Motorola And B & K Components Unveil SymphonyÆ Amplifier Technology As The Next Step To A Fully Digital System-On-Chip Implementation For Audio

Technology Will Be Implemented Within Powerful 24-Bit Programmable DSP And Other Motorola Processors For A Variety Of Audio Applications

28-Mar-01

A significant advancement for the digital end-to-end system-on-chip integration for the audio marketplace was introduced with Motorola's new SymphonyÆ Amplifier technology. A prime example of DigitalDNAô technology, the new Symphony Amplifier technology can be integrated into the powerful programmable 24-bit DSP56300 architecture and other Motorola core offerings, allowing for designs with greater power efficiency, smaller form factors, and world class noise performance - all benefits to be combined with Motorola's rich audio software library. Consumer OEMs can use this technology to replace inefficient Class A or A/B amplifier stages with highly efficient Class D amplifier stages without any degradation in audio performance. The increase in efficiency allows for smaller and lighter system form factors. High power amplifiers can now be integrated into systems such as set-top boxes where they could not before. Motorola has multiple patents pending for novel methods of linearization and noise shaping of pulse width modulation (PWM), which result in superior performance compared to analog amplifiers. By using a two-sided PWM approach, the output sample rate is effectively doubled and signal-to-noise ratio increases by more than an order of magnitude. Digital-to-analog converters are eliminated because the signal processing is performed entirely in the digital domain. Testimonial to the power of this technology is that it is already discretely designed utilizing Motorola's DSP56300 device family into the announced DA-2100 stereo power amplifier product manufactured by B & K Components. This was demonstrated at the 2001 CES. John Beyer, General Manager of B & K states, ""B & K is proud to work with Motorola as an alpha site for Motorola's digital amplifier program. We feel that the benefits our customers received because B & K worked with Motorola as an alpha site on their 24-bit DSP processors for DolbyÆ Digital, DTSÆ and THXÆ should be repeated in our efforts to develop digital amplifiers based on Motorola's latest integrated DSP chips. The problems of developing elegant amplifier solutions that are great sounding, efficient and more flexible to package will be resolved by this technology and help B & K bring these new products to market on a timely basis. Working with Motorola in developing new technologies allows B & K to move ahead of the curve on new developments in the digital age of audio/video products. B & K expects to be able to bring a family of digital amplifiers to market in the next 12 to 24 months, based on Motorola's newest DSP products. B & K's first digital amplifiers are planned to coincide with Motorola's release of its newest DSP chips geared to digital amplification. Our goal is a family of stereo and multichannel amplifiers from 100 watts on up. B & K expects digital amplifier technology to become a significant factor in the consumer audio/video business in the near future. Digital is here to stay, and we expect our business relationship with Motorola in developing these new technologies will allow B & K to continue to lead the way in the audio/video field."" Future Motorola audio products will have the SymphonyÆ Amplifier processing integrated so all that will be needed is a switching stage designed for the amplification power desired. The back-end switching stage is completely independent of the algorithm processing. This means that a full range of amplification stages, from one watt up to 1,000 watts, can be implemented based upon the consumer OEMs market needs. ""Motorola's Symphony Amplifier technology is the next logical step in end-to-end audio delivery, eliminating traditional analog inefficiencies,"" says Ken Obuszewski, Motorola's Audio Solutions Operations Manager. ""This technology is meant for consumer OEMs in the automotive, set-top box, home theatre, television, and PC speakers markets where high quality audio is required within a confined space."" For more information about B & K Components, visit www.bkcomp.com. For more information about Motorola, visit www.motorola.com/semiconductors.

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