Cirrus Logic Inc. reinforced its worldwide leadership in the audio chip marketplace with the introduction of two new Crystal stereo digital-to-analog converters (DACs). Featuring 100 dB dynamic range, these next-generation stereo DACs (CS4340 and CS4341 with digital volume control) deliver high-quality sound at an unprecedented low price point as well as true ease of implementation. As such, they promise to lower overall system costs, shorten design cycles, and reduce time to market for makers of a broad range of high-performance consumer audio products.

The unmatched price/performance and ease of use of the new Crystal DACs particularly suit them for DVD players and set-top boxes, two thriving consumer audio segments. According to market research firm Dataquest Inc., worldwide production of digital cable/satellite set-top boxes will nearly double from 12.9 million units in 1998 to 24 million units in 2000. Over the same period, global production of DVD players will more than triple from 4.3 million to 15.5 million units.

"With our latest stereo DAC introductions, we are well-poised to serve some of the hottest segments in the consumer electronics market," said John Paulos, vice president, Audio Products. "And we've arrived at this position not by accident, but by focusing our mixed-signal technology expertise on addressing the price
sensitivity and performance requirements in these segments."

Smaller Package, Patented Technique Lowers Costs
The low price point and hence cost-effectiveness of the Crystal CS4340 and CS4341 derive in part from Cirrus Logic's advanced design and manufacturing processes. They enable a reduction of both the silicon and package size needed for complete stereo DACs that perform digital interpolation, fourth-order delta-sigma digital-to-analog conversion, digital de-emphasis, and switched capacitor analog filtering, among other advanced functions.

In addition, a patented power on/off transient control technique used with the new chips eliminate the "pops" and "clicks" heard when audio systems with an inferior DAC are turned on and off. This capability not only improves sound quality, it also reduces the need for external mute components. That, in turn, decreases board space requirements and lowers overall system costs even more.

The new DACs' ease of implementation results from another Cirrus Logic innovation: insensitivity to master clock jitter. Because of this feature, system engineers can readily achieve 100 dB dynamic range and other data sheet specifications without excessive design work or debugging.

I am sure that to many in the electronics industry -- including me -- there is a reducing tolerance to the dB "specmanship" that has been happening in the stereo audio market. I personally cannot tell the difference between a signal-to-noise ratio of 126 dB compared to 125 dB. These are certainly not performance "requirements" as the vendors of the products keep saying, they have just become part of the marketing jingoism from the OEMs and are truly absurd.

This part is here, however, not because of its 100-dB dynamic range but because it is extremely price conscious and the CS4341 with the digital volume control opens up a lot of other savings in implementation. The technologies used by Crystal in the management of pops and the averaging of jitter from the clock also offer relief for designers in layout, tolerances and external components; many in this field are also often working with analog for the first time.