All three new Sabre PRO ADCs are powered by ESS’s second-generation Audio Signal Processor (ASP2), providing improved integration capabilities. ASP2 supports custom audio processing including multiband parametric EQs, mixers, stereo widening, audio expansion and compression, RIAA pre-emphasis, crossover filters, dynamic range compression (DRC), automatic gain leveling (AGL), and more. This integration minimizes or eliminates the need for external DSPs, streamlining design, reducing software complexity, and lowering bill-of-material (BOM) costs.
The new ES9823MPRO and ES9823PRO are advanced 2-channel SMART ADCs offering class-leading audio performance with a dynamic range (DNR) of +128dB and a total harmonic distortion plus noise (THD+N) of -117dB. This represents one of the highest per-channel specifications in the industry, with an impressive +130dB DNR in mono mode.
Joining the 2-channels ADCs is the ES9843PRO, a 4-channel SMART ADC delivering exceptional fidelity with a DNR of +125dB and -116dB THD+N per channel in 4-channel mode.
To further simplify development, the new ADCs are compatible with ESS’s new Sabre Intelligence Studio (SI Studio), a user-friendly programming interface that accelerates design flow and shortens time-to-market.
ESS and MQA Labs Collaboration
The result of an intense collaboration with MQA Labs, aiming to improve the fidelity of audio signal conversion stages. The new ES9823MPRO is the first ADC in the world to integrate FOQUS by MQA Labs — a decimation filter with a minimum-phase response engineered to stay below human perceptual thresholds. ESS recognized that this single dithered quantization step and low-complexity architecture make FOQUS the most transparent decimation technology available today.
“FOQUS represents a major step forward in our mission to help people perfectly capture sound digitally,” says Al Wood, Director of Engineering at Lenbrook’s MQA Labs. “ESS has long been a leader in high-performance audio. We’re confident that the ES9823MPRO, with FOQUS built-in, will set a new benchmark in analog-to-digital conversion.”
All three devices support a comprehensive set of digital output formats, including S/PDIF encoding, I²S master/slave, TDM, PDM, DSD, DoP, and RAW. The three converters support high sample rates up to and including 768kHz and DSD512. They also feature PDM microphone input support and built-in digital filtering with pre-programmed and customizable filter coefficients, including DC blocking options. Interfaces include both I²C and SPI, with a master SPI port to connect an external FLASH device for rapid ASP2 configuration.
The new devices are drop-in compatible with previous flagship models — ES9822PRO and ES9842PRO — and are available in a compact, low-pin-count 5×5mm 40-pin QFN package.
Sabre Intelligence Studio
ESS Technology also released the new Sabre Intelligence Studio (SI Studio) to help simplify system design and programming of its SMART family of products with integrated Audio Signal Processing (ASP). SI Studio is a drag-and-drop environment with Graphical User Interface (GUI), encompassing a collection of programming blocks that can be combined to allow for customization according to the requirements of multiple audio applications.
The tools available in SI Studio incorporate predefined blocks including multi-band PEQ, DC block, crossovers, Companders including DRC (Dynamic Range Compression), mixers, RIAA filters, and stereo wideners. In addition, developers can easily integrate their proprietary code using exported text files.
The powerful ASP2 hardware integrated into the ESS SMART products and ability to program it easily using SI Studio helps manufacturers to reduce time to market, eliminate the need for external components including external DSP, while optimizing for the best audio performance. The newly introduced ES9823MPRO, ES9823PRO, and ES9843PRO SMART ADCs with ASP2 can be programmed using SI Studio and use the same programming blocks.
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