Kleer teams up with Mercedes Benz to untether in-car headphones
By Thomas Ricker 
posted June 24th 2010 7:00AM
posted June 24th 2010 7:00AM
SMSC's Wireless Audio Using Kleer® Technology To Be Implemented in Automotive Infotainment System of Selected Mercedes-Benz Models
Model Wins Mark SMSC's First Automotive Customer for Kleer Technology
Hauppauge, New York – June 24, 2010 - SMSC (NASDAQ: SMSC), today announced that its Kleer® wireless audio technology has been selected by Daimler AG as part of the rear seat entertainment system for the company's 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class and S-Class models. These two Mercedes-Benz models are the first automobiles to implement Kleer technology and add to the growing list of products consumers can choose from to enjoy the high quality wireless audio that Kleer can offer.
Kleer technology transmits CD-quality digital wireless audio from two video screens on the back of the seats to multiple wireless headphones in both the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and S-Class models. Each screen can display different content and occupants can select which audio stream their headphones receive. Multiple occupants can share the same stream. The ultra low power consumption of Kleer technology ensures many hours of enjoyment before headphone battery charging is needed.Mercedes-Benz owners have the choice of using the brand's headphones provided with the car or using their favorite third-party Kleer-based headphones or earbuds as they are available for example from AKG, Sennheiser or TDK.
"We are pleased to announce Daimler AG's selection of Kleer technology in these two prestigious Mercedes- Benz models," said Dr. Christian Thiel, Vice President and General Manager of SMSC's Automotive Information Systems group. "Kleer's high quality audio, exceptional radio performance and industry-leading low power consumption make it an ideal choice for streaming wireless audio in the portable, home and automotive markets."
Kleer wireless audio technology resolves the issues associated with analog Infra-Red (IR) technology, which has been the primary technology used in wireless automotive headphones to date. Analog IR transmission of audio suffers from low quality audio, interference from visible light sources like sunlight, and high power consumption. It also requires an uninterrupted line-of-sight path from transmitter to receiver. Kleer addresses these issues and adds the ability to have multiple audio streams transmitting in the vehicle simultaneously.
"Consumer demand for in-vehicle multimedia experiences continues to grow at a rapid pace, and wireless audio is a crucial element," said Mark Fitzgerald, associate director, Global Automotive Practice at Strategy Analytics. "Wireless solutions that offer high quality audio and low power characteristics are positioned well in this expanding market."
In addition to its high audio quality and low power consumption, Kleer technology also offers excellent Wi-Fi and Bluetooth co-existence capabilities. This means that the vehicle's infotainment system, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled devices can all be used simultaneously in the vehicle with no interference.
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class and S-Class also feature the MOST® multimedia networking standard, which is the de facto standard for efficiently moving high-bandwidth infotainment content around the vehicle. MOST
and Kleer are synergistic technologies. While MOST represents the backbone of the whole infotainment system and moves all signal streams between the devices, Kleer is the high quality wireless link for headphones and remote controls.
Model Wins Mark SMSC's First Automotive Customer for Kleer Technology
Hauppauge, New York – June 24, 2010 - SMSC (NASDAQ: SMSC), today announced that its Kleer® wireless audio technology has been selected by Daimler AG as part of the rear seat entertainment system for the company's 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class and S-Class models. These two Mercedes-Benz models are the first automobiles to implement Kleer technology and add to the growing list of products consumers can choose from to enjoy the high quality wireless audio that Kleer can offer.
Kleer technology transmits CD-quality digital wireless audio from two video screens on the back of the seats to multiple wireless headphones in both the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and S-Class models. Each screen can display different content and occupants can select which audio stream their headphones receive. Multiple occupants can share the same stream. The ultra low power consumption of Kleer technology ensures many hours of enjoyment before headphone battery charging is needed.Mercedes-Benz owners have the choice of using the brand's headphones provided with the car or using their favorite third-party Kleer-based headphones or earbuds as they are available for example from AKG, Sennheiser or TDK.
"We are pleased to announce Daimler AG's selection of Kleer technology in these two prestigious Mercedes- Benz models," said Dr. Christian Thiel, Vice President and General Manager of SMSC's Automotive Information Systems group. "Kleer's high quality audio, exceptional radio performance and industry-leading low power consumption make it an ideal choice for streaming wireless audio in the portable, home and automotive markets."
Kleer wireless audio technology resolves the issues associated with analog Infra-Red (IR) technology, which has been the primary technology used in wireless automotive headphones to date. Analog IR transmission of audio suffers from low quality audio, interference from visible light sources like sunlight, and high power consumption. It also requires an uninterrupted line-of-sight path from transmitter to receiver. Kleer addresses these issues and adds the ability to have multiple audio streams transmitting in the vehicle simultaneously.
"Consumer demand for in-vehicle multimedia experiences continues to grow at a rapid pace, and wireless audio is a crucial element," said Mark Fitzgerald, associate director, Global Automotive Practice at Strategy Analytics. "Wireless solutions that offer high quality audio and low power characteristics are positioned well in this expanding market."
In addition to its high audio quality and low power consumption, Kleer technology also offers excellent Wi-Fi and Bluetooth co-existence capabilities. This means that the vehicle's infotainment system, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled devices can all be used simultaneously in the vehicle with no interference.
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class and S-Class also feature the MOST® multimedia networking standard, which is the de facto standard for efficiently moving high-bandwidth infotainment content around the vehicle. MOST
and Kleer are synergistic technologies. While MOST represents the backbone of the whole infotainment system and moves all signal streams between the devices, Kleer is the high quality wireless link for headphones and remote controls.
Jeez, why the hell isn't everybody using Kleer already? It's by far the best technology out there for wireless headphones and it would be a hell of a lot easier for everyone if it became an industry standard. I, for one, am fed up of crappy RF wireless headphones.
@smc8788
#1 -- it's too expensive.
#2 -- it really isn't that great...I have the Sleek Audio Wireless dongle, and from my experience...
1.) It is very succeptable to interference, much moreso than bluetooth (A2dp) is...this means GSM phones, and WiFi signals will cause beeps and noise. This could be a problem with my particular device (The sleek audio Wireless dongle), but I don't think so...it says right in the booklet that WiFi and GSM will cause noise...neither of which cause noise at all on my bluetooth (A2dp) headphones...strange eh?
2.) There is still latency, despite their claims otherwise. The latency is better than bluetooth, but it's still not suitable for musicians (ie. If I'm using Kleer headphones to monitor my guitar playing, I will stum a string and there will be a delay before I hear it on my headphones due to the nature of Kleer's protocol).
making roadtrips a LOT better when the battery is out on your music player...lol
This is nothing new to the mainstream, my dad has identical looking wireless headphones that came with his 2003 (around that year) Chevy Tahoe. If anything a Benz is way more out of the mainstream.
That being said, the wireless headphones were great for long trips when my parents didn't want to hear the movies!
@Corrin Indeed... my 2001 Honda Odyssey came with IR headphones and they have yet to let me or the kids down, no issues with interference or poor performance.
Come to think of it, I do not think I have EVER seen anyone with wired headphones in their cars...
You mean line-of-sight?
Interesting that the image is a Ford Focus C-Max and not a merc...
I believe the Lexus LS600hL available from 2007 comes with wireless headphones from the factory as standard equipment for the rear DVD entertainment system.
I say ole boy, please untether my headphones
entertainment system in my car uses IR. No WiFi interference at all. Lame story.
THIS IS GREAT! Now, I won't have to talk to my kids, hear them fight amongst each other, pull cords between juice boxes or pay attention to them at all. Here dearest, don't pay attention to the road, read books, sing songs, look around or enjoy the car ride fighting with your siblings, just block out the world and ignore it all in a real expensive car daddy bought with your college savings.
DISAGREE WITH EVERYONE
These get lost. They get stepped on. Sat on. And they're certainly not going to be cheap to replace, guaranteed.
Don't think losing/breaking them is going to be an issue? Consider the primary users of the headphones... your kids. Wired headphones are simply more practical if you think about it, tech obsessions aside.
Our 2003 Toyota Sequoia has wireless headphones... I believe they came with the car. 0.o
Our aftermarket Alpine Overhead DVD system uses IR with no interference, even with two rows of rear seating in our Expedition. The headsets retaIil at $40 each, but the installer let us have them at cost price of $18 each.
The kids can listen to the DVD while my wife and I can listen to the radio/CD/MP3 through the car stereo.
Dodge uses wireless headphones in their vans with their tv systems. Why is this news?