Quickfilter Technologies announces the release and general availability of the QF-Audio Dragon Docking Station Reference Design. The reference design contains all the required electronics necessary to implement a high quality, low-cost docking station. Included in the reference design are equalization filters, microcontroller firmware, schematics, BOM, and layout files. Docking station manufacturers may personalize the reference design by addiing speakers of their choice, custom designed equalization filters (using QFPro1Da software), and plastic enclosures. The QF-Audio Dragon Docking Reference Design is built around the recently introduced Quickfilter QF1Da512 SavFIRe(TM),the industry’s first audio applications-specific single-chip FIR filter solution with integrated gain and compression.

The audio data converters for the QF-Audio Dragon Docking Station Reference Design are provided by AKM Semiconductor. “The AK5358A (ADC) and AK4387 (DAC) are used for the analog[] interface for the QF1Da512 SavFIRe chip. Both devices provide high-quality 24-bit audio at a very low cost point. Ideal for cost-sensitive docking station applications, these devices ensure that maximum fidelity is preserved to enhance the user experience,” said Larry Gaddy, Marketing Manager for AKM Semiconductor.

“Manufacturers of docking stations may use this design as is, or modify it to add their own product differnetiation. In either case, this reference design will reduce their overall time to market and development costs,” said Tony Valentino, Quickfilter Technologies COO.

The reference design may be downloaded from the Quickfilter Technologies website at: www.quickfiltertech.com/html/content_page.php?c[...]&.

Announced in January 2009, the QF1Da512 SavFIRe and QFPro1Da Software allow systems designers to quickly and easily design equalization filters for their audio applications. The chip provides an integrated solution including FIR filtering, built-in gain and compression, and channel duplicate functions. The entire device is reprogrammable and can be controlled via a simple microcontroller. Combined with a codec or ADC/DAC combination, the device makes implementing an audio solution extremely easy and cost effective.