Num, num, num... SMSC hearts STS (and Kleer)

SMSC builds upon their wireless audio team by acquiring STS. SMSC paid upwards of $25 million for $15 million in 2011 revenues.  Add to that what they paid for Kleer earlier this year, about $7.5 million, and you have about a $30 million dollar investment in a wireless audio baseband team, and an impressive client list... Creative, Sony, Samsung, etc... if only a modest revenue pipeline.

I of course can't argue with SMSC's interest in the wireless audio category. Just some wild ass guessing on my part, but their DTV/Blu-ray/STB line no doubt has led them in accounts to bump into STS architecturally over the past few years. Kleer's technology can also yield some nice applications sitting alongside SMSC's USB offerings that find their way into many a notebook/netbook, I suppose.

An innovative portfolio offering for advanced features will perhaps create a halo effect in the form of design win opportunities for the rest of SMSC's line throughout the audio category helping them realize the "synergies" of these deals.

SMSC Announces Acquisition of STS - MarketWatch.

WoW Wireless marks first Avnera headset available on Apple.com

Following in the footsteps of the Avnera AudioMagic-based products that's have come before from FREETALK, Creative, Logitech, ASUS, and Plantronics – the Sound Blaster World of Warcraft Wireless Headset sports some seriously tweaked features as highlighted on Apple.com's product page:

• Uncompressed 2.4GHz wireless technology (ahem, the one we know and love)
• THX TruStudio PC sound technologies create unprecedented levels of audio realism with stunning surround effects, producing virtual speakers around, above, and below you (THX!)
• Customize your headset with the interchangeable headset lenses (WoW!)
• Oversized ear cups and padding for comfortable gaming even during extended sessions (hardcore gamer requirement)
• Morph your voice into different World of Warcraft characters and creatures with VoiceFX technology (huh? ok)
• Detachable noise-canceling microphone for clear, precise speech deliver
• World of Warcraft Audio Control Panel lets you personalize your headset and enhance your audio experience (tweak!)

The Sound Blaster offering is without a doubt the most differentiated and targeted product to be based on Avnera's single chip solutions: one for the plug-and-play wireless USB-Audio adaptor and the other for the wireless stereo headset.  Each IC integrates all the core wireless, audio, and power management circuitry needed to make these products, but they also provided just enough interfaces, including a general purpose data sideband for wireless control and meta data, to allow vendors to build application enhancements like the backlit ear cups, and game controls of the WoW piece.

As the headline implies, it's somewhat notable for followers of proprietary wireless audio technologies that this product made it's way onto Apple.com, featured on Mac accessory pages of the Apple Online Store.  It's gratifying to see a wireless headphone/headset product that isn't Bluetooth penetrate the traditionally Bluetooth friendly Apple channel (and please correct me if there has been a counterexample I missed along the way).  Just goes to show you can't keep a great technology and a killer user experience off the heads of consumers.  It just took a little feature innovation from the folks at Sound Blaster to get it over the hump.

Very nice! Let's hope it sells through at $159.99.

Updates: Sound Blaster World of Warcraft Wireless Headset

Creative finally released the deets on the new Sound Blaster World of Warcraft Wireless Headset.  A full product page at their site gives you all the info you need.  There is some seriously cool features on this headset for the hardcore WoW masses.  Check out the screen shot of the application for customizing the backlight color and intensity, audio effects controls, and more.  Sweet.

Hopefully some hands on reviews after the ShowStoppers event at CES this week.  From the ShowStoppers website.

CREATIVE LABS

Get Creative at Showstoppers. See the highly anticipated Creative Sound Blaster World of Warcraft Wireless Headset and the new Vado HD Pocket Video Cam, plus exciting new introductions in speaker systems and digital audio.

The leader of the pack (imo).

The Plantronics take on Avnera's first gen AudioMagic chips seems to capture the yellow jersey.  Logitech, Creative, and Freetalk may very well still be selling at a strong clip, but the feature set and execution of the .Audio 995 seems to resonate with consumers more than the others – who admittedly are getting long in the tooth.

Just ran across these user reviews over at Amazon, and they made my day, and so I think they are worth reading...

From Chris Zee Shutterbug:

Let me start with something that amazed me. I plugged the USB dongle into the computer, started Itunes, hit play and music started coming from the headphones!!! I did not have to configure a single thing. [...] That level of ease of operation has to be commended.

From Jennifer:

I love these headphones. I got them for my teenage son, but when he told me to listen to the great sound they became mine! The sound quality is incredible. [...] My son used them for World of Warcraft and he said the sound was awesome. He wants them back...but I've found a great hiding place and I am keeping them!

From CR Swanson:

I've reviewed three different headphones for Amazon Vine, including the three-hundered dollar Monster Beats, and this is, by far, the best of the bunch. They're comfy, they have great sound quality and the wireless mode just can't be beat!

From P Colin McGraw (with a gripe for balance):

I usually use wired headsets, and it feels freeing to be able to walk around the room listening to music, not having to navigate to iTunes with my mouse to fast forward as I get tangled in a headphone's cord. In fact, I'd actually use this headset even if I didn't need a microphone for just the awesome wireless headphone capabilities!

If I had to dig deep for a negative, I guess it would be the comfort. [...] the pads on your ears are designed to go ON TOP of your ears instead of AROUND them. It basically smooshes your ears to the side of your head, which you don't mind at first with the soft pads, but it gets uncomfortable after awhile.

Overall, it's hard to find a flaw with these and I'd wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone looking for a headset with or without a mic! It would be hard to design this headset any better and it's a great value!

There is another review, that gave 2 out of 5 stars (when 4/5 is the average over 8 reviews) – feel free to check it out – but from what I know of our technology, he is experiencing a busted antenna, probably a maunfacturing defect...  No other reason why he'd be getting garbagey sound while he moves.  Also, the output power of the headset compared to a 2.4GHz cordless telephone is not even close!  So if he is looking for a source for his wireless-G woes.. he should direct his attention elsewhere.  That's the spectrum monster.  Also he should switch to Skype and junk the 20th century technology.

The Plantronics .Audio 995 Digital Wireless Stereo Headset is here.

Plantronics .Audio 995A little late to the show, but never more welcome.  If Skype, Logitech, Creative, and Acoustic Research weren't enough for you, there is a new kid on the plug & play wireless USB headset block.  Plantronics has recently launched their .Audio 995. From their site...

Trade up and experience the freedom of wireless. Enjoy up to 40 feet of roaming away from the PC, and full range performance of digital stereo sound for all your PC audio needs – music, Internet calls, podcasts, DVDs, games and more And with features like convenient on-ear music controls and Fast Mic Mute™ you can stay in control even when you’re away from your desk. The pillow-soft, swivel-mounted ear cushions and lightweight design enable all-day wearing comfort for an enjoyable wireless digital experience.

But, in a word.  Awesome.  At $109.95, the .Audio 995 is one of the nicest looking devices in the space.

Man, when almost every brand of headset maker in the PC accessory market has their horse, it's a damn sure sign of a product category that's here to stay.  While to many this isn't a sexy product space, let me offer this... try to think about what other devices come to mind that let you enjoy so many of the things you love to do – music, movies, talking to friends and family, games – and do so while rendering zero-compromise in audio quality, resting squarely (and comfortably) on your skull and sensitive ears, and while picking up and relaying your every word. That's a serious chunk of human interaction! So we're fine with some geeky cynics who say "ho-hum" and cry "commodity!"... in the meantime we'll be blissfully enjoying what everyone will soon take for granted.

What's my point?  Well, I'm proud to have been a part of making this product category a reality, and it's something all those at Avnera and these first OEMs should be similarly proud of.  These are the small successes in consumer electronics that people rarely talk about.  No it's not Apple and their iPhone, or Palm and their Pre, or Nintendo and their Wii... but it's born of countless innovations, creative thinking, worn-out roller-bags, and sleepless nights in every time-zone that make these things happen.

It's nice to think there are many more good ideas being crafted even as the economic news of the day would make you think otherwise.