Imagination Technologies (IMG.L) and Meridian Audio have announced that they have entered into an agreement to collaborate on the next generation of multi-channel high resolution wireless audio streaming systems.
Meridian Audio is to use Imagination’s family of Caskeid technologies to apply its ‘audio expertise’ to the wireless audio streaming environment. This agreement will draw upon Imagination’s processor, connectivity and audio technologies to complement Meridian Audio’s technologies for lossless stereo and surround sound.
Meridian Audio chairman and co-founder Bob Stuart commented: “At Meridian, we’ve been designing and creating state-of-the-art audio and video home entertainment systems for over 35 years. Our passion is in achieving the best possible audio and video reproduction, while retaining the purity of the original source material. The quest to achieve this in the wireless sphere is our next aim, which is why we are working with Imagination and its Caskeid family of technologies, which is the only wireless multiroom synchronisation technology out there that truly delivers a platform for high quality audio.”
Imagination CEO Hossein Yassaie added: “Partnerships like this will elevate the listening experience and bring audio quality back to the centre stage enabling music fans to hear content as the artist originally intended. We are delighted to be working with a company with such a respected audio heritage as Meridian Audio to drive this agenda.”
Caskeid is a family of technologies developed by Imagination to deliver ‘efficient and accurate’ wireless multiroom and multi-channel audio. Specifically, Caskeid technologies are designed to address accurate and advanced synchronization, effective low latency (for instant response across the system) and comprehensive management of the speaker system. Caskeid technologies are available for licensing from Imagination now as part of its portfolio of connected audio platforms, based on MIPS processors and Ensigma wireless connectivity technologies, for custom SoC design. Caskeid enabled speakers can be used with any music streaming services including Pandora, Rdio, Deezer and Spotify through a combination of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
Both PEAQ and Pure are already shipping Caskeid enabled speakers and Onkyo is reportedly to use the technology in a future product range. Imagination says that more licensees are in the pipeline to integrate Caskeid or selected technologies from the Caskeid family.
To make Caskeid’s advanced capabilities fully accessible to music services, a Caskeid Software Developer Kit (SDK) enables agnostic app support over Wi-Fi for any Caskeid speakers. Announcements from partners who are using the SDK are expected later this year, Imagination adds.
Caskeid technology reportedly delivers stereo playback with less than 25µs synchronisation accuracy, providing a true ‘Wi-Fi Hi-Fi’ experience that is ‘good enough to replace wires’, Imagination claims.
