Connectivity to drive audio market

Audio products are evolving to become Wi-Fi connected, opening the doors for new features and use cases to be introduced, which is driving market growth of key audio categories including speakers, soundbars, all-in-one systems and adapters, from overall market value of $59 billion in 2024 to over $160 billion by 2032 with CAGR of 14% ^{1 2}. Key to delivering this is customisable turnkey Connected Audio solutions for manufacturers, which enables high quality, feature-rich products at competitive price points. Frontier Smart Technologies (Frontier) addresses this need with its latest solution: AURIA.

Frontier AURIA: A comprehensive connected audio platform

For brands and OEMs, integrating Wi-Fi connectivity requires careful consideration of hardware, software, user experience, certification, and ongoing maintenance. Frontier develops high quality, customisable turnkey solutions stemming from over twenty years’ experience and 80 million modules and chips shipped. The latest Frontier solution, AURIA, provides a fully certified, reliable, secure turnkey Wi-Fi connected platform.

Advanced Hardware Architecture

AURIA is engineered to support demanding connected audio applications with a robust hardware specification:

- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) on 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz bands
- Bluetooth® Low Energy Audio version 5.4 with Auracast support
- Dual-core ARM A32 processor 1.2GHz per core with Arm TrustZone security
- High-fidelity audio interfaces:
- ADC: 5-channel, SNR > 98dB
- DAC: Stereo, SNR > 102dB
- Digital: Hi-Res192Khz/24 bits
- Optional Kino4 DAB+ chip integration

To ensure optimal performance and regulatory compliance, AURIA employs a multi-layer PCB with shielding cans, supporting compact form factors and integrated dual-band antennas. External antenna options are also available for diversity and extended range.

Feature-rich Software Stack

AURIA’s software suite makes use of the direct internet connectivity to deliver enhanced functionality:

Music services such as Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Internet Radio and Podcasts
Apple AirPlay including multiroom support
Bluetooth classic A2DP source, AVRCP control
Bluetooth Auracast for multi device connectivity
Broadcast radio support including DAB+, FM with RDS
Complete suite of audio codecs: MP3, HE-AACv2, ALAC, LC3, SBC, FLAC, Ogg/Vorbis

AURIA software is Linux based, offering a modern and efficient system, including a secure recovery boot feature that allows a device to recover from an interrupted software update. New features can be rapidly developed to create a future-proof roadmap

Certified Reference Platforms

To streamline development and certification, Frontier provides fully functional reference speakers. These platforms enable engineering teams to validate performance and compliance in real-world conditions, significantly reducing time-to-market and certification overhead.

AURIA reference speaker

Security and Regulatory Compliance

Security is important and must be built into product design and development processes of the turnkey solution. Frontier’s AURIA module incorporates secure boot, hardware-based root of trust, and secure over-the-air software updates to meet cyber security standards including RED EN 18031, UK PSTI and the upcoming EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) once the act has been fully defined in 2026. Frontier’s Internet Software Update (ISU) service currently manages over 5 million devices globally, ensuring secure and scalable deployment.

Flexible and rapid customisations

Connected Audio solutions should include interfaces and APIs to allow integration by manufacturers. The architecture of AURIA allows it to be built into a wide range of end products from soundbars to wireless speakers, running as a main or as a secondary processor, being driven by a third-party MCU and using Frontier MCUC interface for control over UART.

AURIA secondary mode diagram

Intuitive App control

Device setup and control are key elements in creating a user-friendly product that minimise support calls and product returns. OKTIV is Frontier’s common App across all their products and provides setup via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and control via Wi-Fi. OKTIV is available on the App or Google Play store. Brands can also develop their own app and use the Frontier NetRemote API via HTTPS and BLE.

Commercial

The upfront and ongoing costs to develop connected products are important consideration and Frontier’s commercial models are attractive to brands:

Zero upfront fees for turnkey solutions
Pay-as-needed model for software updates
Flexible supply options: full turnkey, chip-only, or software-only

Manufacturing Support

When final products are manufactured, it is important to have local support available for customisations, certifications and quality control of the Connected Audio elements. Frontier have a customer support office in China and a dedicated team who work closely with over 100 OEM partners.

Frontier partnership to support success

For brands and manufacturers to create successful products, AURIA offers the latest technology in a turnkey solution that can be rapidly customised to create a range of audio products. Brands who use AURIA will benefit from Frontier’s experience and the ability to rapidly create high quality products with minimal investment.

Contact [email protected] to learn more.

References

Fortune business insights -https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/wireless-audio-device-market-106904#:~:text=The%20global%20wireless%20audio%20device,share%20of%2037.23%25%20in%202023.
Persistence market research - https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/wireless-audio-device-market.asp#:~:text=The%20market%20for%20wireless%20audio,13.7%25%20from%202025%20to%202032