Last week, Qualcomm announced it has a brand new audio codec. The Qualcomm Aqstic WCD937x family is the latest codec designed for smartphones so users can listen to music and movie audio just as the producers intended. Qualcomm says the new codec is special as it was developed in collaboration with a group of people referred to as “Golden Ears”.

The Aqstic WCD937X family includes the Qualcomm WCD9370 & Qualcomm WCD9375 and is built using the same high standards as the flagship Aqstic WCD9341 audio codec.

To make the audio better, Qualcomm decided to work with a group of audiophiles referred to as Golden Ears. These are people who are able to “identify the slightest distortions in music, the characteristics of different digital filters, reverb, colorization, panning, harmonics, and more”.

This is actually a very rare skill and you either have it by training or naturally. There are programs you have to take to get certified as having Golden ears and they usually take years to complete. Most manufacturers that employ Golden Ears or those who manufacture really expensive audio products that sell for over a $100,000. Qualcomm has now brought that same high-quality to its codecs for smartphones.

Qualcomm was able to fine-tune the WCD9375 codec using feedback from a group of Golden Ears. They designed a digital audio filter to do this. This filter is also customizable so OEMs can design it to meet different needs and have their own signature sound.

The Golden Ears-tuned Qualcomm Aqstic WCD937x series will be available in phones powered by the Snapdragon 730 and Snapdragon 730G. Qualcomm expressly states the Redmi K20 has it but we are not sure if the Samsung Galaxy A80 has it. Phones with the new codec should provide “far better audio quality” for users. Qualcomm also said the flagship WCD9341 codec will also support the Golden Ear filter.

(Source)

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