Fujitsu Develops Low-Cost Audio Kit

With the audio systems found in modern day cars growing more and more complex, finding a solution that is both cheap and high-quality at the same time is not easy. Yet, Fujitsu Semiconductor America (FSA) believes it has found the solution.

Very complicatedly called CD-less Audio Design Kit, Fujitsu's solution comes as an ARM-based System-on-a-Chip (SoC) for audio systems that do not require a CD player. It can be used to playback audio files in MP3, Windows Media Audio (WMA), Ogg Audio and Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) formats, while at the same time supporting radio tuner, Bluetooth, USB mass-storage, SD/SDHC Card and iPod devices.

Having dropped the CD player altogether, the system uses digital audio playback via a USB memory, SD/SDHC card and MMC memory card, as well as Apple iPod audio playback via USB. It can be used as part of the sound system created by pretty much all manufacturers of audio systems for cars.

Being designed as a low cost kit, the system will be sold by Fujitsu in four configurations, starting from $3,500 (for the reference design kit).

"A growing number of consumers have embraced digital devices as their preferred means of listening to audio," said Akio Nezu, senior manager of marketing, Fujitsu Semiconductor America.

"The Fujitsu audio design kit based on the MB9G711 SoC enables car audio system designers to develop low-cost 'CD-less' sound systems with the robust digital playback and connectivity options consumers want. The solution allows consumers to enjoy digital audio files in their vehicles directly from their preferred MP3 players or devices equipped with USB, SD or Bluetooth connectivity."