AKM Semiconductor Announces New Members in It's Family of High Fidelity Audio Codecs.

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 2, 1999--

AKM Semiconductor Inc., today introduced the latest members of it's High Fidelity Audio Codec family, the AK4522 and AK4523.

The monolithic 20-bit stereo codecs are based on AKMS's advanced multi-bit delta-sigma technology. These new additions to the AKMS product catalog offer a dynamic range of 100dB at reasonable cost. They are ideal for high performance professional applications requiring wide dynamic range, negligible distortion and low noise. These include musical instrument effects processors, guitar pedals, low cost digital mixers, digital audio tape recorders and consumer and professional audio sound cards.

In consumer audio applications the bill of materials is under tremendous cost pressures. The AK4523 offers an on-chip crystal oscillator with multiple clock dividers to operate the device as a master. This eliminates the need for an external clock source thereby reducing system cost. In applications where space is an issue the AK4522 offers similar performance in a smaller 24-pin VSOP package.

The AK4522 and AK4523 add to the growing AKMS Codec family. Other members include the AK4524 (100db ADC conversion and 110db DAC) and the AK4526 (100db two inputs and six channel output) surround sound codec.

"With the introduction of the AK4522 and AK4523, AKMS now offers unrivaled breadth in high fidelity low cost audio converters," explained Eddie Lare, VP Marketing of AKM Semiconductors. "Our years of experience, dedication and relentless investment in audio converter technology has made AKMS the best provider of audio ADCs, DACs, CODECs and Digital Audio Transport ICs worldwide."

The AK4522 and AK4523 provide excellent performance, delivering 100dB of dynamic range and a 90dB Signal/(Noise + Distortion) Ratio while dissipating a mere 210mW. The devices feature 64x over-sampling fully differential inputs, second order switched capacitor filters and second order continuous time domain filters for the audio outputs, a digital high pass filter and a soft mute for ease of system design.

The AK4522 is available in a space-saving 24-lead VSOP package and is priced from $3.07 per unit at 10,000 pieces. The AK4523 is available in a 28-lead VSOP package and priced at $3.68 per unit at 10,000 pieces. An evaluation board is available to speed system design efforts. To obtain more information, call AKM toll-free at 888/AKM-SEMI (256-7364) or visit the AKM Web site at www.akm.com.

AKM Semiconductor Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Asahi Kasei Microsystems Co; (AKM), Tokyo, Japan, provides design, marketing and sales support for North America. AKM designs and manufactures CMOS mixed-signal integrated circuits combining analog and digital functions on a single chip. These high quality, low power consumption products include application specific standard products, application specific integrated circuits and custom ICs for the telecommunications, multimedia, data acquisition and mass data storage industries.