Wolfson Microelectronics has launched the WM8912, a low-power DAC designed to extend playback time, reduce system cost and enhance audio performance in portable applications, including media players, headsets, multimedia phones and navigation devices. The device is a new addition to the company's portfolio of low-power audio solutions, delivering quality audio performance and consuming low power in a thin package. The device features the company's SmartDACtechnology, a low-power DAC capacitor switching architecture, which enables DAC to headphone power consumption of less than 4mW. The device also features the company's Class W amplifier technology, an evolution of class G, which includes an adaptive dual drive charge pump and DC servo circuit architecture. The Class W ground referenced amplifier technology uses the adaptive dual drive charge pump to optimise power dissipation and eliminate the need for large DC blocking capacitors on both headphone and line outputs, resulting in savings in PCB space and the audio subsystem BOM (bill of materials). The device also features a control write sequencer to ensure ease of system design by enabling and disabling the DAC with a single register write. Flexible clocking options are provided by a low-power FLL (frequency locked loop). A programmable dynamic range controller compresses the output signal, ensuring that maximum volume is achieved when desired.
