CSR launches tiny, highly advanced Bluetooth headset design for just $5

BlueVox2 brings headset makers world exclusive features at lowest cost

Cambridge, UK - CSR (LSE: CSR) furthered its lead in Bluetooth headset technologies with the release of its BlueVox2 mono headset solution costing just $5; the world’s lowest cost advanced Bluetooth headset. BlueVox2 features extremely low power consumption and zero cost noise reduction. CSR’s design incorporates a number of world firsts, including AuriStream for superior voice quality, simultaneous connection of multiple devices and support for Bluetooth version 2.1+EDR. BlueVox2 also presents headset manufacturers with the opportunity to design the world’s smallest Bluetooth headsets through an ultra small 4.5x5.5mm BGA package option.

The low eBOM of $5 includes the BlueVox2 QFN chip, together with all of the components necessary for a Bluetooth mono headset mounted on a four-layer printed circuit board. BlueVox2 is incredibly power efficient, permitting 15 hours talktime with a small 120mAh battery. BlueVox2’s range of features also includes hardware-based noise reduction technology at no extra cost. CSR’s all inclusive eBOM helps OEMs keep their costing simple and predictable.

The design also raises voice quality to the standard of a landline phone by using CSR’s AuriStream CODEC. AuriStream delivers an ITU-T mean opinion score (MOS) of up to 4.2 out of 5, even without the additional benefits of noise reduction. In comparison, headsets using only the more standard CVSD CODECs achieve a MOS of around 2.46. Calls made using AuriStream are of noticeably better quality.

BlueVox2 is the first ever ROM headset design to allow two or more Bluetooth devices to be connected to the same headset. This means that with one headset it is possible to take calls from both a work and personal phone or a phone and a VoIP dongle. The feature doesn’t impact the power consumption and is designed to be easy and intuitive to use.

BlueVox2 is the world's first ROM to adhere to Bluetooth v2.1+EDR, offering Secure Simple Pairing, which greatly simplifies the headset-to-phone pairing process while significantly increasing Bluetooth device security. With the enhanced inquiry scan Bluetooth v2.1 can also gather and present a greater range of information when searching for devices, including a list of services each device supports.

“We are very pleased to have achieved a number of world firsts in BlueVox2”, said Anthony Murray, Senior Vice President of CSR’s Wireless Audio Business Unit. “BlueVox2 has by far the lowest power consumption in the market, is the first to use Bluetooth version 2.1, first to feature AuriStream, the lowest cost headset with so many features and, thanks to clever engineering, one of the most compact headsets in the world. The noise and echo reduction as well as the AuriStream CODEC ensures that voice quality on this device is better than any other on the market. CSR has crammed in a huge number of features for an eBOM of just $5. Most of these features would normally only be available in much more costly solutions.”

BlueVox2 integrates onto a single chip the world’s leading Bluetooth radio design, CODECs for the microphone and speakers, power management, a battery charger and a microprocessor to run virtual machine applications. BlueVox2’s silicon, based on CSR’s BlueCore6-Audio ROM, features a low cost 7x7mm QFN package as well as a 4.5x5.5mm BGA package option for the world’s smallest headset IC. The performance of BlueVox2’s radio is exemplary, with TX+8dBm and Rx -90Bm helping to overcome cross-body issues and increase range.

CSR is currently sampling BlueVox2, with first headsets expected to be in the shops by Q308.