Cirrus Logic Introduces PC-Optimized Audio Solutions That Simplify Design and Reduce BOM Cost
Cirrus Logic's PC-specific audio solution combines smart amplifiers and low-power codecs to enhance speaker and headphone listening experience
Cirrus Logic today announced a premium audio solution purpose-built for PCs that delivers a louder, more immersive audio experience, whether it’s making voice calls and listening to music through the small built-in speakers of ultra-thin laptops or headphones . Cirrus Logic's PC-optimized audio solutions include the Cirrus Logic CS35L56 smart amplifier with processing power for higher performance audio, and the low-power CS42L43 SmartHIFI™ PC audio codec integrating a MIPI SoundWire interface (v1.2) . This advanced audio solution also simplifies designs for PC manufacturers and helps reduce the total number of components, saving board space and reducing bill-of-materials costs.
"The PC market continues to evolve toward thinner and lighter form factors, even approaching the thickness of a smartphone," said Phil Solis, research director for connectivity and smartphone semiconductors at IDC. "At the same time, whether it's for gaming, video or videoconferencing applications, consumer Both business and business users want better audio quality in their laptops. This creates a huge demand for higher performance audio solutions with lower BOM cost and smaller size."
Big Sound for a PC-Optimized Audio Solution
Cirrus Logic's CS35L56 smart amplifier helps PC builders deliver rich audio in a compact multi-speaker design with deeper bass, balanced sound and better dynamic range on the thinnest laptops. The CS35L56 smart amplifier includes built-in DSP, feedback circuitry, laptop battery boost, and protection and enhancement algorithms to deliver industry-leading PC audio that maximizes loudness, quality, and consistency while reducing pop and vibration. The CS35L56 smart amplifier continues to extract maximum performance from novel laptop form factors such as 360-degree flip and detachable 2-in-1s and folios, as well as new large-excursion and dual-diaphragm speakers without noticeable speaker performance degradation.
The CS42L43 PC audio codec provides a best-in-class headphone audio experience with excellent speech clarity, high dynamic range, and low distortion. Because the acoustic characteristics of headphones vary widely, it is important for OEMs to consider headphone type during the design process. Otherwise, users may hear different sounds from different headphones, even from the same laptop. Cirrus Logic's CS42L43 codec helps OEMs deliver more transparent, consistent premium audio quality across headset types. The CS42L43 audio codec consumes 50% less power than other available solutions, also helping to extend PC battery life.
Smaller board space and lower bill of materials cost
This advanced audio solution from Cirrus Logic also simplifies design and reduces bill-of-materials costs for PC manufacturers. The CS42L43 audio codec is packaged in a 13mm2 chip scale package, making the combined solution smaller than similar products by more than 50%. Thanks to lower power consumption, less board space, and fewer components, this PC-optimized solution can be designed with less cost and less waste.
Worry-free PC audio design
Cirrus Logic's PC audio solutions enable an easier, simpler design process and simplify OEM transitions to the industry's new SoundWire interface (v1.2). The CS35L56 amplifier provides simple integration with the SoundWire Device Class Audio (SDCA) manager and works within Microsoft's ACX framework.
Cirrus Logic's audio solutions are flexible and scalable, combining hardware, firmware and Windows driver solutions to make them compatible with industry-leading processors and any number of speakers. By choosing the number of CS35L56 amplifiers paired with the CS42L43 codec, OEMs can also scale their solutions for both performance and value.
Eric Eklund, Marketing and Applications Director, Mixed Signal Products Division, Cirrus Logic, said: "As users increasingly rely on their laptops in their everyday lives, whether in a mixed work environment or for entertainment, today's laptops need to be able to A solution that delivers big sound in a small space while addressing the industry's transition to the SoundWire interface. Cirrus Logic meets this need with a premium PC built-in audio solution, whether listening through your laptop's speakers or using headphones, the solution Both allow for worry-free OEM design and loud, immersive audio."
Supply
The 55nm CS35L56 is available in a commercial grade 34-pin QFN package. The CS42L43 audio codec is available in commercial grade 70-ball WLCSP (Wafer Level Chip Scale Package) and commercial grade 88-pin QFN packages. Samples of both products are available now, and volume production is expected to begin before the end of this year.
dedicated to audio
Cirrus Logic has shipped over 5 billion amplifiers and is used by 5 of the top 10 smartphone manufacturers and 4 of the top 5 PC OEMs. For decades, Cirrus Logic's flagship expertise has contributed to a wide variety of audio applications in the pro audio, PC, mobile and smartphone audio markets.