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Hi,
We are currently designing our own evaluation board for testing some new technologies, and one of the technologies we want to test with this board is a speaker array of 4 speakers. The speakers should be on the same I2S interface port, and we are considering using the TAS2563 so we can also utilize its SmartAmp tech to boost loudness. The setup should have the possibility of all mono sound (same audio channel to all speaker amplifiers) as well as 4 separate audio channels (1 audio channel to each speaker amplifier).
The MCU master has several different I2S ports to choose from, from 1x DIN and 1x DOUT per port up to 8x DIN and 8x DOUT per port. The MCU also supports TDM. To me it looks like there are 2 possible ways to set the array up:
Either connect all speaker amplifiers (devices) on the same I2S bus using 1x DIN, 1x DOUT, and clocks, all connected in parallel to all devices, or
To have only the clocks in parallel to each device and have separate DOUTs and DINs to each device (TXD0 to device#0, TXD1 to device#1, etc).
For the parallel signals we will add buffers as needed either way.
Would either of these solutions be possible, and would both have the possibility of utilizing the SmartAmp DSP algorithms? I mostly got confused regarding the "IC Linking" interface and how to set that up with more than 2 devices - so this might be a driver/software question more than a hardware question, in which case it would be interesting to learn more about what is already supported in software (Linux) regarding multiple devices and/or which solution would be the easiest for us to modify software for.
Best regards,
Mats P. Jonassen
Hi, Mats,
Our team will take a look a this thread and will provide an answer as soon as possible.
Best regards,
Luis Fernando Rodríguez S.
Hi Mats,
Both of these solutions are possible. The TAS2563 supports up to 16 channel TDM. therefore having all four devices connected to the same clocks and data lines is possible(four channel TDM). this would support 4x mono or 4 separate channel playback.
The SmartAmp algorithm is handled by the on-chip DSP therefore all devices will be able to utilize their own algorithm.
I will look into IC linking for multiple devices and provide a later response. Playback is however possible without utilizing IC linking at all.
Best Regards
Arthur Brown
Hi Mats,
How will this speaker array be arranged? 2x2? 4x1?
What is the end application for this speaker array? a tablet or other device that will be rotated during playback? the devices could be linked in pairs and you will be able to maintain stereo balance of the audio.
Best Regards,
Arthur Brown
Hi, and thank you for the helpful information so far!
Yes, the array will be mounted in a single device, but the device will most likely be mounted/fixed in either a 0 degree or 90 degree position so it will not be rotated while powered. We are still in early design phase though so it would be preferable if we could test several arrangements (including 2x2 and 4x1) - for the evaluation board we are designing now we have the possibility of changing speaker positions around for testing.
In your 2x2 example picture, I guess stereo balance would not be maintained when rotated 90 degrees? If we can only link 2 speaker amplifiers at the same time(?) then would f.ex. a solution with some kind of external multiplexing of the IC link signals for each position work?
Best regards,
Mats Jonassen
Hi Mats,
Yes, in the 2x2 example stereo balance would be lost when rotating the setup 90 degrees. I am looking into the possibility of linking 4 devices.
Regards,
Arthur Brown
Hi Arthur,
Just wondering if you have any updates on this? It seems most likely now that we will be using the 4x1 setup for our speakers but either way it would be interesting to see what you have come up with regarding linking of multiple devices.
Best regards,
Mats
Hi Mats,
It's good to know you can use 4x1 solution.
We're internally discussing options to suggest the best solution for 2x2 solutions with rotating requirements. We'll come back with further information as soon as possible.
Best regards,
-Ivan Salazar
Applications Engineer - Low Power Audio & Actuators
Hi Mats,
In order to use an adjustable arrange of channels, you can use multiplexers or switches to toggle the signals between the devices.
Please feel free to take a look at our portfolio here:
One of the devices we use on our designs, the PurePath Console 3 motherboard, is SN74CB3Q3253RGYR if you want to take a look.
Best regards,
-Ivan Salazar
Applications Engineer - Low Power Audio & Actuators