AKM AK4499EX and AK4191 Flagship D/A Converter Solution Enters Production

As anticipated, Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation (AKM) has released to production the new flagship stereo D/A converter (DAC), the Velvet Sound Verita AK4499EX, showcased at the High End Munich show in May 2022. Alongside the AK4499EX, AKM has also released the AK4191 Digital Filter and ΔΣ Modulator, completing a two-chip solution that makes it easy to improve performance with completely independent digital and analog circuitry.

ESS Technology has launched 4 new Sabre PROfessional Series Digital-to-Analog converters, setting the company's benchmark for consumer and professional audio applications. The new converters are the flagship ES9039MPRO and ES9039PRO, together with the cost-effective ES9027MPRO and ES9027PRO 8 channel DACs. And targeting cost sensitive applications that need improved performance, ESS also launched the new ESS ES9017 8-channel DAC.

Japanese electronic component manufacturer ROHM Semiconductor has a strong connection with music and audio, being the source for a wide range of audio converters, amplifiers, and processors. Recently, ROHM started a new development project for a variety of new high fidelity solutions supporting high resolution audio. First in the new MUS-IC range and now available is the ROHM BD34301EKV, a 32-bit D/A converter designed for high-end audio designs. ROHM also launched the BD34301EKV-EVK-001 evaluation board available via distributor channels.

Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation (AKM) has expanded its lineup of premium audio Digital-to-Analog converters (DACs) with the development of a two-chip solution that separates the digital aspect from the analog. While conventional DACs use a single chip to convert signals from digital to analog, the new AKM approach splits the conversion process between the AK4191 delta-sigma modulator and the AK4498 DAC. This results in an improvement in sound quality that is easily perceptible while listening to music, the company states.

ESS Technology announced the ES9068Q Low-Power Audiophile CODEC, its newest in a line of SABRE DACs designed for small desktop and portable applications with demanding audio specifications. As previously announced in May 2018, this is the first product to offer an integrated hardware MQA (Master Quality Authentication) renderer that makes MQA playback easy and cost efficient. This is also the first product in the series with CODEC capabilities; it features microphone support as well as stereo PDM inputs.