Audio Video News

San Jose-based Synaptics has announced the availability a THX Certified audio codec that supports high-resolution playback on headphones.

Intended for headphones/headsets, mobile gaming devices, and personal audio devices, the AudioSmart CX21988-THX is the industry’s first USB-C audio codec to attain THX certification.

The ultra-compact single-chip codec is described as “ideal for immersive, high-resolution headphone applications” and includes five-band equalization to simplify tuning.

To gain certification, the codec had to meet or exceed a battery of stringent technical requirements set forth by THX engineers, who completed hundreds of measurements and tests focusing on frequency response, audio output vs. distortion, and ability to accurately reproduce the complexity of a recording’s engineered sound field.

"The key to developing a great sounding set of headphones, especially ones capable of accurately reproducing the engineered sound field of a mix, is utilizing a winning combination of professional-grade components," said THX senior vice president Peter Vasay. "The Synaptics USB-C codec impressed us, as it supports high-resolution audio with best-in-class headphone performance, and boasts ultra-low distortion, and tuning options to greatly improve the performance of connected transducers. We believe it to be the ideal foundation for the development of THX Certified headphones."

"Having [the codec] certified by THX for its performance and quality, serves as validation of the significant engineering that went into making this single-chip solution ideal for providing an immersive listening experience on high-fidelity headphones and headsets," said Saleel Awsare, Synaptics’ vice president and general manager for audio.

In August, 1More introduced the world’s first THX Certified headphones, the $100 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphones.

For more information, visit synaptics.com.