Digital Signal Processors suit home audio applications.

Texas Instruments Sep 12, 2005

Press Release Summary:

Intended for multi-channel audio applications, Aureus(TM) 300 MHz Model TMS320DA710 and 250 MHz Model TMS320DA708 feature reverb algorithms for life-like room simulations, equalization techniques for room acoustic correction, and true dual-zone decoding and post-processing for multi-room applications. Dual Data Movement Accelerator performs non-sequential external memory accesses and circular buffer management. Performance Audio Software allows creation of plug-and-play algorithms.

Original Press Release:

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 (August 29, 2005) - Continuing to drive audiophile levels of sound quality to affordable consumer price points, Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN) 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 ti.com/homeaudio1.) "Harman Kardon has always been dedicated to providing consumers with products that make it possible to experience the very best in home entertainment," said Tom McLoughlin, president of Harman Kardon. "To this end, our audio/video components incorporate state-of-the-art technologies to deliver the ultimate in audio performance and the powerful Aureus digital signal processor provided by Texas Instruments is a key enabling technology that helps us to achieve the very highest levels of sonic accuracy and musical realism in our audio/video receivers." 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 www.ti.com.