Why Choose the Nordic nRF5340 for LE Audio?

The Nordic Semiconductor nRF5340 is a dual-core wireless SoC created for Bluetooth and IoT devices requiring stringent performance standards. It consists of two Cortex-M33 processors allowing for independent execution of application and protocol tasks.

The application core is capable of executing audio control, signal processing, user interface algorithms, device management, and application functions. The network core manages time-critical Bluetooth processing.

This architecture helps engineers build responsive audio products without forcing every workload onto one processor.

The nRF5340 also provides the memory, security functions, peripherals, and processing capacity required for sophisticated connected products. Its low-power design makes it particularly suitable for battery-operated devices such as wireless microphones, headsets, receivers, hearing-assistance accessories, and portable audio transmitters.

Understanding Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast

Bluetooth LE Audio allows audio transmission using Bluetooth Low Energy radio. This new system introduces an innovative audio structure that is capable of supporting connected audio devices as well as creating use cases that were impossible when using Bluetooth Classic Audio.

Its main technology is Low Complexity Communication Codec, known as LC3. LC3 was created to provide good audio quality at different bit rates.

Product teams can therefore balance sound quality, bandwidth, power consumption, reliability, and latency according to their application.

Auracast broadcast audio builds on LE Audio by allowing a transmitter to broadcast one or more audio streams to many compatible receivers within range. Unlike traditional Bluetooth pairing, a separate point-to-point connection is not required for every listener.

A television in a waiting room, for example, could broadcast sound to visitors' earbuds. A conference venue could offer several language channels. A museum could transmit exhibit narration, while a transport terminal could deliver announcements more directly to compatible hearing devices.

Our nRF5340 LE Audio Development Services

LE Audio Product Consulting

We begin by studying the product's environment, users, audio sources, receiver types, operating range, battery expectations, latency targets, and connectivity requirements. This helps us select the correct audio topology and avoid expensive architectural changes later.

Our feasibility work may include codec configuration, bandwidth estimates, channel planning, power-budget calculations, hardware evaluation, and proof-of-concept development.

Auracast Transmitter Development

We build embedded software for dedicated Auracast transmitters used with televisions, public-address systems, computers, microphones, mixing equipment, and other audio sources.

Development can cover audio capture, encoding, broadcast configuration, stream creation, public or encrypted broadcasts, device controls, status indication, and integration with existing audio equipment. We can also design companion applications that help operators configure broadcast names, channels, security settings, and audio parameters.

Auracast Receiver Development

Our engineers develop receiver solutions for headsets, speakers, wearable devices, listening accessories, and specialized industrial or healthcare products.

Receiver development involves taking care of broadcasting discovery, source selection, streaming synchronization, LC3 decoding, volume control, reconnecting, saved source management among other tasks.

We also work on the user experience so listeners can discover and join nearby broadcasts without navigating a confusing technical interface.

Connected LE Audio Devices

Auracast is only one part of the LE Audio ecosystem. We develop connected audio products that use unicast and multi-stream capabilities for communication, entertainment, accessibility, and professional applications.

These products may include true-wireless earbuds, intercom devices, wireless microphones, conferencing equipment, gaming accessories, headsets, and voice-enabled wearable devices.

LC3 Codec and Audio Pipeline Integration

A reliable product needs more than a working radio connection. The complete audio path must be designed around timing, buffering, encoding, decoding, packet loss, clock accuracy, and output quality.

We adjust the settings of the LC3 depending on the sound quality and power specifications of the device. Our technical specialists incorporate microphones, analog or digital audio inputs, I2S connectors, audio codecs, amplifiers, and loudspeakers into the design.

Moreover, we optimize buffering and synchronization to avoid interruptions and meet latency requirements.

nRF5340 Firmware Development

We develop embedded firmware using Nordic Semiconductor's development ecosystem, nRF Connect SDK, Zephyr RTOS, Bluetooth profiles, and application-specific drivers.

Tasks related to firmware include controlling power states, device boot-up, audio functionality, handling button events, LED designation, keeping settings, monitoring the system, and launching firmware remotely.

The firmware is created in a modular manner, allowing new functions and hardware changes to be added without the need to rebuild the entire application from scratch.

Custom Hardware and PCB Development

Our hardware team can develop a custom nRF5340 board for compact and production-oriented audio products. Services include schematic design, component selection, PCB layout, antenna planning, power-supply design, audio interfaces, battery charging circuits, USB connectivity, and design-for-manufacturing reviews.

We pay close attention to RF layout, clock sources, grounding, interference, audio noise, and antenna placement. These details can materially affect wireless range and audio performance once a prototype moves from the development kit to a custom enclosure.

Mobile and Desktop Applications

Many LE Audio products need an application for setup and administration. We develop Android, iOS, web, and desktop applications for device onboarding, broadcast discovery, channel selection, firmware updates, diagnostics, and fleet management.

For commercial or public installations, we can also build an administrative portal that shows device status, configuration history, firmware versions, location, and maintenance alerts.

Testing and Certification Support

Wireless audio must remain stable in busy RF environments. We test discovery, broadcast joining, stream recovery, audio quality, latency, synchronization, range, power consumption, and long-duration performance.

Testing could consist of several receivers, interference scenarios, low signals, transmitter restarts, incorrect settings, power outages, and firmware update errors.

In addition, we assist in Bluetooth qualification planning, preparation for regulatory testing, pre-compliance testing, and technical documentation.

CASE STUDY: nRF5340 AURACAST SYSTEM FOR MULTILINGUAL EVENTS

The Customer's Requirement

A conference-technology provider wanted a portable audio broadcasting system for multilingual corporate events. Its existing equipment depended on proprietary radio receivers that had to be distributed, charged, collected, cleaned, and stored after every event.

The client wanted people to hear using personal earphones or hearing aids while having the option to provide them with receivers as needed. The system needed to accept audio input from the sound mixing board, broadcast several languages, support secured sessions, and remain easy to use for the event personnel.

Developing the nRF5340 Solution

We designed the product around the nRF5340 because its dual-core architecture was well suited to concurrent wireless and application workloads. The solution consisted of a compact transmitter, portable receiver units, embedded firmware, and a tablet-based administration application.

The transmitter accepted digital audio from the venue's sound system. Its firmware prepared the audio streams, applied the selected LC3 configuration, and created separate broadcasts for the available languages. Event staff could assign recognizable names such as "English," "German," and "Spanish" rather than relying on technical channel identifiers.

Encrypted broadcasting capabilities and a proprietary way of giving access info to authorized listeners were part of private corporate broadcasts. The configuration application offers the operator multiple options to create the broadcast, set audio quality options, monitor the input, check device health, and restart specific services without restarting the entire unit.

We also developed a battery-powered nRF5340 receiver for guests without compatible devices. It included a small display, channel-selection buttons, a headphone output, volume control, and automatic recovery if a selected broadcast was briefly interrupted.

Testing the Complete Audio Experience

Early testing showed that successful joining was only part of the challenge. Attendees also needed a clear indication of which broadcast to choose, while technicians needed immediate feedback when an audio input was missing.

We refined the receiver interface, added input-level monitoring, and introduced warnings for disconnected sources. The firmware was tested with multiple simultaneous receivers, repeated channel changes, transmitter restarts, crowded 2.4 GHz conditions, and extended event sessions.

The Result

The finished prototype proved that one transmitter can provide many language streams at once, without needing a separate radio link for each listener. The client was able to have a kind of platform which allows using individual listener devices together with the own receivers.

The new approach reduced receiver-handling requirements, simplified channel setup, and provided a foundation for future assistive-listening installations. Its modular firmware also allowed the company to prepare different transmitter and receiver models without redesigning the entire software platform.

Explore Our Nordic Semiconductor Wearable Portfolio

The featured case study is just one example of our experience with Nordic Semiconductor platforms. We have worked on a diverse range of wearable products using nRF52832, nRF52840, nRF52-series, and nRF54H20 devices.

Our engineering work spans healthcare and fitness wearables, smart rings, child-safety devices, rehabilitation solutions, medical devices, AI-enabled wearables, and companion mobile applications. Below are some selected Nordic-based projects that demonstrate our experience across different product requirements, architectures, and development stages.

Healthcare

1. AI-Powered IoT Rehabilitation Wearable for Physical Therapy

We have created a multi-node rehabilitation wearable to help patients undergoing physical therapy in exercising properly not only within the limit of the hospital visits. By using Nordic's nRF52840 controllers for ultra-low power usage and BLE communication alongside Bosch's BNO055 sensor for collecting the orientation and movement information for devices attached to the troubled limb.

The system combined real-time biomechanical tracking, patient feedback, clinician-facing insights, and optional surface EMG support, creating an IoT platform for monitoring movement quality, adherence, muscle activation, fatigue, and recovery progress remotely.

View Case Study

Medical Device

2. Medical Wearable IEC 60601 Remediation Using nRF52840 and STM32

For a battery-powered Class II therapeutic stimulation wearable, we provided senior hardware and compliance remediation involving the Nordic nRF52840 and STM32L496VG.

Our work addressed patient isolation, EMC and radiated emissions, battery single fault conditions, BLE coexistence, RF desense, PCB safety gaps, production testing and notified body preparation. With the help of our study, the device successfully passed IEC 60601-1 / IEC 60601-1-2 in a span of five months with no major nonconformities as highlighted in the published case study.

View Case Study

Audio & AI

3. Wearable AI Audio Pendant Using Apollo510B and nRF54H20

We designed a privacy-focused AI audio pendant combining the Nordic nRF54H20, Ambiq Apollo510B, and an Anker THUS audio processor. The architecture used the nRF54H20 for secure, low-power BLE connectivity while the Apollo510B managed system control, encryption, and power.

Our design included a four-microphone array, local wake-word detection, on-device commands, AES-256 encrypted rolling audio, secure phone pairing, beamforming, and an efficient processor partition designed for all-day wearable operation and secure synchronization.

View Case Study

Safety

4. AI-Driven Fall-Detection Wearable Using nRF52840

An AI-assisted fall-detection wearable device has been created using the Nordic nRF52840 processor and Bosch BMI270 accelerator. The pendant or wristband concept integrates impact detection and orientation assessment while including the TensorFlow Lite Micro architecture designed to differentiate true falls from other forms of motion.

The system is equipped to conduct cellular communication, GPS and indoor location tracking, two-way voice communication, haptic alert suppression, caregiver notices, device health tracking, and it comes with an AWS IoT dashboard, all contributing to the connected safety environment for users who want to stay independent.

View Case Study

Applications We Can Develop

Our nRF5340 LE Audio and Auracast expertise can be applied to:

• Assistive listening systems for public venues
• Multilingual conference and interpretation equipment
• Silent television audio for gyms, airports, and waiting rooms
• Museum and guided-tour audio products
• Wireless headsets and earbuds
• Hearing-assistance accessories
• Classroom and lecture-hall listening systems
• Wireless microphones and intercoms
• Public transport announcement receivers
• Hospitality and entertainment audio systems
• Workplace collaboration devices
• Portable personal audio transmitters

Why Work with IoT App Development?

An LE Audio product brings together embedded software, RF engineering, real-time audio, electronics, applications, and user-experience design. Treating these as separate tasks often results in integration problems during the final stages of development.

We work throughout the product stack. From idea evaluation, prototype building, custom PCB creation, and firmware development to companion app development, cloud integration, and testing support, we take on any task.

With this coordinated approach we can identify tech risks early and make ownership clearer during the whole process.

We also design products with production realities in mind. Component availability, power consumption, recoverability, manufacturing tests, firmware updates, diagnostics, and certification requirements are considered before the design is finalized.

Start Your nRF5340 LE Audio Project

Bluetooth Low Energy sound and Auracast are facilitating innovative methods of transmitting sound. Nevertheless, launching a reliable commercial solution involves careful decision-making about audio structure, hardware, firmware, radio functionality, security, and ease of use.

IoT App Development can help you create an nRF5340-based transmitter, receiver, headset, assistive listening device, or complete connected audio platform. Contact our engineering team to discuss your product idea, technical requirements, prototype, or existing design.