New THAT4316 and THAT1583

[vintagedesign]

THAT has released two new circuits.
THAT1583 http://www.thatcorp.com/1583_Low-Noise_ ... _ICs.shtml
THAT4316 http://www.thatcorp.com/4316_Very_Low-V ... gine.shtml

[mediatechnology]

Thanks Thomas for posting those links.

I haven't had a chance to pur over the datasheet yet but what are the performance improvements the 1583 offers?
There wasn't a direct comparison between it and the 1570.

The 4316 looks, very, very cool.
That part number is always going to trip me up though: I'll wind up calling it a "4136."

[mediatechnology]

THAT isn't publishing pricing on the 1583 but I suspect the advantage is lower cost over the 1570.

I stared at the data sheets side-by-side and this is what I found by comparison:

The 1583 has:

Lower Ib
Lower Ios
Higher Vos @ 0dB gain
Wider input common mode range (to Vee only)
Lower maximum capacitive load
Better PSRR
Lower SS gain BW at 60 dB gain
Higher NF

I may have skipped a few differences but you see where I'm going with this.

The 1570 may have been too "good" for a number of customers due to its cost and the 1583 will be able to hit a lower price-point.
I don't know - this is just my guess.

They have the same pin out: This looks like a good move on THAT's part to get wider adoption and "sockets."
Curious to see what price point the "kit" of 1583 and 5173 come in at relative to the PGA2505.
PGA2505 published 1K is $5.95
Hope they get good yields and can sell against TI.

I also suspect that the die size is smaller.
Curious to see if this one is in a Dielectrically Isolated "DI" process or not.
See no mention of DI in the data sheet or laser trimmed SiCr resistors.
That may be another way the took out cost.

[JR.]

I don't see anything obvious, a cost reduce is always desirable.


JR

[mediatechnology]

Yep I think it was a die shrink and removal of the DI process to lower cost.

DI, which requires back-grinding the wafer to reveal the implanted(?) DI "tubs" is expensive.

[JR.]

I see digital controlled analog preamps as a large potential market... larger than analog VCA eventually, but TI is already on the case, so not easy.

I have long been predicting that mixers will automate more and replace the need for a lot of human interaction, so preamp gain management is one obvious piece of that puzzle.

JR

[mediatechnology]

With DI removed THAT may also be able to foundry this part using outside vendors to lower cost. The 4301 and 2252 are examples.

[JR.]

The DI generally makes a better part, so it makes sense to have multiple versions for premium users.

JR

[mediatechnology]

The DI generally makes a better part, so it makes sense to have multiple versions for premium users.

Yep, in the same footprint. They departed from that with the 5171/5173 but probably had to in order to reduce package cost.

[mediatechnology]

If had to guess most of the minor differences we see in this part results from process changes and smaller die size.

I'm wondering if they lowered the output stage current*, used smaller geometry input transistors, and put the current they took out of the output and moved it back to the input stage.
That would allow them to get the NF lower with smaller inputs and the same overall Icc.
But, I dunno.
Might pay to go straight "to the horses mouth" and just ask.

*(Based on the lower capacitive load spec.)