Update from Asahi Kasei Microdevices - The Return of Velvet Sound

Following the major fire that destroyed its semiconductor factory in Japan, Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM) is back online and promises new announcements in January 2022. audioXpress received notice from Gaku Suzuki, General Manager for Digital Marketing HiFi ICs at AKM that the company's famed Velvet Sound DACs and ADCs are about to resume production. We also learned that the company intends to focus on a new generation of chips and offer updated replacements for existing references.

CEntrance is now shipping DACport Pro, a portable D/A converter, headphone amplifier, and monitor controller for audio professionals. With the DACport Pro, the Chicago-based company builds on the success of its DACport HD, which was designed for HiFi enthusiasts. The professional version of the portable DAC adds balanced XLR output jacks, a large monitor volume control knob, and LED VU meters, ideal to connect a laptop to a mixer or professional sound setup. Shipping now for US $369.99.

SPL of Germany has developed a new product line that combines the sound of their big devices with a desktop-friendly design and an affordable price. The Series One line was equally developed for professional recording studios, home studios, musicians, music lovers, and media creatives of all kinds. The first two Series One devices, Phonitor One ($499) and Phonitor One d ($699) – both headphone amplifiers — are now shipping. More devices of the new Series One will be announced soon.

Sound Performance Lab, or SPL, the mysterious audio designer and manufacturer from Germany, has announced a new Phonitor se headphone amp, now shipping in two models, with and without an AKM DAC768xs D/A converter. The new model is an entry into the SPL Professional Fidelity Phonitor range and has the same audio signal amplification as its bigger brothers Phonitor x and Phonitor xe. The SPL line of products is distributed by Focal-Naim America in the US and Canada.

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.

Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation (AKM) made two new product announcements focusing on 4-channel applications. The AK5704EN 4-channel 32-bit A/D audio converter was developed for high-quality low-power multi-microphone recording applications. Its built-in microphone amplifier and power supply make it an ideal solution for conference systems, microphone array systems or smart speakers. The also new AK7739VQ/AK7737VQ audio and voice processors are multicore units, designed for car audio, car navigation systems, and wireless speakers applications.