Cirrus Logic Introduces Industry's First 96kHz Digital Audio Transmitters and Receivers for Professional Audio and Consumer DVD Audio Markets.

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 24, 1998--

New Crystal Receivers And Transmitters Are Pin Compatible With

First Generation Predecessors, Ensuring Customers An Easy Upgrade

To 96kHz

The Crystal Semiconductor Products Division of Cirrus Logic Inc. (NASDAQ:CRUS) today announced the availability of the industry's first digital audio transmitters and receivers designed to support the emerging 96kHz digital audio sampling rate.

The new mixed signal receivers (CS8413 and CS8414) and transmitters (CS8403A and CS8404A) are targeted at both the professional audio and consumer DVD audio markets, where 96kHz sample rates have emerged to improve sound quality.

The new chip solutions support transmission of digital audio signals to industry standard formats, specifically the Sony/Philips Digital Interface Format (S/PDIF) for consumer applications and the Audio Engineering Society/European Broadcast Union (AES/EBU) format for professional applications. Each chip is pin compatible with its 48kHz predecessor, enabling an easy OEM upgrade to 96kHz without any hardware redesign.

"Crystal digital audio receivers have become the professional audio industry's standard due to a unique low jitter phase locked loop design," said John Paulos, vice president of Crystal audio products. "We are pleased to offer our customers with an easy pin-compatible migration path to address the emerging 96kHz digital audio market."

Crystal digital audio receivers have earned a reputation for superb sound quality in the professional audio industry. The previous generation CS8411 and CS8412 receivers delivered exceptional quality with a unique low jitter phase locked loop (PLL) design. Clock jitter generates sampling errors during audio playback which degrades the quality of the audio signal, as typically the clock generated from the PLL is the clock source for the audio system D/A converter. The new CS8413 and CS8414 extend this proven, low jitter PLL design to support 96kHz sample rates and preserve superb sound quality.

The new chip solutions also integrate the RS422 line driver/receiver functions thereby reducing the board space typically needed for this additional device. Moreover, the new entries support both stand-alone operation and a host mode whereby the user can read or write channel status as well as user and validity data to or from on-chip buffer memory.

Pin Compatibility

The CS8413/CS8414 receivers and the CS8403A/CS8404A transmitters are pin compatible with the previous generation CS8411/CS8412 and CS8401A/CS8402A respectively.

Pricing and Availability

The CS8404A and CS8414 are now in volume production. The CS8403A and CS8413 are sampling with production volumes available in the second calendar quarter of 1998. The CS8403A and CS8404A transmitters are priced respectively at $12.30 and $8.80 each in 1000 piece quantities. The CS8413 and CS8414 receivers are priced respectively at $14.80 and $10.60 each in 1000 piece quantities.

Crystal Semiconductor Products Division

The Crystal Semiconductor Products Division of Cirrus Logic designs, manufactures, and markets advanced analog and digital integrated circuits for data acquisition, consumer/professional audio and video, and imaging applications. The Crystal brand is recognized for providing high-performance mixed-signal and DSP solutions for consumer and industrial markets. For the latest Crystal product information visit our website at http://www.crystal.com/.

Cirrus Logic

Cirrus Logic is a premier supplier of system-level integrated circuits that demand high-performance mixed-signal processing. The company applies its system expertise to enable high-volume applications in data storage, networking, and multimedia for both computing and consumer electronics markets as well as ultra-high-precision data acquisition applications for industrial automation and instrumentation markets. -0-

Cirrus Logic news releases may be obtained by fax by dialing 1-800/359-6414, or by dialing 510/249-4200 from outside the United States, or via the Internet on the world wide web at http://www.cirrus.com/. -0-

Note to editors: Cirrus Logic is a registered trademark and Crystal is a trademark of Cirrus Logic Inc. All other product names noted herein may be trademarks of their respective holders.

CONTACT: Cirrus Logic

Crystal Semiconductor Products Division

Jo-Dee Benson, 512/912-3823

[e-mail]

or

Tom Stein, 512/912-3113

[e-mail]

or

Tsantes & Associates

Dean Fisk, 408/369-1500 x35

[e-mail]