The reference design is not dead! This is still a very valuable technique to highlight new technologies and give developers an easier way to start a design, as well as guide existing customers towards using these new products.
Knowles’ new reference design brings together its hybrid driver and SiSonic MEMS microphones alongside a Qualcomm QCC5144 Bluetooth SoC.
What is a hybrid driver?
Knowles describes this as follows:
“Designed to enable Harmonized Sound with a Balanced Armature Unit and Dynamic Woofer
o Powerful dynamic sound for low-range sound
o Articulate & delicate treble for mids and highs
o Balanced sound across the full range”
So, by bringing a BA and dynamic driver together into one package this takes the benefits of a BA (improved mids and highs) and adds low range with the dynamic driver to create a full range solution. This is focused on achieving excellent sound for high end devices, the additional cost is too much for the cut-throat mid to low-end of the market where saving a few cents is the primary aim.
It’s an interesting approach and one that could see lots of interest as high-end TWS brands look to further differentiate with higher performance audio. There is increasing use of multiple drivers in TWS and there are many options now becoming available, including MEMS speakers. Currently designers are able to play with multiple options combining the 3 main speaker/driver types.
If you are interested in SAR’s analysis of driver pricing in TWS and other market, please get in touch
