SAN FRANCISCO – Audio Engineering Society Conference – Oct. 28, 2004 – A new high-performance asynchronous sample-rate converter from audio IC leader Cirrus Logic Inc. (Nasdaq: CRUS) is giving audio system designers a high-performance, cost-effective silicon solution for synchronizing multiple audio sources.

The CS8421 provides the highest dynamic range and distortion performance of any sample-rate converter in the industry at a fraction of the price compared to competing solutions. This combination of price and performance removes the sample-rate conversion challenges that system designers often encounter and eliminates the need for the conversion process to be completed by DSPs or other ICs – thus simplifying and shortening development cycles.

"The key benefit of the CS8421 is that the sample-rate conversion process is transparent," said Carl Alberty, manager of Mixed-Signal Products, Cirrus Logic. "And because the CS8421 eliminates the need for DSPs to use valuable processing power for sample-rate conversion, product designers can focus on solving other system challenges."

The CS8421, a follow-up to Cirrus Logic's popular CS8420 converter, gives systems designers a cost-effective 32-bit, high-performance stereo asynchronous sample- rate converter designed to convert an audio source from one sample rate into another. Digital audio is processed at different sample rates, typically as low as 32 kHz to as high as 192 kHz.

The CS8421 supports 16- to 32-bit resolution and provides a 1:8 / 7.75:1 upsample/downsample ratio for sample rates ranging from 8 kHz to 211 kHz. Low-latency digital filtering, 175 dB dynamic range and –140 dB THD+N make the CS8421 an ideal solution for a variety of digital audio products, such as automotive audio systems, computer sound cards, DVD recorders, digital mixing consoles, multi-track digital recorders, effects processors and broadcast audio equipment.

The CS8421 also supports a TDM mode, which allows several CS8421 ICs to be serially connected together allowing their output data to be multiplexed onto one line for input into a DSP or other TDM-capable multichannel devices. When operating in this mode, the output data for each device is phase matched. Also included is a bypass mode that allows the input clock and data to be passed directly to the output port without sample-rate conversion.

The CS8421 operates from a 2.5 V digital power supply and can interface directly to +3.3 V or 5 V logic levels. Simple hardware configuration eliminates the need for an external microcontroller, allowing designers to easily implement sample-rate conversion in their product designs.

Pricing and Availability

The CS8421 is available in a 20-pin TSSOP or QFN package and is priced at $4.85 in quantities of 10,000.

Cirrus Logic Inc.

Cirrus Logic is a premier supplier of high-performance analog, mixed-signal and digital processing solutions for consumer entertainment electronics, automotive entertainment and industrial product applications. Building on its global market leadership in audio ICs and its rich mixed-signal patent portfolio, Cirrus Logic targets audio, video and precision mixed-signal applications in these growing markets. The company operates from headquarters in Austin, Texas, with offices in California, Colorado, Europe, Japan and Asia.

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Cirrus Logic and Cirrus are trademarks of Cirrus Logic Inc. All other product names noted herein may be trademarks of their respective holders.