Cirrus Logic Drives Industry Transition to Multi-Speaker PC Systems With Launch of Four-Channel AC '97 PC Audio Codec

Business Wire, Nov 30, 1998

FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 30, 1998--

New Crystal AC '97 Codec Drives Convergence of PC &

Entertainment Applications, Providing More Realistic Sound

Reproduction for PC Gaming and DVD Content Playback

Cirrus Logic Inc. (Nasdaq:CRUS), the world's leading supplier of PC audio chip solutions(1), today introduced a new multi-channel AC '97 compliant PC audio codec that is capable of significantly improving the end-user's PC gaming and musical experience.

The highly-integrated CS4294 is the newest member of Cirrus Logic's Crystal(R) mixed-signal, AC '97 audio codec family of advanced PCI audio products.

Targeting the multi-channel sound card and set-top box markets, the new four-channel output high-performance, low-cost device highlights Cirrus Logic's commitment to help drive the convergence of the PC and entertainment applications.

In fact, with today's announcement PC users can now surround themselves with at least four and as many as eight speakers, when two CS4294 codecs are used, creating more realistic, full-featured sound reproduction.

"As the sound card industry transitions to four or more channels, manufacturers are demanding multi-channel, low-cost, high-performance AC '97 codecs," said Scott McDonald, vice president and general manager of Cirrus Logic's Crystal Audio Division.

"Our new AC '97 codec leverages our world-class engineering and software expertise to deliver a highly-integrated solution that satisfies the manufacturers' cost parameters and exceeds their performance requirements."

Highly-Integrated CS4294

The CS4294 is a single-chip AC '97 codec that combines two A/D channels, stereo mixing for three stereo inputs, a microphone pre-amp and mono microphone input with four 18-bit D/A channels. This highly-integrated solution exemplifies Cirrus Logic's mixed-signal expertise and sets a new level of price/performance for the rapidly growing AC '97 codec market.

"For years we have been designing codecs that combine a mixture of A/D and D/A converters for our consumer and professional audio products," said Eric Broockman, vice president and general manager of Cirrus Logic's Crystal Semiconductor Products Division. "We are now putting this solid experience to work to further strengthen our leadership position in the growing PC audio codec market."

PC Audio Momentum

According to the latest Mercury Research PC audio report for 1998, Cirrus Logic increased its market share in PC audio by 6%, capturing over 25% of the market and propelling the company into the number one position. With one of the industry's broadest PC audio product lines, Cirrus Logic can provide unmatched ISA, PCI and AC '97 codec performance to the desktop, portable and add-in card markets.

Cirrus Logic's Crystal PC audio solutions have won strong industry acceptance among major PC OEM design wins, including Acer, Dell, Fujitsu, Gateway, HP, IBM and Intel.

Complete PCI Audio Solution

The CS4294 can be coupled with Crystal's recently introduced DSP-based, PCI audio accelerators, the CS4622 or CS4624, to create a high-quality, fully-featured, PCI audio solution for the desktop and add-in card markets. The CS4294 can also be combined with the Crystal CS4280 to deliver a low-cost, multi-channel, PCI audio solution to the cost-sensitive sub-$1,000 PC and set-top box markets.

All of these combined solutions meet Microsoft's PC98 and Intel's AC '97 requirements and provide compatibility for legacy games. Furthermore, because these solutions are all optimized to meet PC98 requirements, they can streamline system testing in Microsoft's Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) certification program.

Targeted Applications

The CS4294 takes direct aim at enhancing and creating more realistic sounds for popular consumer PC applications, such as advanced 3D gaming and DVD content playback.

When combined with Cirrus Logic's exceptional Crystal PCI audio accelerators and driver support, the CS4294 can produce incredibly accurate 3D-positional sound and Dolby AC-3 under Microsoft's DirectSound, DirectSound3D and ActiveMovie. These advanced features promises to be the hallmark of tomorrow's PCs.

Pricing/Packaging/Availability

The CS4294 mixed-signal AC '97 codec is currently sampling with production quantities set for March, 1999. The device is available in a 48-pin TQFP package and is priced at $3.50 each in quantities of 10,000 pieces.

Cirrus Logic

Cirrus Logic is a premier supplier of precision linear circuits and advanced mixed-signal system-level chip solutions, the latter which demand high-performance mixed-signal processing, embedded DSP, algorithms and firmware.

The company's products, sold under its own name and the Crystal product brand, enable high-volume applications in mass storage, communications, consumer electronics and industrial markets. Additional information about Cirrus Logic is available at www.cirrus.com.

Note to editors: Cirrus Logic is a registered trademark of Cirrus Logic Inc. All other product names noted herein may be trademarks of their respective holders.