DIATONE DA-PX1 Digital Process Center leverages SHARC's high performance processing power and precision to yield exceptional sound quality

Known to audio engineers as the 'gold standard' for digital signal processing within high-end audio applications, Analog Devices' SHARC processor was the natural choice for Mitsubishi Electric's Diatone DA-PX1 automotive Digital Process Center. The performance and precision offered via the SHARC processing platform enabled Mitsubishi Electric's engineering team to implement specialized algorithms that take advantage of SHARC's speed and memory architecture to ensure optimal audio fidelity.

Third-generation SHARC processors are based on an enhanced SIMD architecture which extends core performance to 333 MHz/2 GFLOPS, giving Mitsubishi Electric the raw computational power to satisfy the DA-PX1's demanding MIPS requirements. With large integrated memory arrays complemented by zero-overhead DMA channels, and integrated audio peripherals with flexible, user definable signal routing across serial ports (SPORTs) and SPI-compatible ports, SHARC afforded the DA-PX1 design team a DSP platform that balances exceptional core and memory performance, outstanding I/O throughput capabilities, and robust connectivity options.

'Industry First' System Capabilities
Leveraging specialized bit-extended algorithms developed by Mitsubishi Electric for use with the DA-PX1, SHARC's high precision digital signal processing decreases quantization noise through 16-to-24 bit micro resolution, yielding remarkable sound clarity. SHARC's floating point architecture also enabled Mitsubishi Electric to implement an adjustable Finite Impulse Response (FIR) graphic equalizer, assuring precise digital filtering across frequencies and unprecedented high audio quality realized via minimized accumulation error.

One of the innovative features within the DA-PX1 is its Multi-way Time Alignment technology. Using a specialized algorithm programmed for the on-board SHARC processor, the DA-PX1 dynamically adjusts the signal transmission time to each individual speaker without disturbing multi-way (4-way max) speakers' response when using two-channel power amps, assuring end-to-end control over sound wave dynamics in the vehicle cabin.

SHARC is a key enabler for the DA-PX1's Real Time Collector technology, which helps maintain the system's quartz clock precision and compensates for digital transmission fluctuations ('jitter') via asynchronous digital transmission, producing superior sound clarity that's consistent with synchronous digital transmission. Utilizing SHARC as both the digital signal processing clock and audio master clock, Mitsubishi Electric was further enabled to optimize overall sound quality by reducing the interference inherent with traditional 'two clock' design architectures.

Streamlined Design and Development

SHARC's integrated audio peripherals and configuration flexibility afforded Mitsubishi Electric a feature-rich platform that helped reduce system complexity while minimizing bill of materials (BOM) costs. The DA-PX1 design team also used ADI's CROSSCORE software and hardware development tools to simplify product development and reduce time to market. ADI's EZ-Kit Lite evaluation platform helped Mitsubishi Electric assess SHARC's capabilities and quickly prototype their designs, and ADI's VisualDSP++® software development environment helped streamline design and development cycles.

The DIATONE DA-PX1 Digital Process Center is a stunning example of next-generation audio engineering, highlighting the powerful capabilities that SHARC facilitates for high-end audio applications. SHARC's floating point processing performance and innovative architecture enable audio engineers like the team at Mitsubishi Electric to unlock the full power and value of their DIATONE product line, and ensure exquisite sound quality that surpasses the expectations of even the most discerning audiophiles.

Macnica Tecstar Company, an Analog Devices distributor, provided product and technical support to Mitsubishi Electric.

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