Audio Codec Optimizes Performance, Simplifies Design

Maxim Integrated Products' MAX98089 is an integrated stereo audio codec that improves audio performance and prevents speaker damage. An easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI) significantly eases the design in of the product. To minimize the number of discrete components required in the solution, integrated jack detection detects the insertion and removal of accessories as well as button presses.

The DAC-to-headphone idle power consumption is only 5.6mW, which represents a 15 percent improvement compared to the competition and extends battery life. With its ease of use, low power, excellent audio performance, and small wafer-level package (WLP), the MAX98089 is ideal for portable multimedia applications such as tablets, netbooks, and mobile phones.

The MAX98089 features Maxim’s proprietary FlexSound audio technology which optimizes the signal level and frequency response, while limiting the maximum distortion and power at the output. This technology improves loudspeaker performance and prevents speaker damage. The FlexSound audio technology comes with an extensive toolkit for improving loudspeaker playback performance and voice transmission.

The easy-to-use GUI lets you evaluate and then optimize the MAX98089’s 5-band parametric EQ, automatic level control (ALC), speaker excursion limiter, speaker power limiter, and speaker distortion (THD) limiter. For applications flexibility, example software drivers are available for Linux and other OS platforms.

Finally, to make the best use of the MAX98089’s ADC dynamic range and to improve voice conversion, automatic gain control (AGC) and a noise gate optimize the signal level of microphone’s input signals.

The MAX98089 is also designed to eliminate the external discrete components found in most competitive solutions. It integrates a Class H stereo headphone amplifier with a dual-mode charge pump. This architecture eliminates the need for bulky output capacitors and ensures click-and-pop-free operation during turn-on, turn-off, and volume changes. Ground sense reduces the output noise caused by ground-return current. Low-EMI, stereo, Class D speaker amplifiers provide filterless operation in the amplification of two speakers. These integrated amplifiers provide the performance required by today’s applications without resorting to discrete amplifiers.

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