Qualcomm proposes S7 and S7 Pro Gen 1 sound platform design for new headphone products
Following the launch of the next-generation audio platforms S5 Gen 2 and S3 Gen 2 last year, Qualcomm unveiled the S7 and S7 Pro Gen 1 audio platforms at the Snapdragon Tech Summit 2023. These new offerings integrate artificial intelligence computing capabilities, promising an unprecedented sonic experience.
The latest S7 and S7 Pro Gen 1 platforms are designed under the Snapdragon Sound technology, boasting threefold DSP computational efficiency, a hundredfold device-side artificial intelligence processing power, and enhancements of sixfold computational capacity and threefold memory data throughput. This confluence of features cultivates a more sophisticated personal auditory experience.
Notably, utilizing Qualcomm’s fourth-generation active noise-cancellation technology, these platforms offer a pristine, lossless listening experience. They can also be tailored to individual auditory preferences, enhancing sound performance. The transparent mode ensures users can clearly perceive external sounds whilst relishing high-quality audio, all the while operating at reduced power consumption.
In terms of connectivity, the platforms leverage Qualcomm’s Expanded Personal Area Network (XPAN) technology, enabling swift transitions between devices while safeguarding auditory privacy. Adhering to the Bluetooth 5.4 standards, it also supports the Auracast broadcast audio technology.
The S7 and S7 Pro Gen 1 platforms are compatible with subsequent LE Audio designs, such as utilizing the 5GHz and 6GHz unlicensed radio bands to transmit audio content via Wi-Fi. This permits the transmission of richer audio data, including the streaming of 192kHz lossless content, offering a more immersive auditory sensation, or sharing music through Wi-Fi.
Compared to last year’s S5 Gen 2 platform, which supported 48kHz lossless audio and up to 10 hours of streaming playtime, the newly launched S7 Pro Gen 1 platform offers an impressive 96kHz lossless audio performance. Devices remain capable of up to 10 hours of streaming, with the added advantage of transmitting audio content via Wi-Fi, unlike the S5 Gen 2 platform which solely relied on Bluetooth.
