Bang & Olufsen (B&O) has used the 2013 CES show to launch products using the new Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) multi-channel open wireless audio standard from the Wireless Speaker and Audio Association, it is the first manufacturer to use “certified” WISA technology.The new technology is now built B&O branded speakers and televisions that are now able to reproduce 24-bit, uncompressed music at native sampling rates wirelessly using the 5.0GHz to 5.8GHz DFS range to avoid interference from other signals.
The new standard claims to overcome the latency and error problems associated with low-end wireless speaker solutions.
Lip synch issues and the odd crackle due to compression-induced latency have also been eliminated by the new standard’s fixed latency of just 5ms. B&O will be using microchips from Summit Semiconductor to comply with the standard.
While many companies have purported to offer WiSA-certified products over the two years since the technology was announced, B&O claims to have the first shipping, certified product to comply with the wireless audio standard.
“We are proud to announce that the first brand to achieve the WiSA stamp of approval is also one of the world’s most iconic champions of amazing sound, says Jim Venable, WiSA president. “Bang & Olufsen is paving the way to a new generation of wireless speakers with uncompromising quality.”
“Before this, wireless speakers have been just bad because they are trying to squeeze into the crowded 2.4GHz frequency,” says Venable, pointing out how much different the WiSA standard is from Bluetooth aptX and Apple Airplay. “For the custom installer, their credibility is on the line with wireless. Now they can feel safe.”
“Our engineers have been testing the boundaries of wireless speaker technology for years,” says B&O CEO Tue Mantoni. “But not until today the transmission quality simply hasn’t been reliable and good enough. Now, our investment in this pioneering technology and out collaboration with WiSA pay off.”
Mantoni continues, “Immaculate Wireless Sound is the biggest innovation from Bang & Olufsen for several years and will form the backbone for a launch of several new speaker products later this year.” Those announcement are due in late October, according to the company.
