Analog Devices introduced a 16-channel audio D/A converter capable of improving audio system performance and reducing power consumption for professional, “prosumer” and automotive audio equipment applications. The 24-bit ADAU1966 16-channel audio D/A converter provides 118dB-SNR performance at 32-kHz to 192-kHz sampling rates. Its 118-dB SNR performance is achieved with a lowest in class power consumption of less than 300 mW for 16-channel operation by running the digital portion of the ADAU1966 at a lower voltage. The digital supply can be generated on chip via a linear regulator allowing the ADAU1966 to operate off a single analog supply. Alternatively, the regulator can be bypassed and a separate 2.5-V to 3.3-V supply provided to the chip.
Operating the ADAU1966 with full-scale differential output voltage of 3 Vrms reduces the need for downstream gain and preserves a high SNR against electrically-coupled system noise. By using the ADAU1966 A/D converter’s on-board PLL to derive the internal master clock from an external left/right clock, the ADAU1966 eliminates the need for a separate high frequency master clock and can be used with or without a bit clock. The ADAU1966 is qualified for AEC-100 automotive applications and operates at a -40 to +105° C temperature range. It also features an SPI/I2C port which allows an external microcontroller to adjust volume and read the chip temperature to within +/-3°C.
