Using the power of innovation to impact the world around us
SIGNALS+ NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION
Stay updated and leverage Signals+ latest insights, information and ideas on Connectivity, Digital Health, Electrification, and Smart Industry.
Thank you for subscribing to ADI Signals+. A confirmation email has been sent to your inbox.
You'll soon receive timely updates on all the breakthrough technologies impacting human lives across the globe. Enjoy!
CloseSVS: SUCCESS SOUNDS BETTER MOVING FROM ANALOG TO DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING (DSP) WITH SIGMASTUDIO
KEY TAKEAWAYS
|
What transforms a good subwoofer into a truly immersive, room-shaking experience? For SVS, their relentless pursuit of uncompromising sound quality was made possible through Analog Devices and their industry renowned SigmaDSP technology. By embracing digital signal processing, SVS has achieved new levels of precision, flexibility, and consistency, overcoming industry reluctance to move beyond analog designs and redefining what’s possible in-home audio.
Because SigmaStudio is designed to be completely self-sufficient with a user-friendly GUI, SVS could quickly integrate its functionality and powerful features into their design process—without any deep involvement from ADI—and quickly move to deployment.
AT A GLANCE
COMPANY
SVS creates high performance audio gear driven by a passion for world-class quality. With no compromises, they deliver reference-quality audio at unmatched prices. This philosophy has propelled SVS to become a top subwoofer brand and a rapidly growing speaker manufacturer, renowned for exceptional performance and value.
GOAL
Enhance the performance of SVS’s renowned subwoofers using DSP (digital signal processing) for digital crossover design for greater flexibility, precision, and consistency.
CHALLENGE
The macro challenge facing the hi-fi industry: adopting the change from traditional analog designs to DSP.
SOLUTION
SigmaDSP (ADAU1701, ADAU1452); streamlined the transition to DSPs by making advanced digital audio processing accessible, flexible, and efficient for speaker and subwoofer manufacturers.
Learn how SVS and ADI designed rich, immersive sound with SigmaDSP in this insightful interview with Smith Freeman, SVS’s Director of Product Management.
ADI: SVS subwoofers are recognized for innovation. What inspired you to integrate DSP technology into your powered subwoofer designs?
SVS: From a design perspective, it’s remarkable that more subwoofer manufacturers don’t use DSP, given its crucial role in optimizing performance and user experience. For SVS, ADI’s DSP is an unsung hero, precisely managing the driver, cabinet, ports, and amplifier. By monitoring and governing the power supply, it unleashes massive, room-filling output and ensures all components work in harmony, delivering deep, accurate bass and maintaining refinement even at reference playback levels.
Was the idea met with any internal skepticism or resistance?
Quite the opposite! SVS has always been open to new tools and approaches that can help us deliver on the SVS performance promise. We’ve been using SigmaDSP in all our subwoofers for over a decade. You could say the DSP is in our subwoofer DNA. We knew that integrating a solution like the ADAU1452 into our amplifiers was a necessity in order to achieve the kind of performance our customers expect from SVS subwoofers.
What initially attracted you to SigmaDSP? Did any feature or spec stand out?
SigmaDSPs provide an excellent combination of ADCs, DACs, and ample processing power for SVS to tune and control our subwoofers with exacting precision. Likewise, SigmaDSPs offer industry-leading high resolution and low SNR, ensuring SVS Subwoofers maintain full audio fidelity with negligible added noise or distortion. Real-time tuning, advanced filtering, and intelligent driver management allow SVS engineers to sculpt the ideal acoustic response for each subwoofer. SigmaStudio also provides an intuitive sandbox to develop the complete control system for every part of our subwoofer.
SigmaDSP is known for being easily programmable using our powerful software, SigmaStudio. Did you find it easy to use for evaluation and prototyping?
Yes. SigmaStudio has an easy-to-learn GUI that allows us to build the signal flow and control systems that govern all parts of the amplifier’s operation. Real-time DSP adjustment in parallel with listening and measurement allows for fast, iterative development. A robust and intuitive signal chain builder allows us to focus on the higher level science and artistry of subwoofer design. The ability to efficiently progress through extensive anechoic and real-world testing was critical for us in achieving the lofty performance standards we have for SVS subwoofers.
What SigmaStudio features made your engineering evaluation easier or more streamlined?
We’ve been using ADI DSPs for many years with excellent results that stand the test of time. SigmaStudio’s intuitive GUI made evaluation easy by letting us build and adjust DSP signal flows visually, much like a digital audio workstation. This allowed our team to focus on tuning for the best sound, not just programming details. SigmaStudio’s flexibility and real-time adjustments streamlined our development process and helped us quickly implement richer features and higher fidelity in our subwoofers. ADI DSP’s ever-improving feature set is a key dimension of our ability to evolve our products.
What are some of the features that the DSP enabled, which would have otherwise resulted in product compromises?
Many subwoofers skip DSP, but we’ve made it central to SVS performance and user experience. ADI’s DSP manages everything, from shaping in-room response and stabilizing AC power to monitoring thermal and current conditions, so our subwoofers deliver deep, accurate bass and reliable output, even during demanding moments. The DSP also lets us tune low frequency extension to maximize room gain, often reaching deeper bass than analog designs. Our app is of our own design and features an easy and intuitive customer-facing interface; its functionality is fully embodied in the ADI DSP. The app is, in fact, a direct link to the DSP controls that have been tuned for the customer to optimize the subwoofer to their liking, for their room, and their specific application. This synergy truly sets SVS apart.
You stepped into a newer SigmaDSP core, the Sigma300, with 294 MHz processing for some of your higher end subwoofers. Were there any fun features that resulted from the addition of approximately 25× the processing power (quad MACs and 6× clock speed)?
The ADAU1452 DSP powers our new SVS AUTO EQ feature, letting users optimize in-room bass via our app. Thanks to the DSP’s extra processing power, we can precisely measure and calibrate the subwoofer with a mic, tailor performance, and even manage our new dual monoblock amplifier topology for unprecedented output and control. The DSP also lets us monitor the woofer in real time, modeling its behavior to maximize headroom while preventing over-excursion. None of these advanced features would be possible without the higher processing power of the ADAU1452.
ADI appreciates SVS using our DSPs by name in your marketing. How has it been received by customers and the audio community? Is it a valuable feature?
ADI’s a proven leader in the audio world, and we’re proud to display their name to show that SVS accepts no compromises when it comes to acoustic design and engineering.
ADI SIGMASTUDIO BENEFITS
SigmaStudio is the programming, development, and tuning software for the SigmaDSP and SHARC® audio processors and A2B® transceivers. Features include:
-
Intuitive, Visual Workflow:
Provides a drag-and-drop graphical interface, allowing engineers—even those with little or no DSP coding experience—to design, configure, and tune audio signal processing chains visually, lowering the barrier to entry for traditional speaker manufacturers moving into digital processing. -
Rapid Prototyping and Tuning:
Manufacturers can quickly prototype different DSP algorithms (like crossovers, EQ, dynamic range control, and room correction) and immediately hear results, speeding up development cycles and enabling more experimentation and fine-tuning of audio performance. -
Real-Time Adjustment:
Real-time parameter changes, so engineers can adjust DSP settings while listening to the system, making it easier to optimize sound quality for specific speaker or subwoofer designs. -
System-Level Integration:
Supports audio processors and components like A2B transceivers and other algorithms, enabling a holistic approach to system design and integration. -
Accessibility for Non-DSP Experts:
By abstracting away the need for low level DSP coding, SigmaStudio empowers traditional audio engineers and hardware designers to leverage advanced DSP features without needing to become software experts.
“We’re always impressed with how our customers innovate using SigmaDSP and SigmaStudio. The brilliant engineers at SVS continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in subwoofer design, and we’re proud to be a part of that.”Matthew Tyler
Vice President, Consumer Group
Analog Devices
