Audio SoC improves sound quality, minimizes design workload

ROHM Semiconductor has released a high-resolution audio SoC that it claims acts as the brain in audio applications like Bluetooth speakers. Other use cases include USB DACs and mini-/micro-component systems that carry out control and management of peripheral components and input/output I/F.

ROHM has been offering audio-related ICs such as media decoders, speaker amps, and sound processors. However, in recent years, a variety of audio devices have emerged that demand a more faithful reproduction of information from different sound sources — media, music, etc. — and not just the high-resolution audio.

Therefore, in order to support a wide range of audio sources, multiple media decoders are required for CD, USB, and Bluetooth along with additional peripheral components. And that increases software complexity and aggravates development load.

ROHM has developed an audio SoC along with a reference design that improves audio quality for the entire system while minimizing the development load. The BM94803AEKU audio SoC integrates an MCU, SDRAM, and media decoder in a single-chip solution.

The media decoder, which supports a wide range of audio sources, ensures a stable playback even on damaged CDs and non-standard USBs. And the built-in SDRAM contributes to greater miniaturization.

The audio SoC, according to ROHM, comes with the industry’s first high-resolution audio reference design. The reference design maximizes the performance of audio devices and peripheral applications by configuring ROHM’s amp, CD driver, and other elements around the audio SoC. Moreover, it provides dedicated software that enables rapid development of audio devices capable of stable playback of a wide range of audio sources.