The personal audio systems market is undergoing major changes: Personal portable music players, lead by Apple’s iPod, are taking precedence over traditional CDs as well as some of the home stereo system markets. The iPod is becoming the new home music device.

In 2006, Apple sold over 39 million iPods (around 100 million units since it was launched). The popularity of iPods has created a very large sub-industry for accessories. According to Apple, there are now more than twice as many iPod related accessories as there were last summer, and the most popular items are speakers and headphones. The rapid growth of this market has created the need for audio solutions intended to replace traditional stereo systems. Indeed, the big producers, like Logitech, Altec Lansing, Belkin, JBL and others, introduced iPod docking stations with built-in speakers. However, to offer true, high quality systems, with an enhanced stereo (and/or surround) sensation, it is required to deploy higher-powered speakers in the room, which are detached from the audio source. To achieve that, the next generation iPod docking station must turn wireless.

Until the IrGate™ platform was introduced, there were major obstacles towards the implementation of a functional, high quality, uncompressed, low latency, and low cost wireless solution for the audio markets. As IrGate has the traits of RF technology within an enclosure, i.e., an omni-directional operation, while simultaneously not being susceptible to various RF interferences, it is a technology of choice for implementing wireless solutions for these markets.

The IrGT801A chipset was designed to specifically support the demands and needs of the audio market. It supports the industry standard I2S interface, allowing seamless connectivity to any digital audio source, converter or digital amplifier. It can transmit up to 4 uncompressed PCM audio channels, with no line-of-sight required between the transmitting and receiving entities. Additional features incorporated within IrGT801A, like smart mute and speaker shutdown functionalities, provide audio system designers with a solution tailored to their needs.