Cirrus introduces chips for DVD audio, which is an emerging standard for using the storage capacity of DVDs for high-quality audio. This indirectly affects CUBE in that DVD-audio players will probably also play DVD video, thus requiring an MPEG2 decoder.
Cirrus Logic Introduces Industry's First 96kHz Digital
Audio Transmitters and Receivers for Professional Audio
and Consumer DVD Audio Markets
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 24, 1998-- New Crystal Receivers And
Transmitters Are Pin Compatible With First Generation Predecessors, Ensuring Customers An Easy
Upgrade To 96kHz
The Crystal Semiconductor Products Division of Cirrus Logic Inc. (NASDAQ:CRUS) today
announced the availability of the industry's first digital audio transmitters and receivers designed to
support the emerging 96kHz digital audio sampling rate. The new mixed signal receivers (CS8413
and CS8414) and transmitters (CS8403A and CS8404A) are targeted at both the professional
audio and consumer DVD audio markets, where 96kHz sample rates have emerged to improve
sound quality. The new chip solutions support transmission of digital audio signals to industry
standard formats, specifically the Sony/Philips Digital Interface Format (S/PDIF) for consumer
applications and the Audio Engineering Society/European Broadcast Union (AES/EBU) format for
professional applications. Each chip is pin compatible with its 48kHz predecessor, enabling an easy
OEM upgrade to 96kHz without any hardware redesign. "Crystal digital audio receivers have
become the professional audio industry's standard due to a unique low jitter phase locked loop
design," said John Paulos, vice president of Crystal audio products. "We are pleased to offer our
customers with an easy pin-compatible migration path to address the emerging 96kHz digital audio
market." Crystal digital audio receivers have earned a reputation for superb sound quality in the
professional audio industry. The previous generation CS8411 and CS8412 receivers delivered
exceptional quality with a unique low jitter phase locked loop (PLL) design. Clock jitter generates
sampling errors during audio playback which degrades the quality of the audio signal, as typically the
clock generated from the PLL is the clock source for the audio system D/A converter. The new
CS8413 and CS8414 extend this proven, low jitter PLL design to support 96kHz sample rates and
preserve superb sound quality. The new chip solutions also integrate the RS422 line driver/receiver
functions thereby reducing the board space typically needed for this additional device. Moreover,
the new entries support both stand-alone operation and a host mode whereby the user can read or
write channel status as well as user and validity data to or from on-chip buffer memory.
Pin Compatibility
The CS8413/CS8414 receivers and the CS8403A/CS8404A transmitters are pin compatible with
the previous generation CS8411/CS8412 and CS8401A/CS8402A respectively.
Pricing and Availability
The CS8404A and CS8414 are now in volume production. The CS8403A and CS8413 are
sampling with production volumes available in the second calendar quarter of 1998. The CS8403A
and CS8404A transmitters are priced respectively at $12.30 and $8.80 each in 1000 piece
quantities. The CS8413 and CS8414 receivers are priced respectively at $14.80 and $10.60 each
in 1000 piece quantities.
Crystal Semiconductor Products Division
The Crystal Semiconductor Products Division of Cirrus Logic designs, manufactures, and markets
advanced analog and digital integrated circuits for data acquisition, consumer/professional audio and
video, and imaging applications. The Crystal brand is recognized for providing high-performance
mixed-signal and DSP solutions for consumer and industrial markets. For the latest Crystal product
information visit our website at crystal.com.
Cirrus Logic
Cirrus Logic is a premier supplier of system-level integrated circuits that demand high-performance
mixed-signal processing. The company applies its system expertise to enable high-volume
applications in data storage, networking, and multimedia for both computing and consumer
electronics markets as well as ultra-high-precision data acquisition applications for industrial
automation and instrumentation markets.
Cirrus Logic news releases may be obtained by fax by dialing 1-800/359-6414, or by dialing
510/249-4200 from outside the United States, or via the Internet on the world wide web at
cirrus.com.
Note to editors: Cirrus Logic is a registered trademark and Crystal is a trademark of Cirrus Logic
Inc. All other product names noted herein may be trademarks of their respective holders.
CONTACT: Cirrus Logic
Crystal Semiconductor Products Division
Jo-Dee Benson, 512/912-3823
jbenson@crystal.cirrus.com
or
Tom Stein, 512/912-3113
tstein@crystal.cirrus.com
or
Tsantes & Associates
Dean Fisk, 408/369-1500 x35
dfisk@tsantes.com |
