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Texas Instruments says it is on a quest to provide "high-performance audio solutions" for the home entertainment market. To prove it, last week the company announced its first stereo analog-to-digital converters supporting the Direct Stream Digital (DSD) specification and the Super Audio CD format (SACD).

According to the company, its new PCM1804 is a differential input 24-bit ADC with a 192kHz maximum sampling rate, a dynamic range of 112dB, and THD+N at -102dB. TI says, "Previously, audio ADCs have required delta-sigma modulators with a 2-bit or greater digital-to-analog converter in a loop in order to provide 110dB or more of dynamic range." In contrast, the PCM1804 uses a proprietary architecture and complementary analog circuitry to provide direct 64fs 1-bit streaming data from the modulator output, "enabling it to truly meet the DSD specification."

More specs: the PCM1804 contains a built-in anti-aliasing digital filter with -100dB stop-band attenuation and ±0.005dB pass-band ripple. Further expanding its portfolio of ADCs for use in consumer audio equipment, TI also announced the PCM1802 stereo ADC with single-ended input, featuring 24-bit resolution and a 96kHz maximum sampling rate.

TI says it is recognizing the consumer's need for low-cost, quality audio equipment, and is aiming the new devices at mainstream consumer audio equipment such as DVD, CD, and MD players, as well as high-end audio/video amplifiers and receivers. The company's Yuzo Sugiki adds, "The next-generation digital audio market forming around new audio formats like SACD and DVD-Audio is showing astounding growth."

For evidence, TI offers a Dataquest report stating the average annual share (on a unit basis) of audio players supporting the SACD format will increase 128% between 2000 and 2004. The report also predicts that DVD players, both DVD-Audio and DVD-Audio/Video, will increase their share by 274% over the same period.