Xperi's DTS AutoStage is the Next Big Thing in Infotainment

Jason R. Sakurai
by Jason R. Sakurai

Xperi’s DTS AutoStage is the next evolution in multimedia, if you turn on the radio while starting your car like millions of others do worldwide.

Let’s face it, over the years, terrestrial radio has taken a beating, as has the record industry and how we consume music and information. Despite that, or maybe because of it, we still turn to the radio in our vehicles to give us an update on traffic, weather, sports, and what’s new in music.

Xperi Holding Corporation, the owner of HD Radio and DTS Connected Radio Brands, along with pay-TV service TiVo, is using their technology to deliver digital radio in-vehicle infotainment via DTS and HD Radio. Concentrating on improving the source, Xperi offers broadcasters HD Radio, TiVo, AIM (all in media), and Arctic Palm, tools needed to deliver better listener experiences. DTS AutoSense is an advanced in-cabin monitoring system that includes driver monitoring, occupant monitoring, iris identification, and advanced biometrics. After all, who better to invite along for the ride than Big Brother?

Utilizing what Xperi calls the largest and deepest broadcast and music metadata set, DTS AutoStage is a global hybrid combining linear broadcast with IP-delivered content for a more personalized in-cabin infotainment experience. DTS AutoStage adds internet connectivity to deliver on-air radio program information, and features such as artist, album, song, lyric, and station details, related events at nearby venues, internet-only content, podcasts, and more. DTS AutoStage is currently compatible worldwide with analog FM, DAB+, and HD Radio formats.

In-car DTS Neural Surround and Neural:X technology will surround you in music and movie entertainment, provided that you’re not watching while driving, now are you? Autonomous driving portends to things like this happening and is supposedly okay despite all the warnings about distracted driving, and that autonomy and inattention are a recipe for disaster. Of course, if we’re talking about keeping the kids entertained in the back seat with DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS-HD for streaming, and DTS Headphone:X, that’s a moot point.

The best part? DTS AutoStage is being incorporated into new vehicles from many OEMs, so it may already be included. For older vehicles, the technology will likely find its way into head units from all the major car audio companies, another reason for me to upgrade the system in my daily driver in the coming months.

[Images: Xperi]

Jason R. Sakurai
Jason R. Sakurai

With a father who owned a dealership, I literally grew up in the business. After college, I worked for GM, Nissan and Mazda, writing articles for automotive enthusiast magazines as a side gig. I discovered you could make a living selling ad space at Four Wheeler magazine, before I moved on to selling TV for the National Hot Rod Association. After that, I started Roadhouse, a marketing, advertising and PR firm dedicated to the automotive, outdoor/apparel, and entertainment industries. Through the years, I continued writing, shooting, and editing. It keep things interesting.

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  • Jeff S Jeff S on Feb 12, 2021

    An AM FM receiver with a USB port and bluetooth would meet all my needs.

  • Cold Cold on Apr 22, 2024

    Why not just get Pandora instead? Since HD Radio never took off it appears they are trying to leverage the technology for new marketing opportunities.

  • Master Baiter I told my wife that rather than buying my 13YO son a car when he turns 16, we'd be better off just having him take Lyft everywhere he needs to go. She laughed off the idea, but between the cost of insurance and an extra vehicle, I'd wager that Lyft would be a cheaper option, and safer for the kid as well.
  • Master Baiter Toyota and Honda have sufficient brand equity and manufacturing expertise that they could switch to producing EVs if and when they determine it's necessary based on market realities. If you know how to build cars, then designing one around an EV drive train is trivial for a company the size of Toyota or Honda. By waiting it out, these companies can take advantage of supply chains being developed around batteries and electric motors, while avoiding short term losses like Ford is experiencing. Regarding hybrids, personally I don't do enough city driving to warrant the expense and complexity of a system essentially designed to recover braking energy.
  • Urlik You missed the point. The Feds haven’t changed child labor laws so it is still illegal under Federal law. No state has changed their law so that it goes against a Federal child labor hazardous order like working in a slaughter house either.
  • Plaincraig 1975 Mercury Cougar with the 460 four barrel. My dad bought it new and removed all the pollution control stuff and did a lot of upgrades to the engine (450hp). I got to use it from 1986 to 1991 when I got my Eclipse GSX. The payments and insurance for a 3000GT were going to be too much. No tickets no accidents so far in my many years and miles.My sister learned on a 76 LTD with the 350 two barrel then a Ford Escort but she has tickets (speeding but she has contacts so they get dismissed or fine and no points) and accidents (none her fault)
  • Namesakeone If I were the parent of a teenage daughter, I would want her in an H1 Hummer. It would be big enough to protect her in a crash, too big for her to afford the fuel (and thus keep her home), big enough to intimidate her in a parallel-parking situation (and thus keep her home), and the transmission tunnel would prevent backseat sex.If I were the parent of a teenage son, I would want him to have, for his first wheeled transportation...a ride-on lawnmower. For obvious reasons.
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