Airoha Launches Latest Flagship Wireless AI Audio SoC AB1595

Airoha dropping a press release for their new AB1595 Bluetooth SoC was not on my bingo card this year. In my YY2984 post in October, I wrote that such a chip existed but we had no details. Thanks to Airoha, we have a lot more information about this upcoming Bluetooth SoC, with AI!. Ah AI, the buzzword of 2024.

The AB1595 is a System on Chip, so it combines multiple chips into one package. Airoha describes it as the "First Flagship Wireless Audio SoC with Built-in AI Hardware Accelerator". This is the 5th generation chip on the same development platform Airoha provides for their customers, like Sony. 

Low Power Consumption with 6-Core Architecture

The SoC is the world's first 6-core chip supporting Bluetooth transmission and AI audio processing. Airoha says that by spreading out the workload across the 6 cores, and lowering operating voltages, the chip can optimize the power consumption. The press release mentions a use time of up to 12 hours for hearing aids, but nothing really specific in regards to ANC earbuds for example.

Significant Enhancement in "Speech Noise Reduction" Performance with Up to 10 Microphones

The new chip can support up to 10 microphone inputs for speech noise reduction. Airoha claims that along with the AI algorithms, devices using the chip can "achieve professional-grade speech quality".  A reduction of 10dB to as much as 40dB is touted by Airoha, especially in in noisy environments like offices and cafes. If true, this is big and should really help improve ANC performance significantly. 

For comparison the WH-1000XM5 only has 5 microphones on each side. The WH-1000XM5 requires Sony's own QN1 (CXD90050) because of the extra microphone inputs. With this new chip, Sony could eliminate the QN1, but I would rather Sony keep it, as it performs additional functions to improve sound quality. See my post about the Sony QN1 here.

Adaptive ANC, a feature first found on the WH-1000XM5, is also present on the AB1595. The chip is able to "detect the user's wearing condition (i.e., good fit or loose with leakage), performing adaptive compensation".  Not sure if this is the same on the WH-1000XM5 or something newer and more advanced.

The AI functionality brings "AI Conversation De-Noising", which allows users to clearly hear the other person on a call, especially in loud places like airplanes, in stadiums, or on subways. If true, this should greatly improve ANC on earbuds and headphones.

The new chip is already available to customers, with new products coming in Q1 2025. You can read the full press release here.

We still lack details like the Bluetooth version, what DSP processor is used, or how much embedded flash is on board. Perhaps more details will be revealed at CES or after few weeks into 2025. Maybe there will be some new headsets reveals at CES which use this chip.

WH-1000XM6 and WF-1000XM6

Sony could potentially use this chip, but I suspect they will stick with Mediatek for their high end premium models. The Google compatibility list did show a MT285x chip. which could be a variant of the AB1595, but Bluetooth SIG only shows a  AB1595, with no MT285x variant in any listing. 

Finally, one feature I was hoping we would see is Airoha's take on Qualcomm's XPAN, but I guess this is not a priority for Airoha.

Thanks to LG Nilsson for sending this in, much appreciated.