TI's New Aureus(TM) DSPs and Software Library Provide Unmatched Capacity for Customization and Differentiation of High-Quality Home Audio Applications
TI's DA7xx DSPs Provide 50 Percent More Performance For the Same Cost as Previous Generation Devices
DALLAS, Aug. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing to drive audiophile levels of sound quality to affordable consumer price points, Texas Instruments Incorporated (NYSE: TXN) (TI) today introduced the next generation in its Aureus(TM) family of high-performance audio digital signal processors (DSPs) for applications requiring multi-channel decoding, including audio/video (A/V) and DVD receivers, home-theater-in-a-box systems (HTIBs), set-top boxes, mini- compos, high-definition televisions (HDTV) and automotive navigation/multimedia systems. These devices also are ideal for applications requiring audio decoding and simultaneous high-speed encoding, such as DVD recorders, home music servers and automotive jukeboxes. (For more information, please visit http://www.ti.com/homeaudio1 .)
With 50 percent performance improvement at the same price point as the previous generation of Aureus products, the 300 MHz TMS320DA710 and 250 MHz TMS320DA708 deliver one of the industry's most versatile, cost-effective DSPs and Development Environment for high performance, high-quality multi-channel audio applications. For example, a complete 7.1 system, including AC3 or DTS decoding, Dolby ProLogic IIx or NEO:6 matrix decoding, bass management, and delay, takes only 22 percent of the available performance of a DA710 processor.
More Headroom for Better Quality Audio, More Customization
With nearly 80 percent of the available performance for customization and differentiation, OEMs can implement product-differentiating features, including:
* Better quality reverb algorithms for more life-like room simulations
* Advanced equalization techniques for better room acoustic correction
* True dual-zone decoding and post-processing for multi-room applications
* Simultaneous multi-channel audio decode and up to 16 times real-time
encode ("CD ripping") for server applications, eliminating the need for
a separate encoder and associated buffer memory
Architectural enhancements specifically designed for high-performance audio processing enable efficient use of the extensive headroom available on DA7xx devices. New mixed-precision instructions allow for higher quality bass management and equalization algorithms without the performance impact of using double-precision. An audio-optimized Dual Data Movement Accelerator (DMAX) performs efficient non-sequential external memory accesses and circular buffer management, improving the performance of long delay line algorithms, such as reverb. Additionally, the CPU core and memory subsystem were enhanced and the amount of parallel processing was increased, resulting in higher performance in audio applications.
Ease of Use
DA7xx devices are backed by production-quality software, including TI's Performance Audio Software Library, an end-to-end system software solution that includes:
* Industry-standard decoders and post-processors from Dolby, DTS and THX
* MP3, Windows Media Audio (WMA) and ATRAC3plus encoder and decoder
modules
* Double-precision (64-bit) Bass Management
* The TI Effects Library, which includes configurable modules for
Graphical EQ, Room Simulators and Matrix Decoders
* Optimized filter blocks for building custom algorithms
* Bitstream auto-detection, system framework and I/O drivers.
The Performance Audio Software Library is based on TI's XDAIS algorithm standard, which allows OEMs and third parties to create plug-and-play algorithms. Numerous third parties are supporting the Performance Audio Library, including Audyssey, SRS Labs, Waves and Neural Surround. This enables OEMs to more efficiently develop and customize audio algorithms, getting products to market faster, quickly spinning derivative products by adding new features, and reducing development costs in general.
The DA7xx is the second generation in the Aureus family of audio processors and confirms TI's commitment to the multi-channel audio market. The first-generation Aureus DSP (DA6xx) was selected by Dolby for its Pro Logic IIx enhanced surround sound development platform and has been designed into equipment by the world's leading audio OEMs, including: Alpine, Clarion, JVC, Onkyo and Harman Kardon.
The DA7xx family is code compatible with TI's previous generations of the Aureus family and built upon TI's C6000(TM) DSP architecture. The DA7xx devices leverage TI's investment in C6000 tools including the award-winning Code Composer Studio(TM) IDE. Developers can get started today with DA710 and DA708 EVMs from Momentum Data Systems (http://www.mds.com ). The EVMs include digital I/O, multi-channel analog I/O and all the other system components required to prototype a typical A/V receiver system.
"TI's Aureus family of DSPs continues to push the boundaries of quality and performance for home theater processing," said Brian Towne, Senior Vice President at DTS, Inc. "DTS is pleased that TI has designed a high performance and cost effective processor package capable of implementing our new DTS-HD technology. DTS-HD will feature 7.1 lossless audio and is backward compatible with existing DTS decoders. DTS is proud to count TI as one of its key launch partners."
Availability and Pricing
Currently sampling, both devices are slated for volume production in Q3 2005. The 250 MHz TMS320DA708 costs $13.52 each and comes in a 144-pin TQFP package. The 300 MHz TMS320DA710 costs $21.63 and comes in a 256 BGA package, both in 10,000 unit or more quantities.
TI also offers a wide range of complementary high-performance analog and mixed signal components for audio applications with amplifiers, including low- power Class-D audio amplifiers, high-precision analog-to-digital (ADC) and digital-to-analog converters (DAC), sample rate converters, microphone preamps, single and dual output low drop out (LDO) regulators, low-voltage switching DC/DC converters and supply voltage regulators.
Texas Instruments
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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Safe Harbor Statement
Statements contained in this news release regarding the audio products market, TI products and other statements of management's beliefs, goals and expectations may be considered forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. The following factors and the factors discussed in TI's most recent Form 10-K could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements contained in this news release: actual market demand for audio products and TI products specifically, and actual test results relating to TI products. TI disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this news release.
Trademarks
Aureus, C6000, and Code Composer Studio are trademarks of Texas Instruments. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.
CONTACT: Stephanie Groswirt of Texas Instruments Incorporated, +1-214-480-2512, or Email Contact , for Texas Instruments Incorporated. Please do not publish these numbers or email addresses.
Web site: http://www.ti.com/ http://www.ti.com/homeaudio1/ http://www.mds.com/
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