November 8, 2013 – Will stereo speakers be built into future mobile phones? As mobile phone manufacturers focus on improving audio quality, we can now expect phones and various mobile devices with better audio quality than ever before, without relying on headphones and accessories. NXP Semiconductors (NASDAQ: NXPI), which shipped over 20 million first-generation speaker driver ICs in its first year, is launching the second-generation speaker boost solution, the TFA9895. The TFA9895 is a solution that dramatically improves the sound quality of handsets and tablets by employing new multi-band compression capabilities to enhance music and voice sound, enabling the same level of sound quality improvement even when speaker volume is increased.

Shawn Scarlett, Marketing Director for Mobile Audio Solutions at NXP Semiconductors, stated, “Over the past year, there has been groundbreaking progress in mobile phone audio playback. With the addition of amazing features like front speakers and stereos to high-end handsets, consumers can now enjoy high-quality audio and video without the need for separate accessories. Mobile phone manufacturers, who previously had no choice but to rely on headphones and external speakers to satisfy audiophiles, are now facing a critical turning point. The latest TFA9895, based on a new multi-band compression algorithm, is also a highly effective solution for handset design engineers because it delivers superior sound in tighter spaces. For mobile devices where sound volume is critical, we continue to supply the high-power TFA9890 introduced earlier this year.”

The TFA9895's multi-band processing capability significantly improves sound quality at high speaker volumes through more stable high-gain audio imaging. In addition, it improves poor audio signals with a high-frequency noise gate. Like the award-winning predecessor TFA9887 processor, the TFA9895 provides complete protection against speaker failure, in addition to a compact speaker driver with integrated processing and an on-board 5-volt DC/DC converter. The IC can deliver 4 watts of peak power to 4-ohm (Ω) speakers, which are conventionally limited to 0.5 watts.

The key is sound quality.

New multi-band algorithms and noise reduction features complement existing speaker protection algorithms to deliver high-quality sound from compact speakers. Feedback-controlled excursion protection prevents sound distortion caused by the mechanical limitations of the speakers, while an advanced clip avoidance algorithm monitors audio performance and prevents amplifier clipping even when power supply drops. Additionally, it enhances low-frequency response even at low-bandwidth speaker resonances and allows the device to be configured for stereo systems, enabling high-quality stereo imaging through device synchronization.

NXP is a leader in speaker boost and protection, and its solutions are the only ICs featuring Adaptive Excursion Control, which performs actual protection in real-time even when the acoustic environment changes. Systems using the TFA9895 or other NXP speaker boost amplifiers can expect significant sound improvements from small speakers, realizing gains of 6 to 9 dB in output volume and 12 dB in bass response while increasing system reliability. Additionally, designers can leverage this enhanced performance to further reduce the size of the acoustic system, resulting in the design of devices that are smaller in size and thinner in thickness.

As with previous Boost and Protection ICs, the entire system is integrated into a single chip containing a CoolFlux DSP high-efficiency Class D amplifier with current sensing and a DC-to-DC converter. Advanced embedded algorithms require no separate licensing, and additional tools allow for customizing audio sound quality and selecting methods to optimize phone performance.