WPG Entertainment Group launches 2.1-channel smart audio solution based on Qualcomm QCS400 SoC

WPG Holdings, a leading semiconductor component distributor dedicated to the Asia-Pacific market, announced that its subsidiary Quanta Computer has launched a smart speaker reference design based on Qualcomm QCS400 series SoC.

This series is designed by Qualcomm specifically for the field of artificial intelligence, for smarter speakers, sound bars, furniture assistants, and audio and video reception devices. This SoC series integrates high-performance, low-power computing functions and excellent audio technologies, including integrated computing, mesh Wi-Fi, low-power Bluetooth mesh network, voice UI and audio technology, and supports Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and many security features, and uses dual DSP to optimize sound quality. This move is aimed at highly optimized solutions that support artificial intelligence functions for smarter audio and Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

Figure 1- Qualcomm QCS400 series SoC

The family currently has QCS403, QCS404, QCS405, and QCS407. Among them, QCS403/404 are equipped with dual-core/quad-core CPUs respectively, both of which support Bluetooth 5.1; QCS405 includes a quad-core CPU and supports Qualcomm AI Engine (or platform), which can use quad-core CPU, GPU and dual DSP to complete AI inference; QCS407 provides more audio channels for AV receivers on the QCS405 version.

Based on the QCS400 series SoC, Daquan Ding combines the PM405 power management IC and the WiFi front-end IC - WCN3980 to form a cost-effective smart speaker reference design solution.

Figure 2- Framework diagram of the 2.1-channel smart audio reference design solution of DaWan DaQuanDing based on Qualcomm QCS400 SoC

Core technology advantages:

• The QCS400 family is highly integrated and provides cost-effectiveness;

• The QCS400 family series provides overall power efficiency;

• The QCS400 series is pin to pin and has high, medium and low series to meet the needs of all market segments.

Figure 3- DaWan Daquan Ding's 2.1-channel smart audio reference design development board based on Qualcomm QCS400 SoC and the actual picture

Program Specifications:

• Audio source input AUX X1 RCA X1 SPDIF-RCA X1 SPDIF-Optical X1 (optional) Bluetooth5.0 X1;

• IEEE802.11 a/b/g/n/ac X1;

• Dual Channel 6~10W output;

• One Channel Subwoofer output;

• 4 sets of DMIC interfaces;

• 1 set of I2S interface, up to 8 data lines;

• 1 set of USB2.0;

• 2 sets of UART;

• The reserved lines are USB2.0 X1 USB3.0 X1 SDIO X1 HDMI X1 ARC X1.