Gizmag given a glimpse of the future of TV audio

Gizmag.com reports that TV picture quality has improved by leaps and bounds in recent years, with most manufacturers currently bringing Ultra High Definition beauties to market when only a short while ago HD seemed more than sufficient. Meanwhile, say researchers from Fraunhofer IIS, advances in audio playback have not been so awe-inspiring. Gizmag got the opportunity to sample a promising system under development that’s based on the MPEG-H standards, which will offer listeners greater control over what they hear during TV broadcasts.

The prototype on display at Fraunhofer’s IFA 2014 booth was not a big screen TV, but a small touchscreen display (at the moment, it’s thought that future viewers will use a TV remote to use the system). The audio system is based on an a new efficient audio codec which includes processing for optimized listener experience.

As well as being able to control overall volume, the test unit allowed us to enhance background commentary or listen in to what was going on away from the main action.

Read more at http://www.gizmag.com/fraunhofer-mpeg-h-demo-ifa2014/33703/