NXP audio IC for phones rise sound quality to max

NXP Semiconductors has launched its new TFA9890 speaker driver IC offering a boost voltage of 9.5V using an on-chip DC/DC converter. Increasing the voltage headroom in the audio driver IC prevents amplifier clipping and keeps sound quality high at maximum volume. TFA9890 is designed to safely drive 4 Watts of peak power into a standard 8-ohm speaker that is typically rated at 0.5 Watts. This is significant improvement in audio sound quality in mobile phones, tablets, TVs and portable speakers. “As handsets increasingly become multimedia devices, the message from consumers is loud and clear: Better sound quality can be the difference between a phone you tolerate and a phone you love,” said Shawn Scarlett, director of marketing, mobile audio solutions, NXP Semiconductors. “The commercial success of the TFA9887 audio IC we introduced last year has been game-changing – and with the TFA9890, we’re raising the bar for sound quality from mobile devices.” Whereas traditional approaches have required cutting bass frequencies to avoid damaging the speaker, the TFA9890 builds on the advanced speaker protection introduced in the award-winning TFA9887 to enable safe operation while working at near-peak output at all times. The fully integrated protection includes adaptive excursion control, a unique approach that compensates for real-world changes in the acoustic environment. The IC m...