Nearly two years since ESS Technology updated its SABRE range of Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs) with the ESS ES9842 PRO (4 channels) and the ES9822 PRO 2 channel ADC, with a DNR of 125dB and 117dB of THD+N, achieving the best per channel specification from the brand, the company its the sweet spot with the new ES9821 SABRE ADC, with a typical DNR of 120dB and 112dB of THD+N as a starting point.
The SABRE line of ADCs uses ESS' patented HyperStream modulator that gives the devices their legendary sound quality. HyperStream modulation allows for timing jitter to be pushed out of the audio range so the resulting soundstage is pure and consistent. And Hyperstream technology also allows the ES9821 to have a flat noise floor of 200kHz with more than 10dB lower distortion compared to other competing devices, the company claims.
The new ES9821 SABRE ADC extends the current family of ESS ADC devices, and it is designed to optimize system performance while providing a cost effective system solution. It allows high sample rates, handling PCM sampling rates up to 768 kHz and includes synchronous S/PDIF, I2S master/slave, and TDM output formats.
The ES9821Q can be programmed using I2C or SPI input. It also can be configured by choosing one of its built-in hardware modes. Outstanding acoustical performance is achieved with the use of pre-programmed filters that are ideal to preserve time-domain performance, and hence best imaging and most accurate signal preservation possible. It has an integrated low noise ADC reference regulator and has a very low power consumption of less than 40mW per channel (48kHz SR).
A combination of further powerful, cutting edge features make system design easier and more efficient. The ADCs feature an inter-channel gain mismatch of less than 0.05 dB, eliminating the need for external balancing and hand-trimming. And the ES9821 features an optional digital high-pass filter to remove DC offset from the input.
This makes the new SABRE ADC ideal for applications in audio mixing consoles, high-performance microphone preamplifiers, high-end audio equipment, samplers, audio processors and test equipment.
A privately held fabless semiconductor company, ESS Technology has been on the cutting edge of audio technology with high-performance audio devices for mobile, consumer, automotive, and professional systems. The company was founded in 1984, and today ESS Technology is best known for its SABRE series of high-performance audio products.
The ES9821 is available in a 28 pin QFN package. In addition, a full evaluation board and reference design are available.
www.esstech.com
