Freescale Turns Up Audio Quality with New Class D Amplifier Solution; Symphony(TM) Class D Offers High Fidelity Audio for Autom

Responding to the technical challenges that
traditionally have been associated with Class D amplifiers, Freescale
Semiconductor's (NYSE:FSL) (NYSE:FSL.B) new Symphony Class D amplifier
delivers a high fidelity system solution. Introduced at the company's
annual technology forum, the Symphony Class D digital amplifier
features an innovative digital feedback technology that brings audio
performance of Class D amplifiers to a previously unattainable level.
This Class D product extends Freescale's broad Symphony portfolio of
semiconductors for audio applications, giving designers a complete,
digital audio solution.
   Traditionally, Class AB amplifiers have been widely used in the
audio industry, but Class D amplifiers were limited to applications
such as mini-systems and DVD receivers where high fidelity was a
second priority to form factor. Freescale has changed the playing
field with its Class D pulse width modulation (PWM) amplifier, which
improves power efficiency from 50 to 90 percent without sacrificing
fidelity. This results in lower heat dissipation, allowing more audio
channels for a more satisfying listening experience in a dramatically
smaller form factor.
   "Freescale's Symphony line of audio solutions is used by leading
manufacturers worldwide, both for consumer and automotive
applications," said Berardino Baratta, general manager of the
multimedia applications division of Freescale. "Expanding into Class D
amplifiers enables us to provide a full digital audio portfolio, from
the signal processing front end to the power stage back end.
Freescale's Class D amplifier with its advanced digital feedback is a
real breakthrough and allows OEMs to achieve the highest quality
performance, in a smaller form factor and still benefit from the power
savings of a Class D amplifier design."

   Solving the quality issues of Class D amplifiers

   Freescale designed its new Symphony solution to overcome the
obstacles of Class D systems, namely electromagnetic interference
(EMI) and power supply noise. Manufacturers have to meet EMI emission
levels and ensure that the emissions do not disrupt AM/FM reception.
Power supplies, particularly in the automotive, are not ideal as a
result of environmental conditions such as engine noise or selection
of low cost power supply components.
   To solve these challenges, Freescale's Class D digital amplifier
implements PWM with real-time, digital feedback for power supply noise
rejection. Now, designers can take advantage of the tremendous power
efficiency improvements and cost savings associated with Class D
amplifiers, while achieving the expected audio quality that consumers
demand.
   "The ability to deliver an all-digital Class D solution with high
quality will significantly impact the automotive market, as well as a
host of price- and quality-sensitive consumer applications," said Will
Strauss, president and technology analyst of Forward Concepts. "With
the performance of Class AB, yet with the power savings of Class D, we
forecast with the automotive Class D chip market to grow at a 64%
compound annual rate."

   About the Symphony Class D solutions

   Freescale's Class D digital amplifier solution consists of the
Symphony FSA95601 digital amplifier controller chip and the Freescale
MC33851 output power stage chip.
   The Symphony FSA95601 is a high-performance, six-channel Class D
digital amplifier controller that can process up to six channels of
pulse code modulation (PCM) digital audio input data to produce the
corresponding PWM outputs to drive external power stages. The Symphony
solution also accepts a digital input directly from the DSP processor,
which eliminates the need for a digital/analog converter for each
channel of audio. This can significantly improve audio quality by
removing unnecessary conversion steps and can help reduce cost by
eliminating components.
   The Freescale MC33851 two-channel H bridge power stage is designed
for applications requiring 50W to 100W (bridged) per channel. When
used with the Symphony FSA95601, the MC33851 slew rate control can
reduce EMI significantly with no audio quality degradation. The
MC33851 also provides advanced protection features such as
under-voltage, over-voltage and over temperature warning and provides
advanced turn-on/off audio click and pop suppression.

   Comprehensive audio portfolio

   Freescale's Symphony family of 24-bit DSPs for digital audio
applications has been a leader in the industry for two decades with an
established market presence in automotive, consumer and professional
digital audio processing. By combining Freescale's widely adopted
Symphony DSP platform with the FSA95601 digital amplifier controller
and the MC33851 output power stage, Freescale can offer a true
end-to-end digital solution for audio processing and amplification.

   Availability

   The Symphony Class D digital amplifier solution is sampling in
limited quantities now. Volume production is expected in the first
quarter of 2007.

   About Freescale Semiconductor

   Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (NYSE:FSL) (NYSE:FSL.B) is a global
leader in the design and manufacture of embedded semiconductors for
the automotive, consumer, industrial, networking and wireless markets.
Freescale became a publicly traded company in July 2004. The company
is based in Austin, Texas, and has design, research and development,
manufacturing or sales operations in more than 30 countries.
Freescale, a member of the S&P 500(R), is one of the world's largest
semiconductor companies with 2005 sales of $5.8 billion (USD).
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of their respective owners. (C) Freescale Semiconductor Inc. 2006.