News Release
- New Product Information -

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News

New Flagship DAC the AK4499EX to Debut at the IPS / HIGH END® munich2022 Show

2022/04/20

Description

Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation (AKM) has developed a new flagship stereo D/A converter (DAC), the VELVET SOUND | VERITATM AK4499EX, which is newly designed as a complete separation of digital and analog circuitry solution in conjunction with the AK4191 and is based upon the world-class predecessor AK4499 Current Output DAC.

The design uses the latest high-quality sound technology and a completely separate digital/analog solution to achieve a "sound as if you were there" experience. The analog characteristics also exceed those of the integrated D/A predecessor AK4499, allowing users to experience an unprecedented level of life-like sound.

When used in conjunction with the AK4191 the AK4499EX is the ideal analog conversion solution for playback of ultra-high-resolution sound sources: up to 1536kHz sample rate, 64-bit PCM; or 44.8MHz sample rate DSD.

Sample shipments are expected to begin in the second quarter of 2022, with volume production in the third quarter of 2022.

AK4499EX Daishin Kashimoto, 1st Concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmoniker, as brand ambassador for VELVET SOUND

Features

World's Highest Level of Analog Characteristics

The newly developed "DWA (Data Weighted Averaging) Routing Technology" suppresses noise caused by manufacturing process factors and achieves world-class analog characteristics that exceed those of the predecessor flagship DAC, the AK4499.

S/N: 135dB  per channel (A-wtd.) /  THD: -124dB
(Reference: AK4499 S/N: 134 dB per channel (A-wtd.) / THD: -124dB)

Sound quality "as if you were there", far beyond the AK4499

In addition to adopting a completely separated digital/analog circuitry solution, the design was further refined based upon AKM's latest high-quality sound design techniques resulting in a perceived improvement of the ratio of signal to noise from all perspectives. The system reproduces all musical information, down to the most minute detail, to achieve a "sound as if you were there" experience.

AK4191+AK4499EX

Low Jitter Solution

The new "asynchronous operation mode" feature in the AK4191 makes it possible to completely separate the digital and analog portions of the clocking.

The AK4499EX + AK4191 two-chip solution provides high-precision D/A conversion with a low-jitter clock.

Applications

  • Network Audio, USB DACs
  • CD/SACD Players
  • Wireless Speaker Systems
  • Soundbars
  • Digital Audio Players
  • Electronic Musical Instruments
  • Audio Interfaces
  • Digital Mixers.