Qualcomm Launches Snapdragon Sound to Boost Wireless Audio Quality

Qualcomm Technologies announced Snapdragon Sound, a set of audio technologies designed to provide high-quality audio in smartphones, wireless earbuds and headsets. The system-level approach combines multiple technologies from the chipmaker’s mobile and audio platforms, delivering “high-resolution, wired quality audio, wirelessly,” it said Thursday. Snapdragon Sound is targeted to use in streaming music, communications and wireless gaming. It supports 24-bit/96 kHz audio and ultra-low latency, down to 89 milliseconds. It’s also said to offer improved Bluetooth pairing and clearer voice quality than existing technologies. For direct listening on a mobile device, Snapdragon Sound incorporates Qualcomm’s Aqstic digital-to-analog converter, designed to support hi-res formats including 384 kHz 32-bit PCM and Direct Stream Digital with low distortion. Coinciding with the launch, Amazon Music and Qualcomm announced a curated Snapdragon Sound playlist on Amazon’s premium HD Music service, denoted as Ultra DH Snapdragon Sound. Listeners have to be Music HD subscribers to hear the content in Ultra HD, said Amazon. Xiaomi is the first mobile device maker to offer Snapdragon sound. Audio-Technica said it’s working with Qualcomm to solve challenges of connectivity and latency for next-generation wireless audio products. Products are due this year. Consumers will be able to identify optimized products by a Snapdragon Sound badge on smartphones, earbuds and headphones initially. “In time,” the technology will be on PCs, smartwatches and extended reality glasses, Qualcomm said.