For all its convenience, wireless in the home always seems
to have trade-offs – mysterious signal losses, degradation in quality and
less-than-easy set-up.
This can apply to both Wi-Fi internet connections and other
applications, such as wireless speakers and headphones.
Avnera, a fab-less chip company based in Oregon, has
unveiled a technology today that concentrates on conquering one problem area –
wireless audio.
It claims six innovations: forward error correction so the
receiver can repair lost data, a dispersion technology that spreads out errors
in time, a small spectrum footprint that allows it to choose from 40 possible
channels, dynamic frequency selection which changes to the optimum channel, two
separate antennae and dynamic power control to increase power if the receiver
is far away.
Avnera has packed all of its features onto a single chip
rather than using several, enabling 30 per cent lower system costs. Its
wireless systems are also plug and play.
Wireless headphones from Acoustic Research at $199 performed
well in a demonstration. The sound was crystal clear until cutting out sharply
from about 50 feet away, although an amplifier unit would have extended the
range. A second product already available is the RocketFish Wireless Rear
Speaker Kit at $99.
Avnera’s management team has previous experience with
Bluetooth and sound software companies. Their solution is a proprietary one but
“there’s lots of examples where in certain markets it hasn’t made sense to use
a standards-based technology,” says Mats Myrberg, head of product development.
Avnera has been developing its AudioMagic and VoiceMagic
chips since 2004 with this one market in mind.
Wireless products have the highest return rate of any
items in the stores of electronics retailer Best Buy. It is therefore an endorsement of Avnera that Best Buy is its
first customer and is also an investor among regular VCs such as Bessemer,
Redpoint and Intel Capital.
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