Texas Instruments’ new audio processor with digital output brings greater performance for higher fidelity in consumer audio
(Top News, 20 Mar 2008 )
Texas Instruments Incorporated has announced a new addition to its line of high-performance digital audio processors. The new TAS3308 audio System on a Chip (SoC) is a single-chip solution that offers exceptional processing power for audio equipment manufacturers to create demanding applications such as digital television (DTV) audio subsystems, mini/micro component systems, 5.1 speaker bars and other consumer audio electronics.
Further improving upon TI’s legacy of developing high-end audio solutions, the TAS3308 integrates an analog multiplexer and stereo analog-to-digital converter (ADC) along with a high-performance digital audio processor and six Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) output channels. This high degree of hardware integration is complemented with the intuitive PurePath Studio software development environment to allow customers to bring products with advanced digital audio signal processing to market with minimal investment in both hardware and software development resources.
High performance, system-level integration Texas Instruments’ new processor features a fully-integrated digital audio signal chain including PWM outputs, reducing system cost and complexity and allowing for the direct drive of class D power stages. The TAS3308 audio SoC builds on proven technology introduced in the highly-successful line of TI audio processors, which have already been implemented in a broad array of consumer audio products from leading manufacturers. The core of the new device is a high-performance digital audio processor based on TI’s industry-leading digital signal processing technology. Superior high-resolution audio processing comes from a 48-bit data path that supplies the high level of precision required by advanced audio algorithms. Running at 135 MHz, the TAS3308 processor also includes an on-chip microcontroller that handles control and communications in order to optimize system performance. Integrated analog functionality includes a stereo single ended ADC with 100 dB Dynamic Range (DNR), a 10 input analog multiplexer and six differential PWM outputs with 105 dB DNR.
The processing performance advantage offered by the device enables designers to deliver value in such products as HDTV, where consumers expect the high fidelity of the audio to match the picture quality. For more information see www.ti.com/tas3308 .
