Pro Audio Converter Market History (1994–Present)
1994 — Burr-Brown Releases PCM1702 Multibit DAC
Burr-Brown launches the PCM1702, a 20-bit BiCMOS dual R-2R ladder DAC featuring a sign-magnitude architecture designed to eliminate zero-crossing distortion. It became an industry flagship for high-end audio DAC design throughout the mid-to-late 1990s, defining the classic "multibit" sound standard right before the industry shifted en masse toward high-resolution delta-sigma topologies.
1994 — Crystal Semiconductor Introduces CS5389 18-Bit Delta-Sigma ADC
Crystal Semiconductor (Cirrus Logic) introduces the CS5389 stereo A/D converter, bringing high-dynamic-range stereo conversion to affordable pro-audio recording hardware and digital mixers. This accelerated the transition of project-studio hardware away from legacy hybrid ADC modules to highly integrated CMOS delta-sigma ICs.
1995 — Crystal Semiconductor Introduces CS4329 Multi-Bit Delta-Sigma DAC
Crystal releases the CS4329, one of the earliest commercial audio DACs to combine a multi-bit delta-sigma modulator with a switched-capacitor analog filter. This helped initiate the industry transition away from pure 1-bit delta-sigma converters—which suffered from severe high-frequency out-of-band noise and jitter sensitivity—toward multi-bit delta-sigma topologies that offered lower jitter susceptibility and superior dynamic range.
Jun '96 — dCS Debuts the Elgar DAC and Consumer Ring DAC Architecture
Data Conversion Systems (dCS) unveils the Elgar D/A converter at the Stereophile Show in New York, introducing its proprietary 5-bit multi-bit "Ring DAC" architecture (originally engineered for military/radar data acquisition) to the high-end audio market. It provided 24-bit / 96 kHz conversion capabilities well before off-the-shelf IC manufacturers offered high-res silicon, becoming a benchmark alternative to standard monolith IC converters in pro and mastering studios.
1998 — AKM Launches the AK4393 ("Super Velvet Sound" Archetype)
Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM) introduces the AK4393, an early 24-bit / 96 kHz stereo DAC utilizing an advanced multi-bit delta-sigma modulator. It established AKM as a dominant force in pro-audio conversion during the DVD-Audio / SACD development era, forming the direct foundation for the AK439x series and setting up AKM’s high-performance signature sound lineage.
1999 — Wadia Digital Acquires UltraAnalog
High-end audio manufacturer Wadia Digital acquires UltraAnalog Inc., the premier manufacturer of ultra-high-precision discrete/hybrid ladder DAC modules (such as the D20400). This signaled the sunset of the classic high-cost discrete ladder DAC module era as high-performance monolithic ICs from Burr-Brown, AKM, and Crystal rapidly improved in price-to-performance.
24 Aug '00 — Texas Instruments Acquires Burr-Brown
TI completes its acquisition of Burr-Brown for ~$7.6 billion (initially announced June 2000; valued at ~$6.5B at closing), absorbing one of the dominant high-performance ADC/DAC manufacturers. Burr-Brown’s PCM-series converters became part of TI’s analog portfolio, with TI rapidly expanding the line into 24-bit/192 kHz professional/consumer audio devices such as the PCM1738 and PCM1608.
1 Jul '06 — EU RoHS Takes Effect
EU Directive 2002/95/EC prohibits lead and several other hazardous substances in newly marketed electronic equipment. Semiconductor makers migrated ICs to lead-free packages/processes and requalified products; numerous older package variants and economically marginal legacy ICs disappeared rather than being converted. This serves as an important dividing line when identifying late-'90s/early-'00s converter revisions and EOLs.
29 Sep '06 — Philips Semiconductors Becomes NXP
Philips separates its semiconductor division, selling an 80.1% stake to a private-equity consortium as Philips Semiconductors officially becomes NXP (brand introduced Aug '06; sale finalized Sep 29). One of the historic audio-converter suppliers left Philips ownership; the Philips semiconductor/audio lineage was subsequently managed under NXP while the classic TDA-era converter business increasingly became legacy technology.
Jan '08 — ESS SABRE Enters the High-End DAC Market
ESS introduces the ES9008 SABRE Reference DAC, initially specified at 134 dB dynamic range / −118 dB THD. This created a major new competitor to AKM, Burr-Brown/TI, Cirrus, and Wolfson. SABRE quickly became a major high-end/audiophile converter family and, much later, one of the principal substitutes manufacturers turned to after the AKM fire.
11 Mar '11 — Tōhoku Earthquake / TI Japan Fab Damage
The Great East Japan Earthquake substantially damages TI's Miho fab and affects Aizu; Miho represented ~10% of TI output by revenue, with most non-DLP production being analog. TI shifted production to other fabs and customers had to requalify devices manufactured on alternative lines. By April, TI had found alternate fabs for ~80% of Miho devices, causing a real analog/data-converter supply disruption.
21 Aug '14 — Cirrus Logic Acquires Wolfson Microelectronics
Cirrus completes its ~£283 million acquisition of Wolfson, one of the principal suppliers of audio ADCs, DACs, and codecs. This marked another major consolidation of the audio-converter market: the formerly competing Crystal/Cirrus and Wolfson portfolios, engineering teams, and audio IP were brought under one manufacturer.
20 Oct '20 — AKM Semiconductor Factory Fire
Fire destroys AKM's Nobeoka mixed-signal semiconductor plant and effectively removes its audio ADC/DAC production capacity. AK449x/AK55xx and numerous other families became unavailable; manufacturers stockpiled remaining parts, discontinued products, or redesigned them around ESS, TI, and other converters (e.g., RME changing the ADI-2 DAC from AK4493 to ES9028Q2M).
2020–23 — Global Semiconductor Shortage
COVID-era factory disruption, huge electronics demand, wafer-capacity constraints, shipping problems, and additional fab outages coincide with the AKM disaster. Converter choice became governed increasingly by actual availability rather than preferred IC; lead times reached ~50 weeks+ in pro audio, products were delayed or repeatedly redesigned, and manufacturers diversified their semiconductor sources (e.g., Focusrite's wide-scale re-engineering effort).
31 Jan '22 — AKM Audio Converter Production Returns via New Manufacturing
AKM resumes samples of 13 VELVET SOUND ADC/DAC models, moving production to external manufacturing rather than rebuilding the destroyed Nobeoka line. AKM returned, but not simply by restarting the old fab: parts were transferred and redesigned for new semiconductor processes, producing revised converter generations such as the AK4490R and AK4493S.
Sep '22 — Post-Fire AKM Architecture Reset
AKM puts the new flagship AK4499EX + AK4191 into production, separating the digital/filter/modulator section from the analog DAC die. The AK4499 successor was no longer a drop-in continuation of the pre-fire AK4499; the fire/process migration effectively created a new converter architecture and forced new PCB designs rather than a simple restoration of old designs.
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Topic: ADAT 8-channel Analog Expansions — Timeline (Read 377 times)
