlessly coexist with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n standards, which minimizes the impact of Wi-Fi on wireless audio as well as the impact of the wireless audio on Wi-Fi throughput. The DARR84’s digital audio transmission technology makes it possible to detect and correct transmission errors before they reach the listening device using SMSC's specialized Wireless (DNA)™ Detect 'n Avoid RF monitoring techniques for high quality audio transmission and management of interference commonly associated with other RF devices such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and microwave ovens. The DARR84 also has an integrated SRC, making it easy to support multiple audio sampling rates. SMSC’s DWLC84 and DWHS84 reference designs enable the development of speakers and sound bars with a variety of options to reduce total BOM costs and to deliver high quality gaming headsets at attractive consumer price points.
Availability
The DARR84 is available now and is production ready.
About KleerNet
KleerNet is a complete hardware and software solution that enables wireless audio in home and portable consumer electronics products and features interoperability across products and brands. KleerNet-compatible products allow users to recognize and pair with other KleerNet products to access and stream multiple music sources, speakers or headphones, creating a versatile and comprehensive platform. SMSC has leveraged seven generations of our proven, DARR high-performance wireless audio technology, successfully deployed in many consumer products worldwide, with extensive application software development to create the robust and interoperable KleerNet application. The KleerNet software platform provides high-quality, uncompressed, low-latency, multi-channel wireless audio that supports a wide variety of applications in the PC, gaming and home audio markets.
About SMSC
SMSC is a leading developer of Smart Mixed-Signal Connectivity™ solutions. SMSC employs a unique systems level approach that incorporates a broad set of technologies and intellectual property to deliver differentiating products to its customers. The company is focused on delivering connectivity solutions that enable the proliferation of data in personal computers, automobiles, portable consumer devices and other applications. SMSC’s feature-rich products drive a number of industry standards and include USB, MOST® automotive networking, Kleer® and JukeBlox® wireless audio, embedded system control and analog solutions, including thermal management and RightTouch® capacitive sensing. SMSC is headquartered in New York and has offices and research facilities in North America, Asia, Europe and India. Additional information is available at www.smsc.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Except for historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this announcement are forward-looking statements about expected future events and financial and operating results that involve risks and uncertainties. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different from those discussed in forward-looking statements. Our risks and uncertainties include the timely development and market acceptance of new products; the impact of competitive products and pricing; our ability to procure capacity from our suppliers and the timely performance of their obligations, commodity prices, interest rates and foreign exchange, potential investment losses as a result of liquidity conditions, the effects of changing economic and political conditions in the market domestically and internationally and on our customers; our ability to realize the expected benefits of acquisitions; our relationships with and dependence on customers and growth rates in the personal computer, consumer electronics and embedded and automotive markets and within our sales channel; changes in customer order patterns, including order cancellations or reduced bookings; the effects of tariff, import and currency regulation; potential or actual litigation; and excess or obsolete inventory and variations in inventory valuation, among others. In addition, SMSC competes in the semiconductor industry, which has historically been characterized by intense competition, rapid technological change, cyclical market patterns, price erosion and periods of mismatched supply and demand.
Our forward looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations and may not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers or divestitures. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and are based upon the information available to SMSC at this time. Such statements are subject to change, and the Company does not undertake to update such statements, except to the extent required under applicable law and regulation. These and other risks and uncertainties, including potential liability resulting from pending or future litigation, are detailed from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the SEC. Investors are advised to read the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly those sections entitled “Other Factors That May Affect Future Operating Results” or “Risk Factors” for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties.
SMSC, MOST, Kleer, JukeBlox and flexPWR are registered trademarks and Smart Mixed-Signal Connectivity and KleerNet are trademarks of Standard Microsystems Corporation.