Analog Devices launches next‑gen in‑vehicle audio experience
Analog Devices has announced that it’s A²B 2.0 (Automotive Audio Bus) is now fully released to production. As the next evolution of ADI’s A²B technology, A²B 2.0 is designed to help automotive OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and Tier 1 suppliers deliver richer in‑cabin audio experiences through greater bandwidth and Ethernet integration, while preserving the low‑latency, simple architecture that has defined A²B for years.
Over the past decade, A²B has been broadly adopted in the automotive industry, with hundreds of millions of nodes on the road from over 35 automotive manufacturers, establishing a strong foundation for the next evolution of the technology.
Built for applications where low and deterministic latency is a key system requirement, A²B was designed to support demanding use cases such as road-noise cancellation and in‑car communications through a simple, flexible, and cost‑effective approach to audio connectivity. Its single main, multiple sub‑node daisy‑chain architecture reduces wiring complexity and associated costs by up to 75%. The straightforward architecture with zero software overhead also lowers overall development time and investment for OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.
A²B’s momentum is reinforced by an ecosystem that spans OEMs, silicon partners, and original design manufacturers (ODMs), supported by an expansive set of development and test tools that accelerate time‑to‑market.
As vehicles transition to software‑defined architectures, in‑cabin features are increasingly delivered and improved through software, raising the bar for deterministic, high‑bandwidth connectivity that can integrate cleanly with modern in‑vehicle networks. As in‑cabin technology becomes a key differentiator for automakers, expectations for premium audio and infotainment continue to rise, ultimately driving demand for higher bandwidth, advanced connectivity, and seamless integration with today’s vehicle networks.
A²B 2.0 expands the A²B platform with higher bandwidth and Ethernet compatibility, while maintaining the low‑latency, simple architecture customers rely on. Key capabilities include:
• Performance and scalability
o 4× bandwidth increase (up to 98.3Mbps, full duplex) to support more advanced in-vehicle audio architectures.
o Support for up to 119 upstream and 119 downstream audio channels to enable advanced automotive audio system configurations.
• Ethernet compatibility
o Ethernet data tunnelling via the industry-standard Open Alliance SPI (OASPI) interface, for enhanced connectivity and flexibility.
• Efficiency, latency, and upgrade path
o Up to 30% system cost reduction enabled through increased functional integration and reduced external circuitry and components
o Low and deterministic latency, including a noted 62μs low latency and an architecture designed for straightforward integration.
o Compatibility with existing A²B 1.0 cabling and connector infrastructure, supporting a simple upgrade path. Additionally, the ADAA245x devices can easily branch to A2B 1.0 networks, maximising re-use of existing modules.
