This application note explores the applications and their requirements for high-fidelity waveform generation. The DAC11001B, 20-bit resolution, highly accurate, ultra-low noise, low glitch, and exceptional signal chain THD performance are reviewed and showcased. Also, the competitive analysis report helps the system designer understand DAC11001B's performance benefits.
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Strides have been made over time to improve the accuracy and overall performance of Precision DACs while also providing higher resolutions. In the past, Precision DACs were DACs that performed at speeds less than or equal to 10 MSPS and focused on being highly accurate rather than speed. Due to this focus, precision DACs have been limited by resolution and have only seen superior linearity at around 16-bits.
Texas Instruments continues to invest in all of the digital-to-analog converter (DAC) markets, and recently released its first 20-bit, resistor-ladder based precision DAC, the DAC11001B. It features the highest precision, lowest noise, and lowest distortion at the highest update rate.
DAC11001B can be fit for numerous applications with the benefit of both static and dynamic performance. However, this application note reviews three leading applications that would benefit from the outstanding AC performance of this new DAC.
Also, it showcases how DAC11001B improves overall system-level performance.
Audio testers, high-performance audio, and automated test equipment are vital applications where high resolution, precision, and speed are critical specifications.
Audio testers needs to generate high-fidelity tones covering audio ranges (20 Hz to 20 kHz) and extend to hundreds of kilohertz. Typically, test stimuli are sine tones, and their purity is defined by total harmonic distortion (THD) and signal to noise ratio (SNR).
Audio testing systems are built with a high-performance audio DAC or precision DAC to generate a high-fidelity pure sine tones for testing. The resolution of these DACs ranges from 16 - 20 bits, with low noise and very low glitch energy.
Currently, designers use delta-sigma DAC topologies to generate audio signals, which produce out-of-band noise requiring additional digital signal processing logic and noise shaping filter. The additional digital signal processing adds extra information for correctness that is not present in the original signal. Also, it increases the overall system solution size and cost.