Cirrus Logic Helps Ease PC Industry Transition to New MIPI SoundWire Interface

Cirrus Logic (Nasdaq: CRUS) is offering an advanced audio solution to help ease PC manufacturers’ migration to the MIPI SoundWire interface (1.2.1 specification) for a richer, more immersive audio experience. Along with this recently introduced audio solution optimized for the PC platform, Cirrus Logic is collaborating with industry leaders Intel and Microsoft to help ease the transition to the SoundWire interface and scalable architecture to deliver even better audio in next-generation laptop designs. At the heart of the Cirrus Logic advanced, low-power audio solution are the company’s recently announced CS35L56 smart amplifier and CS42L43 Smart HIFI codec that are included in the Intel SoundWire-ready reference design aimed at helping laptop designers make a smooth migration to the new specification.

“The migration toward the SoundWire interface brings needed improvement and forward progress to PC audio design, but for OEMs it still means a platform change,” said Peter Cooney, founder of SAR Insights. “Industry leaders such as Intel, Microsoft, Cirrus Logic and others have not only been working toward enriching future audio experience for users but also aiding PC OEMs in migrating more easily to the new SoundWire interface.”

To do this, Cirrus Logic offers a combined PC audio solution that contains a smart amplifier and codec that lowers the overall bill of materials. Both the Cirrus Logic CS35L56 smart amplifier and CS42L43 SmartHIFI codec provide for simple integration with a SoundWire Device Class Audio (SDCA) manager and are designed to work within Microsoft’s ACX framework.

“At Cirrus Logic, our product development has not only been engineered to offer immersive audio but also help OEMs accelerate their design process to be compatible with upcoming SoundWire specifications,” said Carl Alberty, vice president of Cirrus Logic's Mixed-Signal Products group. “This includes working closely with industry leaders, such as Intel and Microsoft, on the MIPI SoundWire integration design-in so that our customers come away with a more streamlined and differentiated audio solution that can scale throughout their product offerings.”

“Intel has been working diligently within the industry, and with the Audio Working Group, to help accelerate the advancement of the PC platform and improve audio performance,” said Ken McKee, general manager of Client Customer Engineering and vice president of the Client Computer Group for Intel. “Companies like Cirrus Logic that align with these goals help make the transition easier for OEMs to adopt so that greater innovation can be achieved. Such collaborative industry efforts benefit PC OEMs with more flexible design while offering the user a richer audio experience.”