Analog Reinvented

ES9281A/80A PRO

High performance USB DAC with Headphone Amplifier,

MQA, ADC, PLL, Jack Detect, Mic, and A/D Mixing

Product Brief

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ESS TECHNOLOGY, INC. 109 Bonaventura Drive, San Jose, CA 95134, USA Tel (408) 643-

8800 • WWW.ESSTECH.COM

Patented 32-bit HyperStream® II QUAD DAC™

Architecture

SABRE32® technology

32-bit mobile audio DAC/HPA with high dynamic range & ultra-low distortion

+130dB SNR, +122dBA DNR

-112dB THD+N, 2.0Vrms into 100k

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-110dB THD+N, 1.0Vrms into 32

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Supports synchronous and asynchronous sampling modes

Experience Sabre32® technology all the way to headphones

Hardware MQA Renderer (*ES9281A PRO only)

Automatic stream lock to unfold decoded MQA stream

Easily paired with software MQA core decoder

Eliminates the need for complicated DAC filter tuning

Analog PLL

Simplifies clocking requirements and reduces PCB size and BOM cost

64-bit accumulator & 32-bit processing

Distortion free signal processing

Versatile digital audio input port

Supports master/slave PCM (I2S, LJ 16-32-bit), DSD, DoP, SPDIF and MQA formats.

Customizable filter characteristics

3 preset filters, programmable filter coefficients for custom sound signature

2 audio signal processors for custom filter architectures and analog/digital mixing

Integrated ADCs for analog/digital mixing

102dBA DNR, -88dB THD+N 1Vrms

2 stereo PDM inputs, 1 differential analog input, 2 single-ended analog inputs

Mix mode for side-tone and sound overlay on digital audio

Integrated low noise DAC reference regulator

Programmable voltage, reduced BOM cost and improved DNR

Jack Detect with moisture protection

Dual pin jack detect can wake the ES9281A/80A PRO automatically and prevent false

positives

Programmable analog gain

Lower noise gain at real-life listening levels

Eliminates external thin film resistors, reduces PCB size and BOM cost

USB/I2S/DSD Bridge Mode

16 Channel I2S Bridge supports up to 8 input and 8 output channels simultaneously, including

native DSD support

Patented Time Domain Jitter Eliminator

Unmatched audio clarity free from input clock jitter

FEATURE

DESCRIPTION

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The ES9281A/80A PRO is a feature-rich 32-bit, 2-channel USB audio D/A converter with headphone amplifier, PLL, Jack Detect, ADC and support

for both analog and digital mics, and analog/digital mixing. It has been designed for professional applications (mixer consoles, digital audio

workstations), audiophile-grade portable applications (headphones, headphone adapters and digital music players), and consumer applications

(USB DACs and A/V receivers). Using the critically acclaimed ESS patented HyperStream® II QUAD DAC™ architecture and Time Domain Jitter

Eliminator, and advanced SABRE32® technology, the ES9281A/80A PRO delivers a performance level that will satisfy the most demanding audio

enthusiast.

The versatile audio input port accepts PCM, DSD, DoP, SPDIF and MQA* formats. The integrated SABRE DAC supports up to 32-bit 384kHz

PCM, 96k SPDIF and DSD1024 audio data via master/slave interface in synchronous and asynchronous sampling modes. The ES9281A/80A

PRO is a licensed and standard-compliant MQA native hardware renderer. PCM Audio rates up to 768kHz are supported for USB-to-I2S mode

and Native DSD is also supported over USB up to DSD512.

The integrated class-G SABRE Headphone Amp supports up to 2Vrms output. Programmable analog gain and integrated low-noise DAC

reference regulator minimize noise gain at typical listening levels and reduce PCB area and BOM cost.

The Jack Detect feature automatically wakes the device, accurately measures load impedance and prevents false positives due to moisture

infiltration without any support from the application processor.

Aux Mix mode allows analog signals to be seamlessly overlaid onto digital audio even during DSD, DoP or MQA* playback.

ES9281A/80A PRO may be customized for any application with firmware-controlled behavior and both volatile and non-volatile memory options.