Philips ensures customers lose the wires but not the audio quality with aptX

Audio expert licenses CSR's aptX for high-quality Bluetooth® stereo audio

Cambridge, UK and Sunnyvale, California, USA -- September 5, 2013 -- CSR plc (LSE: CSR; NASDAQ: CSRE) today announces that its aptX® audio compression codec has been chosen by Philips to ensure high-quality Bluetooth® stereo audio in a range of its wireless audio devices. The first aptX enabled products to be launched from September 2013 onwards will be the Philips Fidelio Wireless SoundTowers DTM9030, the Fidelio Wireless Docking Tower DTM5096, the Fidelio Wireless Portable Speaker P9X, the Android Docking Speaker AS860, Wireless Shoqbox XL SB8600 and the Wireless Studio Speakers S3X and S5X. All products will allow consumers to stream music wirelessly from any aptX-enabled source device.

“We know that our customers want the convenience of a wireless audio connection but without losing any of the quality that a wired device gives them,” says a spokesperson at Philips. “Giving our customers immersive and crystal-clear sound, whether it’s wired or wireless, is paramount, so we tested a number of solutions. We chose aptX because it easily achieves the highest-quality Bluetooth stereo audio on the market.”

Philips is the latest high-profile brand to join the ever growing aptX ecosystem with over 150 manufacturers now using aptX in a range of devices including smartphones, wireless headphones and portable speakers. “Philips has played a significant role in shaping wireless audio technology and is an expert in audio quality, so we’re delighted that the company has chosen aptX,” says Anthony Murray, Senior Vice President, Business Group at CSR.

“As consumer demand grows for both wireless devices and high-quality audio, aptX is perfectly placed to help consumers lose the wires without losing audio quality,” continues Murray. “With millions more audio source devices, including the recently launched Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One, containing aptX, consumers can also be assured that their aptX powered Bluetooth accessories will be compatible with their smartphone or other source device.”

In order to fit within the Bluetooth ‘pipe’ and transmit wirelessly, audio needs to use a bit rate reduction technique. aptX audio technology uses a non-destructive solution to ensure the audio is transmitted over Bluetooth’s available bandwidth. It replicates the entire frequency of the audio, maintaining CD-quality audio over the Bluetooth connection and ensuring that users can hear everything as the artist originally intended.

About CSR

CSR is a global provider of innovative silicon and software solutions for the location-aware, media-rich, cloud-connected world. Our platforms are optimised for the automotive navigation and infotainment, digital cameras and imaging, connected home infotainment and wireless audio markets. We provide solutions to complex problems in the audio-visual, connectivity and location technology domains across a broad range of markets, with a technology portfolio that includes GPS/GNSS systems, Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi®, FM, NFC, aptX® and CVC™ audio codecs, JPEG, MPEG, H.264 imaging, PDL printing, microcontrollers, DSPs and broadband receivers. CSR's technology solutions and market platforms enable its customers to deliver a superior user experience and are adopted by leaders in the auto, computer, home and mobile markets. More information can be found at www.csr.com.