TI Raises the Bar in Home Audio with the Industry's First High Performance PWM Processor to Integrate a 48-bit Digital Audio Processor

The new 48-bit TAS5508 processor will enable consumer electronics manufacturers to develop high-power, cost-effective 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1 systems at 500, 600 or 700-watts (W), reducing size and cost for home theater systems and DVD receivers. The high-performance TAS5508 provides up to eight speaker channels and 48-bit processing for sound field enhancement, enriching the home theater experience. Using the TAS5508 processor together with TI's extensive line of power stages, manufacturers are able to develop affordable high-power audio systems that offer much higher sound quality in an ultra-slim form factor.

"Home theater-in-a-box manufacturers are now demanding excellent audio quality with higher power driven to more channels," said Will Strauss, founder and principal analyst, Forward Concepts. "One of the hottest markets in home theater right now is the 800-watt, 7.1 home theater system -- this is the sweet spot and the focus for manufacturers in the coming years and manufacturers will find that TI's TAS5508 fits this spot like a glove."

Highest Performing Audio Processor

The TAS5508 audio processor provides a ready-to-use sound field engine that simplifies audio system design. The device operates in an eight-channel mode that supports 7.1 or 6.1 speakers, bringing home theater-in-a-box to a new level of sound quality that can even rival today's more expensive high-end A/V receivers. In addition, the TAS5508 offers a six-channel mode, enabling cost-effective, low-profile DVD receivers with integrated amplifiers.

Preprogrammed algorithms include loudspeaker normalization, second-order tone control, triple slope dynamic range compression, auto mute and loudness curves. With its 48-bit internal data path, the TAS5508 doubles the signal processing accuracy of the best available competitive devices, providing lossless bass management and crossover, with greater than 100 dB dynamic range. Most importantly, the 48-bit processing of the TAS5508 provides the dynamic range required for the best bass processing available in the market today.

"The new TAS5508 processor provides outstanding performance and sound quality to support several families of products, including those supporting 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1 channels," said CH Leung, general manager of Project Management at Orient Power. "TI's outstanding customer support has confirmed our decision to use its high-performance digital audio technology for all of our consumer DVD receivers."

Advanced Digital Amplification

The new TAS5508 audio processor is complemented by TI's power stage offerings, including the recently-announced TAS5121 digital audio amplifier, the first available device to provide complete digital amplification with an integrated MOSFET H-bridge, for a single 100W speaker channel. The TAS5508 processor and TAS5121 amplifier operate together as a seamless high- performance solution for exceptional sound quality in affordable consumer audio systems. For maximum design flexibility for the manufacturer, the devices also can operate independently.

TI's PurePath Digital(TM) Audio Technology

The TAS5508 and TAS5121 are based on TI's PurePath Digital technology, which allows consumer electronics manufacturers to build completely digital, end-to-end audio products with cutting-edge sound reproduction and the most lifelike sound in a compact form factor. By reproducing movie soundtracks or music exactly the way the artist intended, PurePath Digital technology offers the best in high-end digital entertainment to the everyday consumer. PurePath Digital technology complements other TI digital and analog products that support audio applications, such as digital signal processors (DSPs), switch mode power management, headphone amplifiers, digital interface and audio data converters.

Availability, Packaging and Pricing

The TAS5508 digital audio processor is now available in volume. Packaged in a 64-pin TQFP, the device is priced at $6.30 each in quantities of one thousand or more.

Texas Instruments Incorporated provides innovative DSP and analog technologies to meet our customers' real world signal processing requirements. In addition to Semiconductor, the company's businesses include Sensors & Controls, and Educational & Productivity Solutions. TI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has manufacturing, design or sales operations in more than 25 countries.

Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN. More information is located on the World Wide Web at: http://www.ti.com/ .

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