TI's New Aureus DSPs

Texas Instruments introduced the next generation in its Aureus family of high-performance audio digital signal processors (DSPs) for applications requiring multi-channel decoding, including receivers, home-theater-in-a-box systems (HTIBs), set-top boxes, micro-components, high-definition televisions, and automotive navigation/multimedia systems. These devices also are ideal for applications requiring audio decoding and simultaneous high-speed encoding, such as DVD recorders, home music servers and automotive jukeboxes.

With 50 percent performance improvement at the same price point as the previous generation of Aureus products, the 300 MHz TMS320DA710 and 250 MHz TMS320DA708 deliver a versatile, cost-effective DSP and Development Environment for high performance, high-quality multi-channel audio applications. For example, a complete 7.1 system, including AC3 or DTS decoding, Dolby Pro Logic IIx or NEO:6 matrix decoding, bass management, and delay, takes only 22 percent of the available performance of a DA710 processor.

With nearly 80 percent of the available performance for customization and differentiation, OEMs can implement product-differentiating features, including:

• Better quality reverb algorithms for more life-like room simulations
• Advanced equalization techniques for better room acoustic correction
• True dual-zone decoding and post-processing for multi-room applications
• Simultaneous multi-channel audio decode and up to 16 times real-time encode ("CD ripping") for server applications, eliminating the need for a separate encoder and associated buffer memory

Architectural enhancements specifically designed for high-performance audio processing enable efficient use of the extensive headroom available on DA7xx devices. New mixed-precision instructions allow for higher quality bass management and equalization algorithms without the performance impact of using double-precision. An audio-optimized Dual Data Movement Accelerator (DMAX) performs efficient non-sequential external memory accesses and circular buffer management, improving the performance of long delay line algorithms, such as reverb. Additionally, the CPU core and memory subsystem were enhanced and the amount of parallel processing was increased, resulting in higher performance in audio applications.

DA7xx devices are backed by production-quality software, including TI's Performance Audio Software Library, an end-to-end system software solution that includes:

• Industry-standard decoders and post-processors from Dolby, DTS and THX
• MP3, Windows Media Audio (WMA) and ATRAC3plus encoder and decoder modules
• Double-precision (64-bit) Bass Management
• The TI Effects Library, which includes configurable modules for Graphical EQ, Room Simulators and Matrix Decoders
• Optimized filter blocks for building custom algorithms
• Bitstream auto-detection, system framework and I/O drivers

The Performance Audio Software Library is based on TI's XDAIS algorithm standard, which allows OEMs and third parties to create plug-and-play algorithms. Numerous third parties are supporting the Performance Audio Library, including Audyssey, SRS Labs, Waves and Neural Surround. This enables OEMs to more efficiently develop and customize audio algorithms, getting products to market faster, quickly spinning derivative products by adding new features, and reducing development costs in general.

The DA7xx is the second generation in the Aureus family of audio processors and confirms TI's commitment to the multi-channel audio market. The first-generation Aureus DSP (DA6xx) was selected by Dolby for its Pro Logic IIx enhanced surround sound development platform and has been designed into equipment by the world's leading audio OEMs, including: Alpine, Clarion, JVC, Onkyo and Harman Kardon.

The DA7xx family is code compatible with TI's previous generations of the Aureus family and built upon TI's C6000 DSP architecture. The DA7xx devices leverage TI's investment in C6000 tools including the award-winning Code Composer Studio™ IDE. Developers can get started today with DA710 and DA708 EVMs from Momentum Data Systems (http://www.mds.com). The EVMs include digital I/O, multi-channel analog I/O and all the other system components required to prototype a typical A/V receiver system.

"TI's Aureus family of DSPs continues to push the boundaries of quality and performance for home theater processing," said Brian Towne, Senior Vice President at DTS, Inc. "DTS is pleased that TI has designed a high performance and cost effective processor package capable of implementing our new DTS-HD technology. DTS-HD will feature 7.1 lossless audio and is backward compatible with existing DTS decoders. DTS is proud to count TI as one of its key launch partners."

Availability and Pricing
> Currently sampling, both devices are slated for volume production in Q3 2005. The 250 MHz TMS320DA708 costs $13.52 each and comes in a 144-pin TQFP package. The 300 MHz TMS320DA710 costs $21.63 and comes in a 256 BGA package, both in 10,000 unit or more quantities.

For more information, please visit www.ti.com/homeaudio1 .