en.Wedoany.com Reported - Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation (AKM), an electronic components business unit of Asahi Kasei Corporation, announced on May 20 that it will unveil the "AK491x" series of operational amplifiers for high-quality audio products for the first time at "HIGH END Vienna 2026," an international audio exhibition to be held at the Austria Center Vienna in Vienna, Austria, from June 4 to 7. Asahi Kasei Microdevices' booth will be located at Stand E07 in Hall X2.
The AK491x series is a high-end audio operational amplifier developed by Asahi Kasei Microdevices by extending its proprietary sound quality concept "VELVET SOUND™," cultivated in the DAC field, to the analog output stage. The product lineup includes two models: the single-channel "AK4911" and the dual-channel "AK4912," targeting application scenarios covering high-end audio equipment such as network audio, USB-DACs, CD/SACD players, wireless speaker systems, soundbars, digital audio players, electronic musical instruments, audio interfaces, and digital mixing consoles.
In recent years, with the continuous evolution of high-performance digital-to-analog converters (DACs), represented by AKM's own flagship product AK4499EX, it has become possible to convert digital audio sources into analog signals extremely close to the original sound. However, the choice of operational amplifiers capable of fully unleashing the performance potential of DACs has been quite limited. The AK491x series is a solution developed specifically to address this industry gap.
In terms of quantified technical specifications, the AK491x series achieves multiple industry-leading performance parameters. The entire series features an ultra-low input-referred noise density of 0.96nV/√Hz, with Total Harmonic Distortion plus Noise (THD+N) reaching -150dB at 1kHz. This level of noise and distortion is unattainable by conventional operational amplifiers. Furthermore, the series boasts a high output drive capability of ±100mA, maintaining excellent THD+N characteristics even under the most demanding load conditions, such as 8-channel current summing in DAC applications, ensuring that the dynamic performance of the entire audio system is not compromised by the analog output stage. The products also feature a slew rate of 26V/μs and a gain-bandwidth product of 38MHz (Gain=+1), with power supply voltage supporting a wide operating range from ±3.5V to ±25V.
Seiko Nakamoto, Lead Expert for High-Quality Audio Product Development at Asahi Kasei Microdevices, explained in the announcement that the development of the AK491x series did not solely pursue specification parameters but prioritized "listening perception." The development process simultaneously considered subjective listening dimensions such as volume balance, transparency, spatial extension, and perceived weight, aiming to fuse the clarity of sound details, the natural spaciousness, and a sense of powerful core at a higher level. She stated that balancing excellent measured performance with musical expressiveness is the value that future operational amplifiers should possess.
The AK491x series is currently available for customer sampling, with mass production scheduled to begin in early 2027. The launch of this operational amplifier series adds the key category of operational amplifiers to Asahi Kasei Microdevices' analog audio product portfolio, which previously included DACs, ADCs (Analog-to-Digital Converters), and Audio CODECs, further enhancing the company's full-process supply capability in the high-end audio signal chain. AKM's audio ICs are currently widely used globally in various scenarios such as AV receivers, set-top boxes, speaker systems, digital TVs, and automotive entertainment systems.
At the HIGH END Vienna 2026 exhibition, in addition to showcasing the AK491x series operational amplifiers, Asahi Kasei Microdevices will also demonstrate a sound field correction algorithm for home audio equipment, developed based on the company's years of accumulated acoustic expertise. The booth will offer technical explanations and listening sessions hosted by AKM engineers and audio masters, conducted via an advance reservation system. Attendees will have the opportunity to personally experience the sound quality performance of the analog output stage in a real listening environment under actual operating conditions.
Founded in 1931 and headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan, the Asahi Kasei Group operates in three sectors: Materials, Homes, and Health Care. Asahi Kasei Microdevices belongs to the Group's Materials sector, characterized by the fusion of compound semiconductor technology and silicon-based ASIC/analog circuit technology, providing component products for various fields including mobile communication devices, consumer electronics, automotive electronics, housing equipment, and industrial equipment. HIGH END Vienna 2026 is the first global high-end audio industry event held since the show moved from Munich to Vienna, and will take place from June 4 to 7 at the Austria Center Vienna.
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