CAMBRIDGE, England & SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Extending and enhancing its audio platform offerings, CSR plc (LSE: CSR; NASDAQ: CSRE) today announced the acquisition of Direct Digital Feedback Amplifier (DDFA™) technology, a proprietary, highly scalable digital Class-D audio amplifier technology which will allow CSR to offer a broader, more complete range of audio solutions to OEMs that dramatically simplify system designs and reduce cost while achieving unsurpassed audio quality. The innovative DDFA technology will enable CSR to provide complete, high-performance, all-digital audio processing pipelines, from source to speakers, for a variety of wireless and wired active speakers, speaker docks, sound bars and other consumer audio products.
“This patented DDFA technology now gives us the unique ability to produce incredibly compact digital power amplifier stages that combine the high energy efficiency of Class D operation with output sound quality that until now has only been possible with the very best linear amplifiers,” said Anthony Murray, Senior Vice President for the Home Business Group at CSR. “With the acquisition of DDFA technology, CSR will be able to provide a complete audio platform solution to address the needs of our customers in existing and emerging new markets for wireless audio. We believe the DDFA technology will enable us to ultimately offer our customers a broad range of truly all-digital audio solutions that deliver significant cost and quality benefits over traditional designs, and which will spark entirely new consumer product categories.”
The acclaimed NAD VISO 1 Wireless Digital Music System from NAD Electronics is a prime example, where DDFA technology has been selected as the amplifier solution. Greg Stidsen, Director of Technology and Product Planning of NAD explains: “DDFA is the ideal digital amplifier technology to meet our performance needs while at the same time providing the processing features that allow our engineers to perfectly optimise the system’s acoustic performance.”
DDFA Technology Benefits
The DDFA architecture employs a fast and highly accurate digital feedback loop to create a Class-D audio switching amplifier that sets new standards in digital amplifier sound quality. Even when used with an inexpensive, unregulated power supply, including switching power supplies, digital amplifiers based on DDFA technology can achieve THD+N performance levels of less than 0.004% and a dynamic range of 120dB, according to our internal studies.
The DDFA architecture is highly scalable in terms of power output, number of channels and the range of applications it is suitable for. Implementations with today’s chipset are able to produce 20 to 250 Watts with up to eight single-ended or four bridge-tied load channels using a single modulator, with flexible combinations of modulators and feedback processors allowing a variety of channel counts to be implemented. Applications cover the entire range of consumer audio products, from docking stations, active speakers and sound bars to premium AV receivers, component high-fidelity amplifiers and home entertainment systems.
Unlike more traditional linear amplifier solutions, the DDFA architecture integrates the functions of DAC, DSP, pre-amp and power amp to significantly simplify system design, maintain signal integrity and reduce cost. DSP capability includes dedicated configurable IIR filters supported by mix/map functions to implement active crossovers and parametric EQ for room or cabinet equalization. Conventional functions such as tone and volume controls also benefit from the full digital implementation, avoiding the degrading side-effects seen in analogue implementations.
Advanced power management features enable the DDFA architecture to provide intelligent short-circuit protection, programmable clip management, dynamic compression, configurable power and current limiting.
DDFA technology from CSR is already deployed in mass-produced consumer audio products.
###
About CSR
CSR is a global provider of innovative silicon and software solutions for the location-aware, media-rich, cloud-connected world. Our platforms are optimised for the automotive navigation and infotainment, digital cameras and imaging, connected home infotainment and wireless audio markets. We provide solutions to complex problems in the audio-visual, connectivity and location technology domains across a broad range of markets, with a technology portfolio that includes GPS/GNSS systems, Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi®, FM, NFC, aptX® and CVCTM audio codecs, JPEG, MPEG, H.264 imaging, PDL printing, microcontrollers, DSPs and broadband receivers. CSR's technology solutions and market platforms enable its customers to deliver a superior user experience and are adopted by leaders in the auto, computer, home and mobile markets. More information can be found at www.csr.com. Keep up to date with CSR on our blog, YouTube or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CSR_plc
CAUTIONARY NOTE ON FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains certain statements (including statements concerning plans and objectives of management for future operations or performance, or assumptions related thereto) that are not historical facts and constitute ‘forward looking statements’ within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 in relation to CSR's Direct Digital Feedback Amplifier (DDFA) technology, and its performance characteristics in customers' products, and other future events and their potential effects on CSR. These forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as ’will,’ ‘can deliver,’ offers', 'allows', 'to enhance,’ ‘enables,’ and other similar expressions regarding the performance characteristics of CSR's DDFA technology, and its performance characteristics in consumer electronics products, and their potential effects on CSR. Any future release of CSR's DDFA technology or consumer electronics products containing such technology, related products or modifications to such products’ capability, functionality or features are subject to ongoing evaluation by CSR and its customers, and may or may not be implemented and should not be considered firm commitments by CSR or its customers and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions. Such forward-looking statements represent the current expectations and beliefs of management of CSR, and are based upon numerous assumptions regarding CSR’s business strategies and the environment in which CSR will operate and therefore involve a number of known and unknown risks, contingencies, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of CSR, including, but not limited to, those detailed from time to time in CSR’s periodic reports (whether under the caption Risk Factors or Forward Looking Statements or elsewhere), which are available at the SEC’s web site http://www.sec.gov. Each forward looking statement speaks only as of the date hereof. CSR does not undertake to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward looking statements contained herein, otherwise than required by law.
The DDFA trademark belongs to Cambridge Silicon Radio Limited. Other products, services and names used in this document may have been trademarked by their respective owners.