MediaTek-Ceva partner for more immersive spatial audio mobile entertainment experience

Ceva Inc., a leading licensor of silicon and software IP that enables Smart Edge devices to connect, sense and infer data more reliably and efficiently, and MediaTek, a global leader in semiconductors announced a partnership to enhance the mobile entertainment experience, bringing the Ceva-RealSpace Elevate multi-channel spatial audio with head tracking solution to the recently introduced MediaTek Dimensity 9400 flagship 5G smartphone chip using Bluetooth LE Audio.

Ceva-RealSpace Elevate is Ceva’s premium spatial audio software offering for Android and Windows devices, providing an immersive spatial audio experience for multi-channel and ambisonics content. Ceva-RealSpace Elevate is already available for licensing to smartphone OEMs for use on the Dimensity 9400 SoC. Ceva will demonstrate the solution at its booth during CES 2025, taking place January 7-10, 2025, in Las Vegas, NV.

Spatial audio revolutionizes the listening experience by delivering a three-dimensional sound environment that replicates natural hearing, with audio emanating from all directions. This immersive technology enhances sound localization, making it simpler to pinpoint the origin of each sound, thereby enriching the realism and engagement of music, movies, games, and conference calls. Ceva-RealSpace Elevate features a powerful spatial audio renderer capable of spatializing a wide range of audio content, from mono and stereo to multi-channel and object-based audio.

Deployed on the Dimensity 9400 chipset running Android 15, the Ceva-RealSpace Elevate solution enables the spatialization of stereo content, which is not generally supported by Android. The solution also includes precise head tracking, with the sound stage remaining fixed while the head moves, allowing listeners to experience sounds as if they are coming from the room around them.

"The MediaTek Dimensity 9400 is designed to provide an exceptional mobile experience, and this collaboration with Ceva-RealSpace Elevate enables us to take audio immersion to the next level," said Will Chen, Wireless Business Group, Assistant General Manager from MediaTek. "Users can experience high-quality audio that matches the visual clarity of 4K streaming video and gaming, all while benefiting from better performance, enhanced AI and improved battery life."

The immersive spatial audio solution leverages the Dimensity 9400’s Bluetooth LE Audio capabilities to deliver low latency audio streaming to TWS earbuds and headphones, enhancing the realism and quality of the listening experience. This is particularly valuable for streaming movies and TV shows with multi-channel audio spatialized by RealSpace.

Additionally, LE Audio offers longer listening times due to its lower power consumption compared to classic Bluetooth. The Dimensity 9400 also supports a high-quality microphone array, perfect for recording spatial audio and enabling users to create truly immersive content. When played back using Ceva-RealSpace, listeners can experience sound as it was recorded in the real world.

"The integration of Ceva-RealSpace Elevate with the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 chipset marks a significant advancement in delivering high-quality, immersive audio experiences," said Chad Lucien, vice president and general manager of the sensors and audio business unit at Ceva. "Our spatial audio software solution, combined with MediaTek's cutting-edge technology, provides users with a realistic and engaging listening experience, whether they are watching movies, playing games, or listening to music."