Si477x AM/FM Receivers Deliver Superior RF Performance While Reducing
System Cost for High-End Consumer and Professional Audio Equipment
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Silicon
Laboratories Inc. (NASDAQ: SLAB), a leader in high-performance,
analog-intensive, mixed-signal ICs, today introduced a family of
advanced AM/FM receivers tuned for the high-end consumer and
professional audio equipment market. The new Si477x AM/FM receivers
provide industry-leading RF performance and exceptional configurability
while reducing system cost and complexity for consumer audio/video
receivers (AVRs), FM receiver monitors and pro-audio receivers.
To optimize audio performance, high-end consumer and pro-audio equipment
makers typically build discrete AM/FM receiver designs from manually
tuned inductors and multiple active components. These complicated,
hand-crafted receiver designs result in limited configurability, fewer
end-customer features, higher cost, and extensive manufacturing overhead
and test time. The discrete approach also suffers from overload in
strong signal environments, causing degradation in audio quality,
particularly for weaker signals. In contrast, Silicon Labs' highly
integrated AM/FM receiver design improves robustness and delivers
superior audio quality in all reception conditions while reducing system
cost and complexity.
Silicon Labs' Si477x family includes two feature-rich, single-chip
devices: the Si4770, a global multiband AM/FM receiver, and the Si4777,
an AM/FM receiver supporting HD Radio tuner functionality. Silicon Labs
designed the Si477x receivers to reduce the bill of materials (BOM) for
high-end consumer and pro-audio applications while enhancing design
flexibility and delivering outstanding performance. The Si477x family
leverages Silicon Labs' patented digital low-intermediate-frequency
(low-IF) architecture to deliver superior audio quality under the most
demanding environments.
The Si477x family offers unsurpassed RF sensitivity, adjacent and
alternate channel selectivity, linearity and audio fidelity through
advanced DSP algorithms. With -3.5 dBµV sensitivity, the Si477x
receivers can tune to signals down to 0.67 µV, picking up stations up to
100 miles away. Featuring a highly linear RF front end and sophisticated
RF and IF automatic gain control (AGC) coupled with a state-of-the-art
dynamic bandwidth control algorithm, the Si477x receivers optimize
sensitivity and selectivity in strong signal environments, enabling
outstanding reception at all times and conditions. The Si477x family's
best-in-class selectivity (65 dB at ±100 kHz and 72 dB at ±200 kHz
frequency offset from the desired station) sets a new standard for
tuning weaker stations buried among stronger ones in today's crowded
spectrum.
The Si477x receivers also feature an on-chip "prosumer" FM channel
equalizer designed to eliminate multipath fading and deliver optimal
performance under complex multipath interference conditions present in
urban settings. The equalizer's patented adaptation algorithm corrects
for multipath fading, which occurs when a radio station's signal reaches
the receiver along with time-shifted versions of the station's same
signal reflected off of buildings and other large objects. The equalizer
significantly reduces audio distortion with fewer sound-compromising
mitigation fixes applied to the audio. This high-performance FM channel
equalizer is the first of its kind in the audio industry.
The Si477x family provides excellent performance with Silicon Labs'
recommended default property settings, and it also delivers outstanding
flexibility, allowing developers to customize audio and system
performance according to their individual preferences. This high level
of configurability enables developers to tweak their audio designs to
achieve a particular "sound" that is unique to their audio product brand.
"Silicon Labs' high-performance Si477x receiver family provides the best
value and system cost savings for high-end consumer and pro-audio audio
systems without compromising one decibel of radio performance." said
James Stansberry, vice president and general manager of Silicon Labs'
broadcast products. "Audio equipment developers evaluating radio
receiver solutions will appreciate the exceptional RF performance,
single-chip integration, design simplicity and configurability that the
Si477x family offers."
The Si4770 and Si4777 receiver products are pin compatible, simplifying
system design efforts across multiple high-end audio equipment
platforms. Since the device footprints are identical, developers can
design one board and use either the Si4770 or Si4777 with a different
back end to scale between HD Radio and non-HD Radio solutions.
Pricing and Availability
Samples and production quantities of the Si477x AM/FM receivers are
available now in a compact 6 mm x 6 mm 40-pin QFN package. The Si4770
receiver is priced at $5.26, and the Si4777 receiver supporting HD Radio
is priced at $6.31, both in 10,000-unit quantities. To ease radio system
design, Silicon Labs offers the Si4770-A-EVB evaluation board priced at
$500 and the Si4770Module-A-EVB priced at $150. (All prices are in USD.)
For more information about Silicon Labs' Si477x AM/FM receivers and to
purchase samples and development tools, please visit www.silabs.com/pr/radio-receiver.
Silicon Laboratories Inc.
Silicon Laboratories is an industry leader in the innovation of
high-performance, analog-intensive, mixed-signal ICs. Developed by a
world-class engineering team with unsurpassed expertise in mixed-signal
design, Silicon Labs' diverse portfolio of patented semiconductor
solutions offers customers significant advantages in performance, size
and power consumption. For more information about Silicon Labs, please
visit www.silabs.com.
Cautionary Language
This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on
Silicon Laboratories' current expectations. These forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties. A number of important
factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in
the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of factors that could
impact Silicon Laboratories' financial results and cause actual results
to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements,
please refer to Silicon Laboratories' filings with the SEC. Silicon
Laboratories disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
Note to editors: Silicon Laboratories, Silicon Labs, the "S" symbol, the
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Silicon Laboratories Inc.
Dale Weisman, 512-532-5871
dale.weisman@silabs.com
Source: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
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