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We’ve written a lot about the huge potential of SCL6, the new wireless audio format also known as MQAir, but complained about the lack of support for the adaptive hi-res wireless audio format. That looks set to change, however, with news that the developer of the codec, MQA, has announced a partnership promising a new set of next-generation hi-res headphones.
The partnership is with NAD sister brand PSB Speakers and audible app developer Sonical, with a press release boldly stating that the partnership will “define a new category of high-resolution audio headphones”. The catch is that they’re scheduled to launch in the first half of 2024. Still, these headphones sound “next-gen” in more ways than one.
First announced by MQA in 2022, SCL6 aims to deliver higher quality audio files when streaming to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices, with sound that can be scaled from the lower end of Bluetooth transmission to lossless files with huge bandwidth, and promises to lose less detail at all levels than other transmission technologies.
SCL6 acts as a ‘bridge’ (according to MQA) between the resolution of the file you’re streaming and how much of it can actually reach your ears. SCL6 is compatible with any file type be it PCM, MQA, FLAC or WAV audio formats up to 384kHz and can transmit over Bluetooth, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) and Wi-Fi streaming connections.
The new headphones will be released under the PSB brand name and will be designed from the ground up to take advantage of the format. The new cans, meanwhile, will use Sonic’s new ear computing platform CosmOS, which can run on powerful, yet low-wattage, processing cores.
Launched by the US company last year, CosmOS has been heralded as the next evolution of headphones, allowing users to install and use third-party apps on their cans in the same way they do on their phones.
The PSB headphones will also feature an Antennaware Ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna to enable the higher data rates required for SCL6 streaming and ultra-low latency, while also combating the body-blocking that sometimes wireless portable devices can interfere.
Announcing the move, Gordon Simmonds, President and CEO of Lenbrook Industries, the parent company of PSB Speakers, said: “Our use of the CosmOS platform to create the world’s first software-defined wireless headset, and the addition of MQA’s adaptive wireless codec helps establish a new benchmark for a high-resolution mobile high-fidelity product.”
There’s currently no indication of when the headphones will be released or what an expected price is, but keep an eye on Bingo Tingo for full details as and when we get them.
Analysis: New cans offer a glimpse of a hi-res audio future
It’s been a while, but today’s news from MQA finally hints at some solid plans for hardware that supports the SCL6 format.
While it may not be a well-known consumer audio brand, PSB Speakers is a well-respected brand within the hi-fi community and we are confident in its ability to design a set of cans to properly showcase the high-resolution audio format and compete with the best wireless headphones out there. The inclusion of support for the CosmOS platform certainly opens up a world of audiophile possibilities, the likes of which we’ve probably never seen before on a pair of humble headphones.
Our great hope, however, is that the eventual release of PSB headphones will activate more widespread support for the nearly lossless codec, bringing a world of higher audio fidelity for more people to enjoy. Of course, the top music streaming services will also have to support it for widespread use, but that’s a battle for another day.
