Freescale Turns Up Audio Quality with New Class D Amplifier Solution; Symphony(TM) Class D Offers High Fidelity Audio for Automotive and Consumer Applications.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Responding to the technical challenges that traditionally have been associated with Class D amplifiers, Freescale Semiconductor's (NYSE:FSL) (NYSE:FSL.B) new Symphony Class D amplifier delivers a high fidelity system solution. Introduced at the company's annual technology forum, the Symphony Class D digital amplifier features an innovative digital feedback technology that brings audio performance of Class D amplifiers to a previously unattainable level. This Class D product extends Freescale's broad Symphony portfolio of semiconductors for audio applications, giving designers a complete, digital audio solution.

Traditionally, Class AB amplifiers have been widely used in the audio industry, but Class D amplifiers were limited to applications such as mini-systems and DVD receivers where high fidelity was a second priority to form factor. Freescale has changed the playing field with

its Class D pulse width modulation (PWM) amplifier, which improves power efficiency from 50 to 90 percent without sacrificing fidelity. This results in lower heat dissipation, allowing more audio channels for a more satisfying listening experience in a dramatically smaller form factor.

"Freescale's Symphony line of audio solutions is used by leading manufacturers worldwide, both for consumer and automotive applications," said Berardino Baratta, general manager of the multimedia applications division of Freescale. "Expanding into Class D amplifiers enables us to provide a full digital audio portfolio, from the signal processing front end to the power stage back end. Freescale's Class D amplifier with its advanced digital feedback is a real breakthrough and allows OEMs to achieve the highest quality performance, in a smaller form factor and still benefit from the power savings of a Class D amplifier design."

Solving the quality issues of Class D amplifiers

Freescale designed its new Symphony solution to overcome the obstacles of Class D systems, namely electromagnetic interference (EMI) and power supply noise. Manufacturers have to meet EMI emission levels and ensure that the emissions do not disrupt AM/FM reception. Power supplies, particularly in the automotive, are not ideal as a result of environmental conditions such as engine noise or selection of low cost power supply components.

To solve these challenges, Freescale's Class D digital amplifier implements PWM with real-time, digital feedback for power supply noise rejection. Now, designers can take advantage of the tremendous power efficiency improvements and cost savings associated with Class D amplifiers, while achieving the expected audio quality that consumers demand.

"The ability to deliver an all-digital Class D solution with high quality will significantly impact the automotive market, as well as a host of price- and quality-sensitive consumer applications," said Will Strauss, president and technology analyst of Forward Concepts. "With the performance of Class AB, yet with the power savings of Class D, we forecast with the automotive Class D chip market to grow at a 64% compound annual rate."

About the Symphony Class D solutions

Freescale's Class D digital amplifier solution consists of the Symphony FSA95601 digital amplifier controller chip and the Freescale MC33851 output power stage chip.

The Symphony FSA95601 is a high-performance, six-channel Class D digital amplifier controller that can process up to six channels of pulse code modulation (PCM) digital audio input data to produce the corresponding PWM outputs to drive external power stages. The Symphony solution also accepts a digital input directly from the DSP processor, which eliminates the need for a digital/analog converter for each channel of audio. This can significantly improve audio quality by removing unnecessary conversion steps and can help reduce cost by eliminating components.

The Freescale MC33851 two-channel H bridge power stage is designed for applications requiring 50W to 100W (bridged) per channel. When used with the Symphony FSA95601, the MC33851 slew rate control can reduce EMI significantly with no audio quality degradation. The MC33851 also provides advanced protection features such as under-voltage, over-voltage and over temperature warning and provides advanced turn-on/off audio click and pop suppression.

Comprehensive audio portfolio

Freescale's Symphony family of 24-bit DSPs for digital audio applications has been a leader in the industry for two decades with an established market presence in automotive, consumer and professional digital audio processing. By combining Freescale's widely adopted Symphony DSP platform with the FSA95601 digital amplifier controller and the MC33851 output power stage, Freescale can offer a true end-to-end digital solution for audio processing and amplification.

Availability

The Symphony Class D digital amplifier solution is sampling in limited quantities now. Volume production is expected in the first quarter of 2007.

About Freescale Semiconductor

Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (NYSE:FSL) (NYSE:FSL.B) is a global leader in the design and manufacture of embedded semiconductors for the automotive, consumer, industrial, networking and wireless markets. Freescale became a publicly traded company in July 2004. The company is based in Austin, Texas, and has design, research and development, manufacturing or sales operations in more than 30 countries. Freescale, a member of the S&P 500(R), is one of the world's largest semiconductor companies with 2005 sales of $5.8 billion (USD). www.freescale.com

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