Oppo's new Bluetooth chip, the MariSilicon Y, promises lossless audio without requiring dangling wires.
The giant Chinese phone maker touts that the custom chip handles audio quality similar to what wired earphones offer. The latest offering of Oppo is surely a game-changer for Bluetooth audio tech.
(Photo : JOSEP LAGO/AFP via Getty Images)
A Oppo logo is displayed at the MWC (Mobile World Congress) in Barcelona on March 2, 2022. - The Mobile World Congress, where smartphone and telecoms companies show off their latest products and reveal their strategic visions, is expected to welcome more than 40,000 guests over its four-day run.
Oppo's New Bluetooth Chip Offers Lossless Audio
As per the latest news story by 9to5 Google, Chinese tech giant, Oppo, introduced its new custom Bluetooth chip, boasting that it offers lossless audio quality.
Bluetooth has been the go-to connection for most earbuds since smartphones started ditching the 3.5 mm jack.
Apple started the trend when it killed the headphone port on its iPhone 7 series. While other Android phone makers initially mocked the move, Samsung and Google Pixel followed through.
(Photo : JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Apple wireless AirPods are tested during a media event at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, California on September 07, 2016.
However, Bluetooth audio disappoints most audiophiles as it skips on lossless audio quality. This time, Oppo is attempting to change that.
The Chinese phone maker claims that its new MariSilicon Y chip offers 50% more bandwidth than what Bluetooth chips achieve nowadays.
To be more precise, this custom chip handles up to 12 Mbps of bandwidth. It is quite impressive for a Bluetooth connection. With that, Oppo says that it provides 24-bit lossless audio of up to 192 kHz.
9to5 Google notes in its report that no other chip can handle this right now. So it looks like Oppo is leveling up the playing field.
Read Also: Huawei, Oppo Sign Cross-Licensing Agreement, Covers Cellular Standard Essential 5G Patents
How MariSilicon Y Bluetooth Chip Works
According to a recent report by Android Police, the custom chip runs on a proprietary codec. And on top of that, it also comes with a powerful NPU. These two work hand in hand to bring exceptional audio quality sans the wires.
The codec that the MariSilicon Y supports is the new ultra-resolution lossless coder or URLC. With this, the chip potentially brings spatial audio as well.
Even if the custom chip does all these things, it comes in a smaller size. So future earbuds that would support lossless audio would not be bulkier. Instead, they might even be smaller than the current offerings.
It is worth noting that streaming services, such as Apple Music and Amazon Music, now bring lossless audio. But it is only compatible with wired headphones, according to Mac Rumors.
Spotify also promised to bring Hi-Fi quality last year. However, it has yet to see the light of day. Perhaps this new Bluetooth chip pushes the Swedish streamer to ramp up its rollout.
Related Article: Oppo Find N2 and N2 Flip Release Date Speculations: Leaks Say Dec 15
