Press Releases
New Low-Cost 32-bit DAC Provides Optimal Sound Quality |
| High Performance 32-bit Stereo DAC is Optimized for Sound Quality
San Jose, CA February 3, 2010 — AKM Semiconductor today launched the AK4480, a high performance 32-bit stereo DAC. It is the newest member of the Audio4proTM product family, and the lowest cost 32-bit DAC in the market. Based on the high quality sound architecture of the AK4397 and AK4399, innovative products in the Audio4pro family, the AK4480 has an advanced architecture that enables higher quality sound for professional and high-end digital musical instruments. The AK4480 has three different digital filters: a 32-bit short delay filter which is suitable for acoustic sounds, a 32-bit sharp roll-off filter for traditional sounds, and a 32-bit slow roll-off filter for a soft sound expression. The 32-bit minimum delay and sharp roll-off filters can be controlled by pin settings in parallel control mode. The 32-bit digital operation block provides full 32-bit processing for the audio interface, a perfect linear phase digital filter and an advanced delta-sigma modulator. High accuracy D/A conversion of 32-bit audio signals is performed, and an innovative design technique, a symmetrical layout for left-right channels is utilized. The fully symmetrical layout of the analog block ensures that the signal from the digital block has the shortest path possible to the analog block to avoid noise coupling, improving sound quality. The AK4480 is the first 32-bit DAC which has a digital block designed by sound quality aspects to achieve higher performance. The AK4480 integrates a digital de-emphasis filter, soft mute circuit and digital attenuator. Left and right channel-independent zero detect functions are available. Sampling rates range from 30kHz to 216kHz. The analog outputs are fully differential, achieving very low THD+N of -100dB and dynamic range or SNR of 114dB, and the operating voltage is 5V. The AK4480 supports 216kHz PCM audio data, and it is suitable for professional audio equipment such as a high-end Blu-Ray Disc players, DVD-Audio players, AV receivers and digital mixers. Evaluation boards and samples are available now. |
