WiSA Technologies to show Fraunhofer’s upHear Spatial Audio Rendering Solution in Combination with WiSA E Wireless Audio Software at CES 2024

WiSA Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: WISA), a leading innovator in wireless audio technology for intelligent devices and next-generation home entertainment systems, announces the company has partnered with Fraunhofer IIS, primary developer of the mp3, xHE-AAC and MPEG-H audio coding standards, and StreamUnlimited to demonstrate Fraunhofer’s upHear spatial audio rendering solution. upHear Flexible Rendering has been designed to bring immersive audio experiences into any room without restrictions of fixed speaker placements or audio source content. The combination of WiSA’s multichannel wireless audio transport and Fraunhofer’s upHear Flexible Rendering, integrated by StreamUnlimited onto the Stream1955 streaming audio module, signifies a new era in home audio, breaking free from the wired constraints that once confined spatial audio to high-end systems in dedicated home theater rooms. With fundamental technologies such as WiSA E and upHear Flexible Rendering, spatial audio has become conveniently accessible to all consumers.

"During Fraunhofer’s 30+ years of experience in audio technology, our mission has always been to develop new and innovative audio algorithms that can bring additional benefits to the market,” said Sebastian Meyer, Product Manager Fraunhofer upHear. “With their 70+ member WiSA Association, many of whom are global speaker brands, and their WiSA E wireless multichannel audio transport software, WiSA has the wireless technology to deliver upHear in the market.”

Fraunhofer’s upHear Flexible Rendering provides concrete benefits to consumers who want the most out of their audio playback devices.

• Immersive Playback – provides a true 3D sound experience with the latest immersive audio formats
• Advanced Upmix – enables immersive playback of legacy audio sources. For example, audio sources encoded to playback as 2.0 or 5.1 can now be enjoyed as immersive audio experience
• Intelligent Adaptation – support of random loudspeaker positions in the room for ease of use

"For too long, immersive audio has required consumers to place multiple speakers in very specific locations within a room,” said Tony Parker, vice president of business development and strategy. “WiSA’s high-definition wireless audio transport running Fraunhofer’s upHear technology breaks that paradigm and frees consumers to enjoy high-quality immersive audio with fewer speakers located anywhere within a room.”