Single-chip DAC & pre-amp targets AVR and sound card designs

Single-chip DAC & pre-amp targets AVR and sound card designs

A single-chip 8-channel DAC & pre-amp. from Diodes Inc. offers performance and cost advantages to designers of consumer and professional audio video receivers (AVR) and add-on sound cards.

Part of the Zetex Direct Digital Feedback Amplifier (DDFA™) product family, the ZXCZM800 offers the means to significantly reduce component inventory, circuit complexity and PCB size. At the same time, with typical mid-range AVRs and sound cards currently producing a DNR of 112dB, the ZXCZM800 is more than capable of matching or improving upon existing product sound quality. In high performance differential mode, the new Diodes chip delivers a dynamic range (DNR) as high as 126db. The outstanding performance of the DAC solution complements that of digital amplifiers created using the DDFA chipset.

The ZXCZM800F offer a host of features useful to designers looking to expand a product’s feature set: Its pre-amplifier DSP feature is simply programmed using an existing system host processor and by integrating a digital volume control function operating on a ‘per channel’ or and/or ‘all channel’ basis, the chip is able to further simplify product design, improve performance and reduce cost. A digital multiplexing function enables the accommodation of additional digital inputs and the simple implementation of multi-room configurations. 14 user programmable biquads per channel facilitate filter functions such as parametric EQ.

DAC performance metrics
The ZXCZM800 offers a maximum resolution of 32 bits, which provides higher input audio data resolutions and more headroom with less impact on performance. Maximum sample rate is up to 192kHz and DNR in single ended operating mode is 120dB. Distortion and noise figures of < 0.001% are typical for single ended mode and < 0.0004% in differential mode.

Manufacturers considering using the ZXCZM800 DAC & pre-amp chip will benefit from Diodes’ 8-channel demonstration board, which includes circuit diagrams, bill of materials and Gerber files.

For further details on the ZXCZM800 or to obtain a demo board, please use the “more information” link below.