A History of Audio DAC and ADC Chip Performance

Introduction

In this day and age, the humble DAC may be among the most overrated components in audiophile circles – chances are, if you bought a decently-performing one in the last decade and change, it'll sound just as good as any other (well, maybe stay clear of 0 dBFS digital levels by 2-3 dB, not all of them have headroom for intersample-overs). Even onboard audio of the fancier kind (ALC1220) is capable of performance that would have been considered rather high-end years ago these days, assuming the board manufacturer didn't screw up the implementation. A dynamic range well exceeding 110 dB(A) (when there is a volume control following, you can easily get away with 90) and THD+N of something like -90 dB aren't a truly major challenge any more. Only preamp replacement use tends to demand over 120 dB of dynamic range.

Now, that being said, there still are some use cases where you need converters with above average performance. The things have gotten so wildly good that a top-grade DAC will match or outclass even a decent all-analog preamp in performance (minus the ability to connect a bazillion different sources, that is), and if you need a fairly basic but still top-performing unit they're not even that expensive (around US$500). On these, you'll see dynamic range approaching or even exceeding 130 dB A-weighted, 1 kHz harmonics 120-130 dB down or even lower, jitter at irrelevant levels, and often a choice of various reconstruction filters as well (not all of which are all that useful).

Besides, I don't know about you, but I consider nerding out about converter specs fun, and I like history. It turns out there is quite a lot of that, and the recording side of things is at least as interesting if not even more so. This topic even grew so large that I eventually decided it deserved a page of its own instead of being stuck on my audio "blogalike" that no search engine seems to like very much. So let's get started with a look at DAC evolution, shall we?

The Playback Side: DACs

So how did we get here? Well, if you start digging through a bunch of datasheets (Datasheet Archive usually has them) and do some Internet Archive sleuthing to pin down release dates it turns out that a lot of the heavy lifting has already been done over 15 years ago, as the following table of A-weighted dynamic range and THD+N specs of converter ICs shall illustrate (grouped by year and sorted by performance, 2-channel DACs with 1-bit or multilevel delta-sigma architecture with integrated digital filter unless indicated):

Date	Manuf. (Brand)	IC Type	DR A-wtd.	(mono mode)	THD+N 0dBFS	Notes
32X Speed DACs (up to 1536 kHz, 32 bit, DSD)
2022-09	AKM	AK4499EX + AK4191	135 dB	138 dB	-124 dB	7-bit DAC + DS modulator / interface; PCM 1536k + DSD 1024; relaunch post factory fire
16X Speed DACs (up to 768 kHz, 32 bit, possibly DSD)
2024-06	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4302P	129 dB		-115 dB	PCM 768k + DSD ?; 3.3 Va
2024-06	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4282P [CODEC]	129 dB		-115 dB	PCM 768k + DSD ?; 3.3 Va; like CS4302P
2024-06	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4304P CS4308P	123 dB	?	-115 dB	4/8-channel; PCM 768k + DSD ?; 3.3 Va
2024-01	ESS Tech	ES9290 [CODEC]	116 dB		-110 dB	PCM 768k; SE out, 2Vrms line driver
2023-03	ESS Tech	ES9039Q2M ES9069	130 dB	133 dB	-120 dB	PCM 768k + DSD 1024; ES9069 w/ MQA dec
2022-05	ESS Tech	ES9039PRO ES9039MPRO	132 dB	140 dB	-122 dB	8-channel; PCM 768k + DSD 1024; M w/ HW MQA dec
2022-05	ESS Tech	ES9027PRO ES9027MPRO	124 dB	130 dB	-114 dB	8-channel; PCM 768k + DSD 1024; M w/ HW MQA dec
2022-06	ESS Tech	ES9017	120 dB	126 dB	-110 dB	8-channel; PCM 768k + DSD 512; lo-pwr
2021-04	Rohm	BD34301EKV	130 dB		-115 dB	filters fast / slow rolloff (-192k), off (-768k)
2021-04	ESS Tech	ES9033Q	122 dB (w/ DRE) 115 dB (w/o DRE)		-108 dB	2Vrms unbal line drivers; built-in PLL
2020-12	ESS Tech	ES9080Q	120 dB (w/ DRE) 112 dB (w/o DRE)	127 dB (w/ DRE)	-108 dB (-112 dB, 4ch diff / mono)	8-channel, 2Vrms unbal line drivers, 4ch SE + 4ch diff + mono mode; built-in PLL + SPDIF out
2020-05	AKM	AK4462	117 dB		-107 dB	non-TOTL
2020	Realtek	ALC4080 [CODEC]	120 / 110 dB (port D / E)		-90 dB (-3dBFS)	USB codec, 2-in 10-out, 32 bit, DSD; ~ALC1220 (HDA)
2019-11	AKM	AK4468	117 dB		-107 dB	non-TOTL; 8-channel; AK4458 update
2019-02	AKM	AK4499	134 dB	140 dB x1 137 dB x2	-124 dB	4-channel
2019-01	ESS Tech	ES9068Q [CODEC]	126 dB		-120 dB	mobile codec w/ basic SE stereo line-in + differential mic-in; ES9068AS first seen late 2020
2018	AKM	AK4377	118 dB*		-109 dB	mobile DAC w/ PGA and headphone driver, 32 bit in, DSD (DoP), max output 1.1 Vrms, Class G analog, *) min onoise -127 dBV; tiny BGA; ≠AK4377A!
2017-12	AKM	AK4493	123 dB	128 dB	-113 dB (-110 dB, mono)	large amplitude mode + mono mode similar to PCM1792/94
2017-01	AKM	AK4492	127 dB		-115 dB	mobile DAC
2016-07	AKM	AK4497	128 dB 131 dB (2.8V)	133 dB (2.8V)	-116 dB -113 dB (2.8V)	normal (2 V out) and high gain (2.8 V out) modes
2016-01	ESS Tech	ES9038PRO	132 dB	140 dB x1 137 dB x2	-122 dB	8-channel; up to 1536 kHz w/ ext. filter
2016-01	ESS Tech	ES9028PRO	129 dB	135 dB x1 133 dB x2	-120 dB	8-channel; up to 1536 kHz w/ ext. filter
2016-01	ESS Tech	ES9026PRO	124 dB		-110 dB	8-channel, no mono mode; up to 1536 kHz w/ ext. filter
2016	ESS Tech	ES9038Q2M	128 dB		-120 dB	mobile DAC, lower power than 9028Q2M
2014-12	AKM	AK4452 AK4454 AK4456 AK4458	115 dB		-107 dB	non-TOTL; 2/4/6/8-channel; 3rd-order mod at 256fs
2014-05	AKM	AK4490	120 dB	123 dB	-112 dB
2013-12	AKM	AK4495S	120 dB 123 dB (7V)	123 dB 126 dB (7V)	-101 dB -105 dB (7V)	analog supply VDDL/R up to 7 V rather than the standard 5 V; update: AK4495 (2014)
Octuple Speed DACs (up to 384 kHz, 32 bit, possibly DSD)
2020	ESS Tech	ES9281A PRO ES9280A PRO [CODEC]	122 dB*		-112 dB	USB codec w/ PGA + headphone driver, max output = 2 Vrms; *) SNR = 130 dB
2017-10	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS43198	130 dB (44.1k) 128 dB (192k)		-115 dB (44.1k) -112 dB (192k) -105 dB (2V)	standard output = 4.9 Vpp (1.7 Vrms), 5.7 Vpp (2.0 Vrms) optional, tiny BGA, Class H analog, 26 mW idle; DAC-only version of CS43131
2017-10	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS43131	128 dB (192k)		-112 dB (192k) -105 dB (2V)	mobile DAC w/ headphone driver, standard output = 4.9 Vpp (1.7 Vrms), 5.7 Vpp (2.0 Vrms) optional, tiny BGA, Class H analog, upgraded CS43130
2017	AKM	AK4376A	116 dB*		-107 dB	mobile DAC w/ PGA and headphone driver, 32 bit in, max output 1.1 Vrms, Class G analog, *) min onoise -125 dBV; tiny BGA; update: AK4377A (2018)
2016-12	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4399	130 dB (44.1k)		-108 dB (44.1k)	max output = 4.9 Vpp (1.7 Vrms), tiny BGA, Class H analog, 23 mW idle; DAC-only version of CS43130
2016-12	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS43130	130 dB (44.1k)		-108 dB (44.1k)	mobile DAC w/ headphone driver, max output = 4.9 Vpp (1.7 Vrms), tiny BGA, Class H analog
2016-08	ESS Tech	ES9218	121 dB		-114 dB	mobile DAC w/ headphone driver, max output = 2.0 Vrms
2016-02	ESS Tech	ES9118	120 dB		-112 dB	mobile DAC w/ headphone driver, max output = 1.1 Vrms
2015	ESS Tech	ES9028Q2M	129 dB		-120 dB	mobile DAC
2014	ESS Tech	ES9018K2M	127 dB		-120 dB	mobile DAC
2014	ESS Tech	ES9016K2M	122 dB		-110 dB	mobile DAC
2014	ESS Tech	ES9010K2M	116 dB		-106 dB	mobile DAC, single supply
2014	TI (Burr-Brown)	PCM5242	114 dB		-94 dB (-1dBFS)	non-TOTL; 4.2 Vrms ground-referenced diff output; PCM5252 similar + miniDSP
2011	TI (Burr-Brown)	PCM5102	112 dB		-93 dB (-1dBFS)	consumer; 2 Vrms ground-referenced SE output; update: PCM510xA (2012) – 1.8 V digital supply option; PCM512x similar + processing; PCM5142 similar + miniDSP
"	"	PCM5101	106 dB		-92 dB (-1dBFS)
"	"	PCM5100	100 dB		-90 dB (-1dBFS)
Quad Speed DACs (up to 192-216 kHz, min. 24 bit, possibly DSD)
2018	Realtek	ALC1200 [CODEC]	110 dB (front)		-88 dB (-3dBFS)	HDA codec, non-TOTL, 2-in 10-out; meas thread
2017	Realtek	ALC1220 [CODEC]	120 / 110 dB (port D / E)		-90 dB (-3dBFS)	HDA codec, 2-in 10-out, 32 bit; meas thread
2017-11	AKM	AK4558 [CODEC]	108 dB		-100 dB	codec, low power; 32 bit in, SE out
2015	AKM	AK4375A	110 dB*		-99 dB	mobile DAC w/ PGA and headphone driver, 32 bit in, max output ~1 Vrms, Class G analog, *) min onoise -119 dBV; tiny BGA
2013	Realtek	ALC1150 [CODEC]	115 / 110 dB (front diff / SE) 96 dB (other)		-88 dB (-3dBFS)	HDA codec, 2-in 10-out
2012	AKM	AK4413	120 dB	123 dB	-102 dB	4-channel, 24 bit; update: AK4414 (2013-05) w/ 32 bit
2012	AKM	AK4482	111 dB		-100 dB	non-TOTL, AK4385/82A/81 pinout
2011-01	AKM	AK4621 [CODEC]	115 dB		-100 dB	filters: sharp, slow, short GD sharp; successor of AK4620B
2011	ESS Tech	ES9023	112 dB		-94 dB	2Vrms unbal line driver, +3.3-3.6V single supply; replaces similar ES9022 (2009)
2011	Realtek	ALC892 [CODEC]	95 dB		-84 dB (-3dBFS)	HDA codec, 2-in 10-out, non-TOTL, typical midrange onboard
2010-02	AKM	AK4480	114 dB	117 dB	-100 dB	non-TOTL, 32 bit
2009	ESS Tech	ES9018	129 dB	135 dB	-120 dB	8-channel, 32 bit; spec later updated to indicate 384 kHz support; up to 1536 kHz w/ ext. filter
2009	ESS Tech	ES9012	133 dB		-120 dB	32 bit
2009	ESS Tech	ES9016	124 dB		-110 dB	8-channel, non-TOTL, 32 bit; spec later updated to indicate 384 kHz support
2009	Wolfson Micro	WM8742	123 dB	126 dB	-100 dB	non-TOTL, cheaper version of WM8741
2009	AKM	AK4392	120 dB		-103 dB	32 bit; AK4397 w/ filter update?; ~AK4390 (2009-07, smaller package, no DSD)
2009-05	AKM	AK4425 AK4426	106 dB		-91 dB	2Vrms unbal line driver, +5V single supply
2009-06	AKM	AK4440	105 dB		-93 dB	8ch, 2Vrms unbal line driver, +5V single supply
2008	ESS Tech	ES9008	128 dB	134 dB	-118 dB	8-channel; +3.3V analog
2008-12	AKM	AK4399	123 dB	126 dB	-105 dB	32 bit, short group delay filter option; +5V supplies
2008	ESS Tech	ES9006	120 dB		-102 dB	8-channel; +3.3V analog; update: ES9006A (2014)
2008-10	TI (Burr-Brown)	PCM1789	113 dB		-94 dB	~like PCM1791A + PCM1793
2008	Realtek	ALC889 [CODEC]	108 dB		-90 dB (-3dBFS)	HDA codec, 2-in 10-out
2008	Realtek	ALC887 [CODEC]	97 dB		-92 dB (-3dBFS)	HDA codec, 2-in 8-out, non-TOTL
2007	Wolfson Micro	WM8741	125 dB	128 dB	-100 dB
2007	AKM	AK4397	120 dB		-103 dB	32 bit, basically AK4396 with lower distortion
2007	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4350	109 dB (101 dB, SE)		-91 dB	diff or SE out, PLL + fs autodetect, suspected IIR filter; replaces CS4391(A); EOL 2023
2006	AKM	AK4387 AK4388	106 dB		-90 dB	consumer, SE outputs; AK4384 ~replacements (87 serial, 88 parallel interface)
2006-12	AKM	AK4556 [CODEC]	106 dB		-90 dB	codec, low power; 24 bit in, SE out
2006	Analog Devices	AD1988A AD1988B [CODEC]	95 dB 101 dB		-83 dB -84 dB	HDA codec, 6-in 10-out
2005-07 2005-01	AKM	AK4620B AK4620A [CODEC]	115 dB		-97 dB	no standalone counterpart, digital filter = AK4394/96; AK4620A short-lived
2005-05	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4270 [CODEC]	105 dB*		-95 dB	SE output; DR generally beats spec; see CS4391 (1999); EOL 2023
2005	Realtek	ALC882 [CODEC]	101 dB		-90 dB (-3dBFS)	HDA codec, 2-in 8-out
2004	Wolfson Micro	WM8740	117 dB	120 dB	-104 dB
2004-08	AKM	AK4396	120 dB		-100 dB	see AK4394 (1999)
2004-09	AKM	AK4589 [CODEC]	114 dB		-94 dB	2-in 8-out; so-so filter; SPDIF RX/TX
2004-02	AKM	AK4626 AK4628 [CODEC]	106 dB		-90 dB	consumer 2-in 6/8-out; SE output; so-so filter; AK4588 (2004-06, 2/8) adds SPDIF RX/TX
2004-01	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4344 CS4345 CS4346 CS4348	105 dB		-90 dB	consumer, 16-24 / 16-24 / 24 / 16 bit in, SE out; 10-pin package; CS433x successor; EOL 2023
2003-12	TI (Burr-Brown)	PCM1792 PCM1794	127 dB	132 dB	-108 dB	large amplitude mode + mono mode; update: PCM1792A (2004), also DSD1792, DSD1794
2003-12	TI (Burr-Brown)	PCM1796 PCM1798	123 dB		-106 dB	non-TOTL; PCM1798 with PCM1794 pinout; PCM1796 update: PCM1795 (2009) accepting 32-bit data
2003-03	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4398	120 dB		-107 dB	DSD support; mainstream CS43122 replacement
2003	TI (Burr-Brown)	PCM4104	118 dB		-100 dB	4-channel
2003-03	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4272 CS4271 [CODEC]	114 dB		-100 dB	see CS4392 (2001)
2003-03	TI (Burr-Brown)	DSD1791 DSD1793 PCM1791A PCM1793	113 dB		-94 dB	non-TOTL; HW/SW cntl, w/ and w/o DSD support; can use ext filter except PCM1793
2003-08	Wolfson Micro	WM8776 [CODEC]	108 dB		-97 dB	consumer codec, SE in/out, vol ctl + mux
2003-04	TI (Burr-Brown)	PCM1753 PCM1754 PCM1755	106 dB		-94 dB	like PCM1742KE but +5V single supply / different filter; various interfaces
2002	Analog Devices	AD1955	120 dB	123 dB	-110 dB
2002	Wolfson Micro	WM8718	111 dB		-100 dB	~WM8716 level but uses simpler WM8728 filter
2002-09	AKM	AK4381	108 dB		-94 dB	non-TOTL; compatible AK4382A downgrade; update: AK4385 (2003)
2002-09	AKM	AK4384	106 dB		-94 dB	consumer, SE outputs; ~AK4359 8ch (2004-02)
2002	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4340A CS4341A	101 dB		-91 dB	consumer; update of 96 kHz CS4340/41, quad speed filter dubious
2001	Wolfson Micro	WM8728	106 dB		-97 dB	released w/ DSD support, dropped?
2001-01	Burr-Brown	PCM1738	117 dB		-108 dB	DSD support; PCM1730 (2001-11) w/o DSD
2001-05	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4392	114 dB		-100 dB	non-TOTL; DSD support; ~CS4271/72 and CS42426/28 DAC part, plus 6/8-ch CS4362(A), CS4382(A), CS4383, CS4365, CS4385(A)
2001	Wolfson Micro	WM8716	112 dB		-92 dB (-97 dB, -1dBFS)	PCM1716 compatible, 64-level (6-bit) mod
2001-04 2001-01	AKM	AK4383 AK4382A	112 dB		-94 dB	non-TOTL; AK4383 w/ DSD; ~AK4358 8ch (2003); AK4382 (2000-08) short-lived; AK4381 (2002) compatible w/ worse perf
2001-02	Burr-Brown	PCM1608	105 dB		-94 dB	8ch; 8-level 4th order delta sigma; PCM1600/01 update
2001-02	AKM	AK4355	106 dB		-90 dB	6-channel, non-TOTL
2000-12	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS43122	122 dB		-102 dB	CS4396 pinout; whitepaper
2000-08	AKM	AK4395	120 dB		-100 dB	see AK4394 (1999)
2000-12	NPC	SM5865CM	117 dB		-110.5 dB	mono 31-level DAC w/ 3rd-order noise shaper for use w/ ext. filter
2000	NPC	SM5865BM	114 dB		-108 dB	mono 23-level DAC w/ 3rd-order noise shaper for use w/ ext. filter
2000	Analog Devices	AD1852	114 dB	117 dB	-102 dB (-105 dB mono)	non-TOTL (still very good filters)
2000	Analog Devices	AD1854K* AD1854J*	113 dB 108 dB		-101 dB -97 dB	non-TOTL; filter stopband very average; double speed: AD1855
2000	NPC	SM5866AS	112 dB (PCM) 115 dB (DSD)		-106 dB (PCM) -109 dB (DSD)	mono 1-bit DSD + multilevel PCM DAC for use w/ ext. filter, SACD application
2000-12	TI (Burr-Brown)	PCM1742KE PCM1742E	106 dB 100 dB		-94 dB -90 dB	quad speed version of PCM1748
2000-04	Burr-Brown	PCM1604 PCM1605	105 dB		-95 dB	6ch; 8-level 4th order delta sigma; PCM1600/01 update
1999-11	AKM	AK4394	120 dB		-100 dB	upgrades: AK4395 (2000-08) – better filters, AK4396 (2004) – lower Pdiss + DSD but 4394 filters again
1999-09	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4396 CS4397	120 dB		-100 dB	CS4397 w/ DSD + HDCD support
1999	Analog Devices	AD1853	116 dB	119 dB	-104 dB (-107 dB mono)	SNR = DR + 1 dB (idle tones!)
1999-09	AKM	AK4356	112 dB		-94 dB	6-channel; filter ~AK4394?
1999-09	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4391	108 dB		-94 dB	non-TOTL; quad speed filter dubious; minor update: CS4391A (2003); ~CS4270 DAC part, CS4361; EOL 2024
1999-11	Burr-Brown	PCM1737 PCM1739	106 dB		-96 dB	PCM1737 w/ programmable settings
Double Speed DACs (up to 96-108 kHz)
2016	Tempo Semi	TSCS25x [CODEC]	102 dB		-84 dB	codec, mobile; HP amp, compressor etc.; 32 bit in, SE out; data for 1.9 V
2005	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS42L51 [CODEC]	98/95 dB		-86/-88 dB	mobile; 24 bit in; capless HP out; data for 2.5/1.8 V, single speed
2000-02	AKM	AK4528 [CODEC]	110 dB		-94 dB	AK4524 upgrade with better ADC
2000	AKM	AK4527(B) [CODEC]	106 dB		-90 dB	codec, 2-in 6-out; 24 bit in; AK4526 successor; AK4527B 2001-02
2000-12	TI (Burr-Brown)	PCM1748KE PCM1748E	106 dB 100 dB		-94 dB -90 dB	24 bit in; like PCM1728 but worse digital filter; quad speed: PCM1742
2000	Philips	UDA1328T	103 / 106 dB		-90 / -95 dB	consumer, low-power (3 V), 6ch; 24 bit in; SE out (1 V) / ch1/2 diff out (2 V)
2000-01	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4228 [CODEC]	103 dB		-90 dB	codec, 2-in 6-out, 24 bit in; SE output; update: CS4228A (2001-04, 100 dB, -90 dB)
2000-09	AKM	AK4552 [CODEC]	100 dB		-88 dB	codec, low power (3 V); 24 bit in, SE out
2000-04	AKM	AK4380	100 dB		-88 dB	consumer, SE outputs
2000-09	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS43L42	93/91 dB (HP) 96/94 dB (line)		-76/-82 dB (HP) -84/-80 dB (line)	mobile, HP + line-out; data for 3.0/1.8 V, single speed; +CS43L43 w/o line-out
1999-01	AKM	AK4524 [CODEC]	110 dB		-94 dB	24 bit in
1999-10	Burr-Brown	PCM1600 PCM1601	105 dB		-95 dB	24 bit in, 6ch; 8-level 4th order delta sigma
1999-07	Burr-Brown	PCM1732	104 dB		-96 dB	24 bit in; good filter performance; HDCD decoder
1999-01	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4340 CS4341	101 dB		-91 dB*	*) originally -88 dB; consumer, 24 bit in; CS4341 w/ digital volume
1998-11	AKM	AK4393	120 dB		-100 dB	24 bit in; EOL 2012/13
1998-07	Burr-Brown	PCM1704 (-/-J/-K)	110 / 110 / 112 dB (102 / 106 / 112 dB min)		-92 / -96 / -102 dB (-90 / -92 / -96 dB max)	1-channel, 24-bit in, up to 16X OS; multibit sign-magnitude converter
1998-06	Burr-Brown	PCM1728	106 dB		-96 dB	24 bit in; like PCM1716 but some functions removed; still active 2023-08!
1998-04	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4334 CS4335 CS4336 CS4337 CS4338 CS4339	96 dB		-88 dB	consumer; 16-24 / 16-24 / 24 / 20 / 16 / 18 bit in; 8-pin package; CS4334/5/8/9 only EOL'd in mid-2022
1998-01	Burr-Brown	PCM1733	95 dB		-83 dB	consumer, 18 bit in, SE out; 5-level 3rd-order delta sigma; still active 2023-09!
1997-12	Burr-Brown	PCM1716	106 dB		-96 dB	24 bit in; good filter performance; see WM8716
1997	AKM	AK4324	105 dB		-94 dB	24 bit in
1997-11	AKM	AK4526 [CODEC]	100 dB		-90 dB	2-in 6-out; ~AK4321 but 24 bit in
1996-10	AKM	AK4321	100 dB		-90 dB	20 bit in; ~AK4520A (1997) DAC
1996(?)	NPC	SM5864AP	98 dB		-96 dB	mono DAC for use w/ ext. filter at 8fs; 20 bit in; 32fs 4th-order delta-sigma mod
1994(?)	Burr-Brown	PCM1710U	98 dB		-92 dB	20 bit in; 5-level (!) 4th-order delta-sigma
1994(?)	Philips	TDA1305T	96 dB		-90 dB	consumer; Vdd 3.4-5 V; 16/18/20 bit in; SE out (1.5 V); dual 5-bit DAC with 128fs/96fs 2nd-order mod
1993	Burr-Brown	PCM1702 (-/-J/-K)	106 / 108 / 110 dB (100 / 102 / 104 dB min)		-92 / -96 / -100 dB (-88 / -92 / -96 dB max)	1-channel, 20-bit in, 8X OS, 16X OS max; multibit sign-magnitude converter; not adjustable
1993(?)	NPC	SM5872A	98 dB		-94 dB	16 bit in, 8X OS; 32fs (16fs) 4th-order 13-level delta-sigma mod; SM5872B single speed only
1993(?)	NPC	SM5871A	94 dB		-93 dB	16 bit in, 8X OS; 32fs 3rd-order 11-level delta-sigma mod
1992	Burr-Brown	PCM67P PCM69P (-/-J/-K)	100 / 106 / 106 dB (94 / 100 / 100 dB min)		-86 / -91 / -95 dB (-82 / -88 / -92 dB max)	1-channel, 18-bit in, 8X OS, 16X OS max; hybrid multibit R-2R + 1-bit delta-sigma converter
1991	Philips	TDA1547 + SAA7350	108 dB*		-101 dB	20-bit in, 8X OS, stereo 1-bit converter + 3rd-order modulator, integrated switched-capacitor filter; DR spec is unweighted 20-20k
1990(?)	Ultra Analog	D20400	112 dB* (110 dB min)		-102 dB (-100 dB max)	*) DR unwtd 20-20k; 20-bit in, 8X OS; potted hybrid module multibit converter supposedly using trimmed AD chips
1990(?)	Burr-Brown	PCM63P (-/-J/-K)	100 / 104 / 108 dB (96 / 100 / 104 dB min)		-92 / -96 / -100 dB (-88 / -92 / -96 dB max)	1-channel, 20-bit in, 8X OS, 16X OS max; multibit sign-magnitude R-2R ("Colinear") converter; data for unadjusted; adjusted DR approaching idle channel SNR of 120 dB(A)
1990?	Analog Devices	AD1862N (-/-J)	105 dB (102 dB min)		-94 / -98 dB (-92 / -96 dB max)	1-channel, 20-bit in, 16X OS max; multibit R-2R converter; data presumably for unadjusted
1990(?)	Burr-Brown	PCM1700 (-/-J/-K)	94 / 96 / 98 dB (88 / 88 / 94 dB min)		-88 / -94 / -98 dB (-82 / -88 / -92 dB max)	18-bit in, 8X OS, 16X OS max; multibit converter
1990(?)	Analog Devices	AD1851 AD1861 (-/-J)	101 dB (88 / 96 dB min)		-88 / -90 dB (-82 / -88 dB max)	1-channel, 16/18-bit in, 16X OS max; multibit R-2R converter; monotonicity 14/15 bits; data presumably for unadjusted; AD1851 still active 2023-08!
Single Speed DACs (up to 48-54 kHz)
2003-06	Burr-Brown	PCM2704 PCM2706	98 dB		-84 dB / -78 dB*	USB DAC + HPA, 16 bit in, 2706 w/ SPDIF; *) bus-powered
2002-06	Burr-Brown	PCM2904 PCM2906	93 dB		-86 dB	USB codec + HPA, 16 bit in, 2906 w/ SPDIF; active 2023-08
2000-05	Burr-Brown	PCM2702	100 dB		-94 dB	first USB DAC, 16 bit in
1999	Alesis Semi (Wavefront Semi)	AL1201	107 dB		-90 dB	24 bit in, max 55 kHz; 5th-order 1-bit mod @ 128x OS w/ 2nd-order switched-cap + regular LPF
1999-03	AKM	AK4352	94 dB (96 dB)		-85 dB (-89 dB)	18 bit in, SE out; low power DAC (Vdd = 1.8-3.6 V, 6 mW @ 2 V), multilevel mod; replaces AK4350; specs for 2V (3V)
1998-09	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4223 CS4224 [CODEC]	105 dB		-97 dB	codec, 24 bit in
1998-12	Philips	UDA1341TS [CODEC]	100 dB		-91 dB	codec, low-power (3V); 20 bit in, SE out; PGA + AGC, DSP
1997-09	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4390	106 dB		-98 dB	24 bit in; CS4329 pinout
1997-05	Philips	UDA1340 [CODEC]	100 dB		-85 dB	codec, low-power (3V); 20 bit in, SE out; update: UDA1344TS
1997-07	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4222 [CODEC]	99 dB		-88 dB	codec, 20 bit in
1997	Analog Devices	AD1857 AD1858	94 dB		-90 dB	consumer, 20 bit / 16 bit in; 128fs multibit mod (4-bit / 17 levels) w/ switched cap filter; SE voltage out
1997-11	AKM	AK4350	92 dB		-85 dB	18 bit in, SE out; low power (Va = Vd = 2.0 V) DAC, multilevel mod; update: AK4352
1996-03	AKM	AK4323	100 dB		-90 dB	20 bit in; integrated PLL clockgen; similar to AK4321 (1996) and AK4520A (1997) DAC but single speed only
1996-09	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4226-KQ CS4226-BQ [CODEC]	98 dB 96 dB		-88 dB -86 dB	codec, 2+1-in 6-out, 20 bit in; SPDIF receiver, also available w/o as CS4227 (1998)
1996	Analog Devices	AD1859	94 dB		-88 dB	consumer, 18 bit in; 128fs multibit mod (4-bit / 17 levels) w/ switched cap filter; SE voltage out; DPLL for async MCLK
1996(?)	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4330 CS4331 CS4333	94 dB		-86 dB	consumer, 18 bit in, SE out; 8-pin package; 128fs 3rd-order delta sigma w/ switched capacitor filter; single +5 V or (-K grade only) +3V supply
1996	AKM	AK4314	92 dB		-84 dB	consumer, 16 bit in, low-power (3 V), SE out; digital bass boost + volume; 64fs 1-bit mod w/ switched cap + regular LP filter
1996	AKM	AK4315	91 dB		-84 dB	like AK4314, but master clock 256fs/384fs instead of 384fs only
1995-09	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4329	106 dB*		-97 dB	*) by 1998 – original spec 105 dB; 20 bit in; upgrade: CS4390
1995-09	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4327	100 dB*		-93 dB*	*) by 1997, original spec 101 / -90 dB; consumer, 20 bit in, SE outputs; 128fs delta-sigma
1995	AKM	AK4320	100 dB		-84 dB	20 bit in
1995	AKM	AK4319	96 dB		-90 dB	18 bit in; 4th-order 1-bit mod w/ switched capacitor filter; less out-of-band noise than AK4318; update: AK4319A (1998, 92 dB, -87 dB)
1994(?)	Burr-Brown	PCM1715U	98 dB		-92 dB	16 bit in; 5-level (!) 4th-order delta-sigma; same silicon as PCM1710U?
1994(?)	Burr-Brown	PCM1712U	94 dB		-87 dB	16 bit in; 5-level (!) 3rd-order delta-sigma
1994(?)	AKM	AK4313	92 dB		-88 dB	18 bit in, low-power (3 V); 64fs 4th-order 1-bit mod w/ switched capacitor filter
1993	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4328-K CS4328-B	97 dB 95 dB		-93 dB -88 dB	18 bit in; first with all-switched-capacitor analog filtering; see The Audio Critic, Issue 21; also see patent US5220483A
1993(?)	AKM	AK4318	97 dB		-92 dB	18 bit in; 64fs 4th-order 1-bit mod w/ switched capacitor filter; update: AK4319 (1995, less out-of-band noise)
1992?	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4303	107 dB		-100 dB	18 bit in; 5th-order 1-bit mod; = AK4303
1992(?)	AKM	AK4316	92 dB		-80 dB	16 bit in; 64fs 4th-order 1-bit mod w/ switched capacitor filter
1991(?)	Analog Devices	AD1866	94 dB (90 dB?)		-86 dB (-80 dB max)	2-channel, 16-bit in, 8X OS max; multibit R-2R converter, no adj; still active 2023-08!
1990(?)	Sony	CXD2552Q + CXD1244	>96 dB		<0.003% THD	stereo 1-bit converter (3rd-order) + 4/8X OS digital filter for CD player (CXD1125Q etc.)
1989	Burr-Brown	PCM61P (-/-J/-K)	94 / 96 / 100 dB (88 / 94 / 94 dB min)		-88 / -94 / -98 dB (-82 / -88 / -92 dB max)	1-channel, 18-bit in, 4X OS, 8X OS max; multibit R-2R converter; data for unadjusted
1988	Burr-Brown	PCM58P (-/-J/-K)	100 / 100 / 102 dB (94 / 94 / 100 dB min)		-94 / -96 / -100 dB (-92 / -94 / -96 dB max)	1-channel, 18-bit in, 4X OS; multibit R-2R converter; data for unadjusted
1988(?)	Analog Devices	AD1856 (-/-J/-K)	95 dB (88 / 88 / 94 dB min)		-94 dB THD (-82 / -86 / -92 dB max)	1-channel, 16-bit in, 8X OS max; multibit R-2R converter; monotonicity 15 bits; data presumably for unadjusted; still active 2023-08!
1987?	Philips	TDA1541A ( - / R1 / S1 / S2)	102 / 103 / 107 / 107 dB		-95 / -95 / -95 / -97 dB	1-channel, 16-bit in, 4X OS, max 8X OS; multibit R-2R converter, selected for differential nonlin.
1986?	Burr-Brown	PCM56P (-L/-/J/K)	95 dB (80 / 88 / 88 / 94 dB min)		-94 dB THD (-80 / -82 / -88 / -92 dB max)	1-channel, 16-bit in, 4X OS; multibit R-2R converter
1985?	Burr-Brown	PCM54*P PCM55*P (H/J/K)	94 / 94 / 100 dB (88 / 88 / 94 dB min)		-94 dB THD (-82 / -88 / -92 dB max)	1-channel, 16-bit in, multibit R-2R converter; PCM54 ±12V, PCM55 ±5V
1984?	Sony	CX20152	94 dB		-90 dB	1-channel, 16-bit in, 2X OS (L/R alternating); multibit converter
1983?	Burr-Brown	PCM53*P (J/K)	94 dB (88 / 94 dB min)		-94 dB THD (-88 / -92 dB max)	1-channel, 16-bit in, 4X OS; multibit R-2R converter; backstory and references

There is obviously more to DAC performance than just these numbers, notably digital filter performance (many more recent DACs are not exactly pretty in terms of periodic ripple, and lots of DACs capable of 384 kHz and up essentially "cheat" by bypassing most of their digital filtering beyond 192 kHz), handling of clock jitter (some like ESS essentially have built-in ASRC), 0dBFS+ handling (anything with built-in ASRC like ESS or TI PCM179x tends to hard-clip at 0 dBFS, more traditional parts generally have about 2 dB and change of headroom), power consumption and features, but as an illustration of progress I figured this table should do.

You can see how in just 6 years, delta-sigma converter IC dynamic range increased by 20 dB, and 30 dB over a decade, absolutely massive improvements to the point where analog noise became a dominating factor. In the same decade, distortion went down by 15-17 dB as well, which if taken together with the increased demands brought about by reduced noise and inevitably limited maximum power draw must mean substantially more complex analog circuitry as well.

If you were an equipment manufacturer in the late '90s, on the one hand you'd be lucky in that you could probably present better performance figures than devices just a few years old, but on the other hand the performance of your brand spanking new model would soon be considered obsolete as well; if you're lucky, you would be able to adopt a new better replacement part. Things have not been nearly as turbulent again since the mid-2000s, although with the advent of DAC + headphone amp ICs like the CS43130/131 (DAC-only cousin: CS43198) in recent years, near-130 dB dynamic range has never been more pocket-sized or affordable.

You may have noticed that Crystal Semiconductor did not have a TOTL double speed DAC, while AKM did. We'll find sort of the reverse in the ADC world, with AKM coming out with their last TOTL single-speed ADC a few weeks after Crystal brought out their first double-speed model.

AKM in recent years seems to have been going with a "throw shit at the wall and see what sticks" approach, somewhat reminiscent of Burr-Brown in the early '90s. Clearly, there isn't much left for DAC performance to go at this point – dynamic range is pretty much maxed out, just distortion could still go down some more.

Note: I'm mostly listing delta-sigma DACs with built-in digital filters here, which in the beginning weren't nearly as high-end. If you wanted best dynamic range in the '90s, you'd generally come up with some contraption involving traditional multibit DACs (I have added some now) or even hybrids using a separate digital filter as it was common in the olden days. The Pacific Microsonics Model One ADC + DAC was reputed to be able to pull off <-120 dBFS of noise in loopback (D/A --> A/D), way back in the mid-late '90s. Mind you, these units sold at cost (!) for around 15 grand or something, very very advanced stuff for the day.

One thing that is very much different in traditional multibit vs. delta-sigma DACs is that dynamic range is limited by low-level nonlinearity rather than noise. (I am listing DR as THD+N at -60 dB relative to full-scale, i.e. -42 dB becomes -102 dB etc.) Multibit DAC ICs were therefore commonly selected and/or provided with external trimming options for at least the most significant bit, sometimes even more. The issue potentially comes back with multilevel delta-sigma designs but those are generally using several converters of a few bits that are being picked at random, which randomizes their quantization noise as well which can then be noise-shaped out of the audible frequency range.

As you can see, by the early '90s multibit DACs still had the upper hand, however there was little in terms of higher performance to be had by 1993. Even the PCM1704, often considered the best multibit audio DAC ever, only had a few dB left to gain over its predecessor while the much cheaper delta-sigma competition was inching closer and closer. (Multibit DACs like these ran at 10-15 bucks a pop, and you needed at least two plus a digital filter / processor IC. High-performance implementations often employed multiple DACs per channel, driving cost up even more.) Once multilevel delta-sigma converters like CS4396 and AK4393 were out and leaping ahead in dynamic range by 8+ dB, the race was pretty much over.

Discrete multibit designs can do better: A Denafrips ARES II gets to DR = 120 dB(A) and around -100 dB of THD+N, the latter rather in line with good multibit DACs from the olden days (matching between channels is also good, and going by SMPTE over level I suspect this may have a sign-magnitude architecture similar to PCM1702/04). About 18 effective bits available. Even back in that day, it appears some trimmed PCM63s could do very well if Krell KPS-20i and Krell KPS-20iL measurements are any indication – the former appears to be truncating internally(!) at 19 bits (THD+N -113ish dB?), the latter seems to make it pretty much all the way to 20 bits, with a THD+N that could be as low as -118 dB. (The PCM1702 ditching external adjustments was not necessarily a good thing, as evidenced by measurements of two Linn Numerik versions equipped with either type, and yes, -K grade in both cases.)
About the best I've seen has to be the Holo Audio May with DR = 130 dB(A) and THD+N at -118 dB, though worst-case gremlins in the SMPTE test came up to about -105 dBFS. Good modern delta-sigma designs still have that distortion beat by about 10 dB, even if that's just measurable rather than audible at this point.
One thing these DACs are extremely good for is out-of-band noise, as you might expect from a multibit. Makes you wonder what a discrete multilevel sigma-delta could do, with perhaps a couple of 6-8 bit DACs randomized and noise shaped to oblivion (you can't run discrete DACs as fast as integrated ones, so you definitely have to start out with several bits more). I wouldn't be surprised if that had already been done, actually.

Here is a neat presentation from back in the mid-'90s comparing different Burr-Brown DAC types at a time when multibit still reigned supreme in high-performance applications.

↑ Go back to table of contents

The Recording Side: ADCs

Recording applications have to deal with potentially quite large amounts of dynamic range, and the music industry was not exactly short of cash in the '80s and '90s, fueling the development of high-performance delta-sigma ADCs which had supplanted multibit ones by the early '90s already. You'll see that in the following table (grouped by year and sorted by performance, differential analog inputs unless indicated):

Date	Manuf. (Brand)	IC Type	DR A-wtd.	(mono mode)	VA / V	THD+N -1dBFS	Filter Ripple, ±	Filter Stopband	Notes
16X Speed ADCs (up to 768 kHz, 32 bit, possibly DSD)
2024-06	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4282P [CODEC]	123 dB	?	3.3	-110 dB	?	?	hybrid gain ctl; 5th-order multibit mod; like 1/2 CS5304P
2024-01		ES9290 [CODEC]	116 dB		3.3	-108 dB	0-0.0027 dB →	77-90 dB →	PCM 768k; 8 selectable filters; PGA, mic bias, direct monitoring
2023-06	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS5308P	123 dB	?	3.3	-110 dB	?	?	8ch, hybrid gain ctl; 5th-order multibit mod
"	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS5304P	123 dB	?	3.3	-110 dB	?	?	4ch, hybrid gain ctl; 5th-order multibit mod
"	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS5302P	126 dB	?	3.3	-110 dB	?	?	hybrid gain ctl; 5th-order multibit mod
2023-04	ESS Tech	ES9826	115 dB (123 dB, ARE)		3.3	-105 dB	→	→	8 selectable filters, PGA, opt. DRE (ARE), mic bias, PLL
2022-09	ESS Tech	ES9821	120 dB		3.3	-112 dB	→	→	8 selectable filters, opt. PLL, smaller package
2020-11	ESS Tech	ES9842PRO	122 dB	128 dB	4.5	-116 dB (-118 dB, mono)	→	→	4ch, 8 selectable filters + custom
"	ESS Tech	ES9822PRO	124 dB	127 dB	4.5	-117 dB (-118 dB, mono)	→	→	8 selectable filters + custom
2020-11	ESS Tech	ES9840	116 dB	118 dB	3.3	-108 dB (-110 dB, mono)	→	→	non-TOTL, 4ch, 8 selectable filters + custom, ASP
"	ESS Tech	ES9820	116 dB	117 dB	3.3	-108 dB (-109 dB, mono)	→	→	non-TOTL, 8 selectable filters + custom, ASP
2020-12	TI (Burr-Brown)	TLV320ADC6120	113 dB (123 dB, DRE)	116 dB	3.3	-98 dB	0.05 dB 0.015 dB (low GD)	-73.8 dB -86.4 dB (low GD)	fancier PCM1820, =PCM6120 (2022)
"	"	TLV320ADC5120	108 dB (120 dB, DRE)	111 dB	3.3	-95 dB	"	"	=PCM5120 (2022)
"	"	TLV320ADC3120	106 dB	109 dB	3.3	-95 dB	"	"	fancier PCM1821, =PCM3120 (2022)
2016-03	AKM	AK5558	115 dB	124 dB	5	-106 dB	0.03 dB (48-96k) 0.02 dB (192k) 0 dB (384k, 768k)	-85 dB	non-TOTL, like AK557x, Pdiss ~half
"	"	AK5556	"	122 dB
"	"	AK5554	"	121 dB
"	"	AK5552	"	118 dB
2016-03	AKM	AK5538	111 dB	120 dB	3.3	-103 dB	0.03 dB (48-96k) 0.02 dB (192k) 0 dB (384k, 768k)	-85 dB	3.3 V like AK555x
"	"	AK5536	"	118 dB
"	"	AK5534	"	117 dB
2015-12	AKM	AK5578	121 dB	130 dB	5	-112 dB	0.03 dB (48-96k) 0.02 dB (192k) 0 dB (384k, 768k)	-85 dB	8/6/4/2-channel, selectable filters, short delay filters are IIR
"	"	AK5576	"	128 dB
"	"	AK5574	"	127 dB
"	"	AK5572	"	124 dB
2014-11	AKM	AK5397EQ	127 dB	130 dB	5	-108 dB	0.00013 dB	-100 dB	selectable filters
Quad Speed ADCs (up to 192-216 kHz, 24 bit, possibly DSD)
2020-12	TI (Burr-Brown)	PCM1820	113 dB (123 dB, DRE)		3.3	-98 dB	0.05 dB 0.015 dB (low GD)	-73.8 dB -86.4 dB (low GD)	2ch like PCM1840
"	"	PCM1822	111 dB (117 dB, DRE)		3.3	"	"	"	like PCM1820 but 1 Vrms input
2020	Realtek	ALC4080 [CODEC]	110 dB (main) 92 dB (sub)		5	-87 dB (-3dBFS)	-0.405/+0.015 dB*	-90 dB	USB codec, 2-in 10-out; ~ALC1220 (HDA); *) digital + analog filter, 48k
2019	TI (Burr-Brown)	PCM1840	113 dB (123 dB, DRE)		3.3	-98 dB	0.05 dB 0.015 dB (low GD)	-73.8 dB -86.4 dB (low GD)	4ch, 32 bit, low group delay mode (better than FIR?!), DRE (digitally controlled PGA, max 48 kHz), mic bias
2019	AKM	AK5704	105 dB		3.3 or 1.8	-90 dB	0.16 dB	-72 dB	low power, LN PGA + mic bias, mixer, filters, ALC, activity det
2018	Realtek	ALC1200 [CODEC]	102 dB*		5	-80 dB (-3dBFS)*	0.03 dB	-80 dB	HDA codec, non-TOTL, 2-in 10-out; DR / THD better than spec IRL; meas thread
2017-11	AKM	AK4558 [CODEC]	108 dB		3.3	-92 dB	0.03 dB	-85 dB	codec, low power; SE inputs, 32 bit out
2017	Realtek	ALC1220 [CODEC]	110 dB (main)*		5	-85 dB (-3dBFS)*	0.03 dB*	-80 dB	HDA codec, 2-in 10-out; used on Asus Xonar SE; DR / THD / ripple (much) better than spec IRL; meas thread
2014-03	TI (Burr-Brown)	PCM1861 PCM1863 PCM1865	110 dB (106 dB, SE)		3.3	-93 dB	0.05 dB 0.02 dB (IIR)	-65 dB -75 dB (IIR)	2/2/4ch ADC, PGA, diff/SE input, IIR filter better than FIR?
"	"	PCM1860 PCM1862 PCM1864	103 dB		3.3	"	"	"
2013	Analog Devices	ADAU1979	109 dB (103 dB min)		3.3	-95 dB (-87 dB max)	0.015 dB	-79 dB	4ch, input 4.5 Vrms diff, PLL
2013	Analog Devices	ADAU1978	109 dB (103 dB min)		3.3	-95 dB (-88 dB max)	0.015 dB	-79 dB	4ch, input 2 Vrms diff, PLL
2013	Analog Devices	ADAU1977	109 dB (103 dB min)		3.3	-95 dB (-89 dB max)	0.015 dB	-79 dB	4ch, input 10 Vrms diff DC-coupled, PLL, mic bias 5-9 V, diagnostics; weird thing
2013	Realtek	ALC1150 [CODEC]	104 / 93 dB		5	-80 dB (-3dBFS)	0.03 dB	-80 dB	HDA codec, 2-in 10-out
2012	Realtek	ALC898 [CODEC]	104 dB		5	-86 dB (-3dBFS)	0.03 dB	-80 dB	HDA codec, 2-in 10-out; used on Creative Audigy FX
2011-01	AKM	AK4621 [CODEC]	115 dB		5	-102 dB	0.005 dB (0.01 dB, short GD)	-100 dB (-80 dB, short GD)	successor of AK4620B; short group delay mode (14/fs vs. 39/fs, part IIR?)
2011	Realtek	ALC892 [CODEC]	90 dB		5	-84 dB / -85 dB (-3dBFS)	0.03 dB	-80 dB	HDA codec, 2-in 8-out, non-TOTL, typical midrange onboard
2009	AKM	AK5388	120 dB	123 dB	5	-110 dB	0.01 dB	-80 dB	4ch; update: AK5388A (2014)
2008	Realtek	ALC889 [CODEC]	104 dB		5	-90 dB / -85 dB (-3dBFS)	0.03 dB*	-80 dB	HDA codec, 2-in 10-out, actual filter ripple way lower than spec
2008	Realtek	ALC887 [CODEC]	90 dB		5	-85 dB (-3dBFS)	0.0005 dB	-90 dB	HDA codec, 2-in 8-out, non-TOTL, typical budget onboard
2007-01	AKM	AK5386	110 dB		5	-96 dB	0.005 dB	-80 dB	SE inputs; upgrade for AK5380/81
2007	Analog Devices	AD1974	105 dB (100 dB min)		3.3	-96 dB (-87 dB max)	0.015 dB	-79 dB	4ch, PLL
2006	TI (Burr-Brown)	PCM4220	123 dB		4.0	-108 dB	0.00015 dB 0.001 dB (low GD)	-100 dB -90 dB (low GD)	low group delay mode, PCM4222 ~same w/ extra features
2006	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS5368 CS5366 CS5364	114 dB		5	-105 dB	0.017 to 0.02 dB	-92 to -97 dB	8/6/4-ch versions of CS5361 (2003); TDM interface; first multich ADC?; EOL 2023
2006-12	AKM	AK4556 [CODEC]	103 dB		3.0	-91 dB	0.04 dB	-68 dB	codec, low power; SE inputs, 24 bit out
2006	Analog Devices	AD1988A AD1988B [CODEC]	90 dB 92 dB		3.3	-81 dB -82 dB	0.005 dB	-100 dB	HDA codec, 6-in 10-out
2005-07 2005-01	AKM	AK4620B AK4620A [CODEC]	113 dB (110 dB, SE)		5	-100 dB (-90 dB, SE)	0.005 dB	-100 dB	~AK5385B (2005); AK4620A short-lived
2005-05	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4270 [CODEC]	105 / 102 dB		5 or 3.3	-95 / -92 dB	0.035 dB	-70 dB	SE inputs; short group delay filter, IIR?, quad speed filter dubious; ~CS5341 (2003), CS5345 + CS5346 (+PGA, Mux, Mic); data for 5/3.3 V; EOL 2023
2005-08	AKM	AK5359	102 dB		5	-94 dB	0.04 dB (0.02 dB, 192k)	-68 dB (-70 dB, 192k)	consumer, SE inputs; 96 kHz companion: AK5358 (2005-11); update of previous AK5357 (2004)
2005	Realtek	ALC882 [CODEC]	90 dB		5 or 3.3	-82 dB (-3dBFS)	0.2 dB	-76 dB	HDA codec, 2-in 8-out; data for 5 V
2004-11	Wolfson Micro	WM8785 WM8786	111 dB		5	-102 dB (-0.1dBFS)	0.005 dB	-85 dB
2003	TI (Burr-Brown)	PCM4202	118 dB (115 dB, DSD)		5	-105 dB (-103 dB, DSD)	0.005 dB	-100 dB	DSD support; 4ch: PCM4204 (2004)
2003-10	AKM	AK5385A	114 dB		5	-103 dB	0.005 dB	-100 dB	non-TOTL; update: AK5385B (2005, EOL early 2017); ~AK4620A/B (2005) ADC
2003-03	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4272 [CODEC]	114 dB		5	-100 dB	0.017 to 0.02 dB	-92 to -97 dB	short group delay filter, IIR?; ~CS5361 (2002), CS5364, CS5366, CS5368 (4/6/8ch, 2006); matching paper?
"	"	CS4271 [CODEC]	108 dB		"	-98 dB	"	"	as above but SE input only; ~CS5351 (2002)
2003	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS5341 CS5342	105 / 102 dB		5 or 3.3	-98 / -95 dB	0.035 dB	-70 dB	SE input, short group delay filter, IIR?, quad speed filter dubious; ~CS4270 (2005) ADC part, CS5345 + CS5346 (+PGA, Mux, Mic); data for 5/3.3 V
2003	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS5340	101 / 98 dB		5 or 3.3	-94 / -91 dB	0.035 dB	-70 dB	low-cost version of CS5341
2002-01	AKM	AK5394A	123 dB		5	-110 dB	0.001 dB	-120 dB	SOTA for over a decade, EOL ~late 2018; replaced short-lived AK5394
2002-12	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS5381	120 dB		5	-110 dB	0.017 to 0.02 dB	-92 to -97 dB	short group delay filter, IIR?
2002	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS5361	114 dB		5	-105 dB	0.017 to 0.02 dB	-92 to -97 dB	non-TOTL, short group delay filter, IIR?; 5th-order multibit mod; ~CS4272 (2003) ADC part, CS5364, CS5366, CS5368 (4/6/8ch, 2006); matching paper?
2002	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS5351	108 dB		5	-98 dB	0.017 to 0.02 dB	-92 to -97 dB	SE input, otherwise like CS5361; ~CS4271 (2003) ADC part
2001-11	TI (Burr-Brown)	PCM1804	112 dB		5	-102 dB	0.005 dB	-100 dB
2001-01	AKM	AK5394	123 dB		5	-105 dB	0.001 dB	-120 dB	quickly superseded by AK5394A (2002)
Double Speed ADCs (up to 96-108 kHz, 24 bit)
2016	Tempo Semi	TSCS25x [CODEC]	90 dB		1.9	-80 dB	?	?	codec, mobile; mux, PGA mic bias; SE/diff inputs, 32 bit out (17 bits of noise…)
2014	AKM	AK5720	102 / 98 dB		5 to 3.0	-94 dB	0.16 dB	-71/-72 dB	low power, SE input, preamp +15 dB; data for 5/3 V, 0 dB
2011-03	TI (Burr-Brown)	PCM1808	99 dB		5	-93 dB	0.05 dB	-65 dB	non-TOTL, SE input
2008-11	TI	TLV320ADC3001 ADC3101 ADC3100	92 dB		3.3 to 3.0	-90 dB (THD)	0.1 dB	-73 dB	low power, PGA, LN mic bias, miniDSP; 3101 w/ dig mic in, 3100 w/ 4 inputs instead of 6
2005-09	TI (Burr-Brown)	PCM1807	99 dB		5	-93 dB	0.05 dB	-65 dB	non-TOTL, SE input
2005-06	TI (Burr-Brown)	PCM1803A	103 dB		5	-95 dB	0.05 dB	-65 dB	non-TOTL, SE input; PCM1803 update
2005-11	AKM	AK5358	102 dB		5	-92 dB	0.04 dB	-68 dB	consumer, SE input, ~AK4589 / AK4588 / AK4628 ADC; 96k companion to AK5359 (2005)
2005	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS53L21	98 / 95 dB		2.5 or 1.8	-88 / -86 dB	-0.09/+0.17 dB	-33 dB	low power, LN mic bias + preamp, PGA + Mux; data at 2.5 / 1.8 V; see CS42L51
2005	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS42L51 [CODEC]	98 / 95 dB		2.5 or 1.8	-88 / -86 dB	-0.09/+0.17 dB	-33 dB	codec, like CS53L21
2004-02	AKM	AK4626 AK4628 [CODEC]	102 dB		5	-92 dB	0.04 dB	-68 dB	consumer codec, 2-in 6/8-out, SE input, ~AK5358; AK4588/89 (2004-06/09) adds SPDIF RX/TX
2004-11	TI (Burr-Brown)	PCM1803	103 dB		5	-95 dB	0.05 dB	-65 dB	non-TOTL, SE input; update: PCM1803A (2005)
2004	AKM	AK5357	102 / 100 dB		5 to 3.0	-88 / -86 dB	0.04 dB	-68 dB	consumer, SE input; data for 5/3 V
2003-08	Wolfson Micro	WM8775	102 dB		5 to 3.0	-90 dB (0dBFS) -95 dB (-3dBFS)	0.01 dB	-65 dB	consumer, SE input, PGA + mux; ~WM8770 + WM8776 ADC; data for 5 V
2003-05	AKM	AK5384	107 dB		5	-100 dB	0.005 dB	-80 dB	4ch
2002	Analog Devices	AD1871	105 dB (103 dB unwtd.)		5	-85 dB (-0.5dBFS)	0.01 dB	-120 dB	diff/SE input, PGA + mux, modulator out
2001-04	AKM	AK5380	106 dB		5	-96 dB	0.005 dB	-80 dB	non-TOTL, SE inputs; update: AK5381 (2002), compatible but lower perf: AK5357 (2004), AK5358 (2005)
2001-11	TI (Burr-Brown)	PCM1802	105 dB		5	-96 dB	0.05 dB	-65 dB	non-TOTL, SE input
2001	Philips	UDA1361TS	100 dB		3	-88 dB	0.01 dB	-70 dB	low-power, SE inputs
2001-05	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS53L32A	96 / 93 dB (98 / 94 dB, 96 kHz)		3.3 to 1.8	-88 dB (-85/-88 dB, 96 kHz)	-0.09/+0.17 dB (-0.09/+0 dB, 96 kHz)	-60 dB (-48 dB, 96 kHz)	low power, SE inputs, PGA + mux; data for 3.0/1.8 V
2001-04	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS5333	96 / 91 dB (98 / 94 dB, 96 kHz)		3.3 to 1.8	-88 dB (-85/-88 dB, 96 kHz)	-0.09/+0.17 dB (-0.09/+0 dB, 96 kHz)	-60 dB (-48 dB, 96 kHz)	low power, SE inputs; data for 3.0/1.8 V
2000-02	AKM	AK4528 [CODEC]	108 dB		5	-94 dB	0.005 dB	-80 dB	AK4524 upgrade w/ diff input
2000	AKM	AK4527(B) [CODEC]	102 dB		5	-92 dB	0.005 dB	-80 dB	codec; AK4526 sucessor; AK4527B 2001-02
2000-01	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4228 [CODEC]	102 dB		5	-90 dB	0.01 dB*	-80 dB*	*) single speed mode; codec, 2-in 6-out; update: CS4228A (2001-04; 97 dB, -95 dB)
2000-09	AKM	AK4552 [CODEC]	97 dB (100 dB, 96 kHz)		3.0 (4.0 to 2.4)	-89 dB	0.1 dB	-65 dB	codec, low power; SE inputs
1999-01	AKM	AK5393	117 dB		5	-105 dB	0.001 dB	-110 dB	4th-order cascaded multilevel mod; Paper by Fujimori; EOL ~late 2018
1999-01	AKM	AK5383	110 dB		5	-103 dB	0.001 dB	-110 dB	non-TOTL, AK5393 compatible; EOL 2012/13
1999-01	AKM	AK4524 [CODEC]	100 dB		5	-90 dB	0.005 dB	-80 dB	SE input
1999-06	AKM	AK5353	96 / 92 dB		5 to 3.0	-84 dB	?	-65 dB	consumer, SE inputs; data for 5/3 V
1997-07	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS5396 CS5397	120 dB		5	-105 dB	0.005 dB (0.008 dB, low GD)	-117 dB (-86 dB, low GD)	CS5396 for audio, CS5397 w/ non-alias filter for meas., early multilevel (3) w/ 7th-order mod, opt. shaped dither for 20/18/16 bit; papers #1, #2, #3
1997-01	AKM	AK5352	104 dB		5	-97 dB	0.005 dB	-80 dB	non-TOTL, 20 bit out, early multilevel mod; 96 kHz companion to AK5351
1996(?)	AKM	AK5340A	96 dB		5	-92 dB	0.01 dB	-88 dB	18 bit out; 64fs 5th-order delta sigma mod; double speed version of AK5340
Single Speed ADCs (up to 48-54 kHz)
2013-07	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS53L30	91 dB		1.8	-84 dB	0.14 dB	-70 dB	low power, 4ch, 24 bit out; LN mic bias + preamp, SRC
2010-08	AKM	AK5373 AK5374	91 dB		3.3	-85 dB	-0.07/+0.16 dB	-68 dB	USB, diff in, 24 bit out; mic preamp + PGA
2008-08	TI (Burr-Brown)	PCM1870A	90 dB		3.3	-81 dB	0.02 dB	-60 dB	low power, 16 bit out, mic bias + preamp
2007-03	Burr-Brown	PCM2900 PCM2902	89 dB		5	-80 dB	0.05 dB	-65 dB	USB codec + HPA, 16 bit out, 2902 w/ SPDIF; rev. C (2011) active 2023-08
2002-06	Burr-Brown	PCM2904 PCM2906	89 dB		5	-80 dB	0.05 dB	-65 dB	USB codec + HPA, 16 bit out, 2906 w/ SPDIF; active 2023-08
2001-01	AKM	AK5354	89 dB		2.5 (3.3 to 2.1)	-84 dB	0.1 dB	-65 dB	low power, 20 bit out
1999	Alesis Semi (Wavefront Semi)	AL1101	107 dB		5	-95 dB	0.025 dB	-76 dB	24 bit out, max 55 kHz, 5th-order 1-bit mod @ 64X OS
1999	Burr-Brown	PCM1801	93 dB		5	-88 dB	0.05 dB	-65 dB	consumer, 16 bit out, SE input; still active 2023-08!
1998-09	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4223 CS4224 [CODEC]	105 dB		5	-97 dB	0.01 dB	-80 dB	codec, 24 bit out
"	"	CS4220 CS4221 [CODEC]	100 dB		5	-92 dB
1998	AKM	AK4523 AK4522 [CODEC]	100 dB		5	-92 dB	0.005 dB	-80 dB	codec, 20 bit out; evolution of AK4520(A) (1996/97)
1998-12	Philips	UDA1341TS [CODEC]	97 / 100 dB		3	-85 / -90 dB	0.05 dB	-60 dB	codec, low-power; SE/diff inputs, 20 bit out; PGA + AGC, DSP
1997-11	AKM	AK5392	116 dB		5	-105 dB	0.001 dB	-110 dB	24 bit out, early multilevel mod; EOL ~2012
1997	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS5394	117 dB		5	-103 dB	0.005 dB	-117 dB	24 bit out; 3-level w/ 7th-order mod; cut-down CS5396, slightly earlier?
1997-09	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS5360	105 dB		5	-95 dB	0.0025 dB	-85 dB	non-TOTL, 24 bit out, CS5335 update
1997-02	AKM	AK5351	103 dB		5	-97 dB	0.005 dB	-80 dB	non-TOTL, 20 bit out; 48 kHz companion to AK5352, update of AK5350 (1996) in smaller package
1997-11	AKM	AK4526 [CODEC]	100 dB		5	-90 dB	0.005 dB	-80 dB	codec, 2-in 6-out-24/96, ~AK5350 (1996) / AK4520A (1997)
1997-02	AKM	AK4520A [CODEC]	100 dB		5 or 3.0	-90 dB	0.005 dB	-80 dB	codec, 20 bit out, early multilevel mod; ~AK5350 (1996); update of AK4520 (1996-12, 98 dB, -90 dB)
1997-07	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4222 [CODEC]	99 dB		5	-90 dB	0.01 dB	-80 dB	codec, 20 bit out
1997-05	Philips	UDA1340 [CODEC]	95 dB		3	-85 dB	0.05 dB	-60 dB	codec, low-power, SE inputs, 20 bit out; update: UDA1344TS
1996-11	AKM	AK5391	113 dB		5	-97 dB	0.001 dB	-110 dB	24 bit out, early multilevel mod
1996-11	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS5335	105 dB		5	-95 dB	0.0025 dB	-85 dB	non-TOTL, 20 bit out, 4th-order mod @ 128X OS
"	"	CS5334	100 dB		"	-90 dB
1996-09	AKM	AK5350	100 dB		5	-94 dB	0.005 dB	-80 dB	non-TOTL, 20 bit out, early multilevel mod; update, smaller package: AK5351 (1997)
1996?	AKM	AK5340B	100 dB		5	-95 dB	0.01 dB	-88 dB	non-TOTL, 18 bit out; 64fs 5th-order delta sigma mod; updates AK5340/A (96 dB, -92 dB)
1996-09	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4226-KQ CS4226-BQ [CODEC]	95 dB 93 dB		5	-88 dB -86 dB	0.01 dB	-80 dB	codec, 2+1-in 6-out, 20 bit out; SPDIF receiver, also available w/o as CS4227 (1998)
1996(?)	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS5330A CS5331A	94 dB		5	-84 dB	0.05 dB	-80 dB	consumer, SE input, 18 bit out; 128fs delta-sigma; 8-pin package
1996	AKM	AK5330	90 dB		5	-84 dB	0.1 dB	-70 dB	consumer, SE in, 18 bit out; 64fs 4th-order delta-sigma
1995	TI	TLC320​AD58C	95 dB		5	-93 dB	0.01 dB	-80 dB	18 bit out
1994?	AKM	AK5340	96 dB		5	-92 dB	0.01 dB	-88 dB	non-TOTL, 18 bit out; 64fs 5th-order mod; updates: AK5340A/B
1994(?)	Analog Devices	AD1877	92 dB		5	-90 dB	0.006 dB	-90 dB	non-TOTL, 16 bit out, 4th-order mod; still active 2023-08!
1994(?)	Philips	SAA7366	>90 dB		5	<-80 dB	0.1 dB	-60 dB	consumer, 18 bit out, 3rd-order mod
1993(?)	AKM	AK5390	112 dB		±5	-103 dB	0.005 dB	-100 dB	20 bit out, = CS5390; SNR=110dBA, SNDR=104dB; AES paper
1993-10	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS5390	110 dB		±5	-100 dB	0.005 dB	-100 dB	20 bit out, 5th-order, =AK5390
1993(?)	Burr-Brown	PCM1760 + DF1760	108 dB		±5	-92 dB	0.001 dB	-100 dB	20 bit out, 4th-order 4-bit delta sigma ADC + digital filter
1993-03 (?)	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS5389	107 dB		±5	-100 dB	0.01 dB	-80 dB	18 bit out, 5th-order, =AK5389 (SNR=106dBA, SNDR=102dB); AES paper
1993(?)	Philips	SAA7360	97 dB		5	-90 dB	0.001 dB	-93 dB	18/16 bit out, 3rd-order mod
1993(?)	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS4225 [CODEC]	85 dB		5	-85 dB	0.1 dB	-75 dB	codec, 2+1-in 4-out, 2x 16 bit + 1x 12 bit out
1992(?)	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS5336 (-K/-B/-T)	95.7 / 93.5 / 92 dB		±5	-92.7 / 89 / 86 dB	0.01 dB	-80 dB	non-TOTL, 16 bit out, non-alias filter
"	"	CS5338 CS5339	95.7 dB		"	-92.7 dB	0.01 dB	-80 dB	non-TOTL, 16 bit out
1992?	AKM	AK5339	94 dB		±5	-90 dB	0.01 dB	-80 dB	non-TOTL, 16 bit out; 1-bit, 4th-order mod; =CS5338/9?
1992(?)	Cirrus Logic (Crystal)	CS5349	90 dB		5	-87 dB	0.01 dB	-80 dB	non-TOTL, 16 bit out
1992?	AKM	AK5345	91 dB		5	-86 dB	?	?	non-TOTL, 16 bit out; newer similar 3.3V model: AK5343
1991(?)	Analog Devices	AD1879	105 dB (103 dB unwtd.)	106 dB unwtd.	±5	-96 dB (-98 dB, trimmed)	0.0005 dB	-115 dB	18 bit out, 5th-order; 16 bit out: AD1878; filter design paper (errata), related patent
1990	Ultra Analog	ADC 20048	108 dB unwtd.		±15	-96 dB (-2dBFS)	0.05 dB	-80 dB*	*) up to fs + 20 kHz, max -50 dB above (up to 1.5 MHz); 20 bit out, 4th-order, multilevel delta-sigma using 4-bit flash ADC in 2-chip hybrid module; ±15 V analog and +5 V digital supply; datasheet, AES paper, article with backstory in Studio Sound 05-1990, pp. 32-36, modulator patent
1990(?)	Crystal	CS5328 CS5329	97.1 dB	100.1 dB	±5	-94.5 dB (-97 dB, mono)	0.0005 dB	-86 dB	18 bit out, 4th-order, = AK5328/9; 5329 w/ non-alias filter; AES paper
1990(?)	Burr-Brown	PCM1750	90 dB		±5	-90 dB	(ext)	(ext)	18 bit out, 2ch SAR ADC for use at 4X OS, ext analog + digital filters
1989	Crystal	CS5326 CS5327	95.7 dB		±5	-92.7 dB	0.0005 dB	-86 dB	16 bit out, 4th-order, = AK5326/7; 5327 w/ non-alias filter; SNR=96dBA, SNDR=93dB; AES paper
1989(?)	Burr-Brown	PCM78P	94 dB		±12	-88 dB	(ext)	(ext)	18 bit out, single SAR ADC for use at 4X OS, ext analog + digital filter
1988(?)	Crystal	CSZ5126 (CS5126*)	92 dB unwtd.	95 dB unwtd., 2X OS	±5	-92 dB	(ext)	(ext)	*) renamed by 1995; 16 bit out, 1 charge redistribution SAR ADC w/ multiplexed stereo input (or mono at 2X OS), ext analog + digital filter; audio version of CS5101A
1984?	Sony	CX20018	>86 dB (>90 dB, PCM- 501ES)		±5	-86 dB	(ext)	(ext)	14/16 bit out, 1 multibit ADC w/ multiplexed 2-ch input, ext analog filter; update CXA1144S

By 1989/1990, converter performance had already reached / exceeded the limits of 16-bit samples, and hybrids were scratching at the limits of 18 bits. At that time, a split analog supply was still necessary. It would take until 1993 for ICs with a single +5V analog supply to jump the same hurdle, with their split supply cousins still being 11-13 dB ahead. Those would only become obsolete with new 24-bit single-supply models forging ahead in 1996/1997. While in these 7 years the absolute limits of dynamic range may only have moved by about 10 dB if we count the ADC20048 hybrid, single-supply converters were pushed from a modest 90 dB(A) by 1992 to an unprecedented 116-117-120 dB(A) by 1997. That's impressive!
By contrast, things have been moving a lot more slowly since then. By 2001/2 we had arrived at 123 dB(A), and by 2006 the same was feasible on only 4.0 V. Only in 2014 did we get 127 dB(A) on 5 V. Since then new designs around 4.5 V have mainly concentrated on pushing THD+N instead of further increasing DR. By the mid-2010s 3.3 V ADCs had moved into midrange recording ADC terrain with DR slowly creeping up and the addition of differential inputs, and by 2019/2020 it became clear that the analog side would support more if you insisted, culminating in the first straight 123 dB(A) parts being released in 2023.

The first AKM and Crystal ADCs were jointly developed (and produced by AKM), which however seems to have stopped in the mid-'90s, some time after Crystal was taken over by Cirrus Logic in 1991.

When Crystal brought out their new double-speed CS5396 just weeks before the single-speed AK5392 came out, someone at AKM must have been cursing! By 1997, the writing was definitely on the wall – 96 kHz sampling had been making its way into studio ADCs in the mid-'90s. Funnily enough, AKM did actually have the first 96 kHz capable ADC out, the midrange AK5352, but things must have been moving more slowly for the TOTL model.

1990s High-End Pro Audio ADC Solutions

ADC engineering for professional applications was at a very high level back in the '90s. While researching high-end ADC performance I came across a news article in the March 1995 edition of Studio Sound magazine which read:

4D goes to third generation

The Deutsche Grammophon Recording Centre has developed a third generation upgrade of the Stage Box system central to the 4D recording chain. All recordings made by the Recording Centre since October 1994 have used the new DG AD III technology, whose convertors feature the new Crystal CS5390 delta-sigma 20-bit A-D convertor ICs to provide 23-bit digital-floating delta-sigma A-D conversion.
The process employs two 20-bit convertors, one handling the input signal at unity gain and the other operated with 18dB gain. A sophisticated DSP algorithm regulates the crossfade between the two convertors, producing three bits of supplementary resolution. The DSP program was modified to allow the DSP chip to handle 20-bit convertors at its inputs and a 24-bit wordlength at its outputs.
Quoted specifications include THD+n of -121dBFs with an input of 997Hz at -30dBFs and linearity errors within 1dB down to -135dBFs, together with a largely flat noise-spectrum.
A further improvement is the development of the Authentic Clock Recovery system, permitting superior reconstruction of the master clock signal under real world operating conditions such as long cable runs and numerous interconnected PLLs, where phase modulation of the clock, jitter, becomes a limiting factor on overall system performance. Because Authentic Clock Recovery uses crystal PLLs driven at 512Fs, as opposed to the current 256Fs standard, A-D conversion at up to 96kHz is possible, with full oversampling capability.

Deutsche Grammophon, Germany. Tel: +49 4044 181115.

They were using a composite ADC topology all the way back in 1994! (You may be familiar with the concept from the Sound Devices MixPre II series recorders, or more recently, the Zoom F6 recorder and UAC-232 audio interface or the RØDE NT-1 5th generation XLR/USB microphone, all with float32 output.) I am not sure what exactly they were doing with the 512Fs clock – either the ADC was being overclocked by 100% or they were using two ADCs interleaved so that effective sample rate would be doubled, the difference being that anti-alias filter bandwidth of the former would be twice that of the latter. All times two for the composite ADC action, of course.

I can only assume that they needed such a high level of A/D performance to cover the entire dynamic range of a large-diaphragm condenser microphone, or at least enough of it to get by with a constant mic gain in practice. Some modern LDCs could make even the highest-performance ADCs break a sweat.

By 1998, studio ADC dynamic range had increased by another 10 dB albeit at high input levels, with e.g. the Prism Sound Dream AD-2 posting specs of DR > 131 dB(A) at +28 dBu in, -1 dBFS THD+N < -108 dB and any spurious anharmonics below -112 dBFS (-1 dBFS level) to -140 dBFS (-60 dBFS level). That's the entire unit, of course! Since 0 dBFS level can be turned down to +5 dBu and dynamic range at +18 dBu remains >129 dB(A), total non-instantaneous dynamic range covered must equal at least 139 dB(A), only 3 dB short of a modern RME ADI-2 Pro FS. I've done some math using the RMS unsumming calculator, and effective input noise comes out to about -115 dBu(A), so it probably is more like 141 dB(A) total and as such just 1 dB short.

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Page created: 2021-07-09
Entry first created: 2021-02-12
Last modified: 2024-09-29