Wireless reference design paves way for efficient speakers

HiWave Technologies' Monad A1 reference design is based on a higher power mono version of its Audium amplifier chip. According to the transducer specialist, it enables designers to rapidly integrate HiWave's suite of technologies into wireless loudspeaker products, paving the way for cheap, long lasting, battery powered, hi fi quality speakers. The reference design give designers simple 'hooks' allowing wireless technologies such as Bluetooth, 802.11 or WiFi to be easily connected. Optimised for the company's BMR speaker drivers, it can also drive traditional speakers. The main circuit board comprises the Audium mono amplifier chip with its passive components, together with a battery and connectors to speakers. The circuit board has a connector that allows a wireless audio daughter board to be connected and HiWave's initial demonstrator features a module with SMSC's Kleer wireless audio processor, chosen for its low power consumption. The demonstration kit comprises a pair of HiWave's Monad A1 boards, each with a Kleer wireless daughter board, a pair of speakers featuring the company's HIBM36S12 BMR drivers and a transmitter module that plugs into the 30pin connector on an iPad, iPod or iPhone. It enables the evaluation of the point to multipoint system by playing media directly from any of these devices. Volume levels are synchronised between the two amplifiers and can be controlled from the host, or from either amplifier board. A USB transmitter is also available.