AKM adds information on Status of various products online...

[hmscott]

AKM's top DAC chips are listed as "EOL" "End of Line" products:
EOL (End Of Life) | Product Lifecycle | SUPPORT | AKM - Asahi Kasei Microdevices

NOTICE
"AK4498EQ, AK4499EQ: The redevelopment plan of Flagship DAC products will be available soon."...

AK4499EQ | Audio D/A Converters | PRODUCTS | Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM)
AK4498EQ | Audio D/A Converters | PRODUCTS | Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM)
...many more are listed as EOL - End of Line...

I had hoped these and others had production moved to other firms, but it looks like AKM is going to reinvent their top DAC's as part of their post-fire recovery efforts.

Audio ICs | PRODUCTS | AKM - Asahi Kasei Microdevices
Audio D/A Converters | Audio | PRODUCTS | Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM)

Besides the Part Status "EOL" chips, there are a number of chips Status "PREVIEW" or under development, and there chips with Status "MP" or in Mass Production:

Product Lifecycle | SUPPORT | Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM)

 

[Saidera]

So for some time we won't be seeing much AKM around?

I can't believe it.

 

[zanzibar]

It makes sense AKM is working this roadmap. They are doing development in their lab and can't push out supply of the existing chip platform. Moving forward is the best way to recover.

 

[Sal1950]

It makes sense AKM is working this roadmap. They are doing development in their lab and can't push out supply of the existing chip platform. Moving forward is the best way to recover.

Agreed, besides when product does start to roll again, it wil be the "new and improved, can't live without" chips. Not the same ole stuff. A good marketing plan.

 

[AML]

hope to see some killer dac chips from AKM in the next year or two. In the mean time, Sabre must be raking in the cash! Stonks!

 

[AnalogSteph]

Looks like they're trying to push their most popular parts out first... hence why AK445x and updated AK4490 and AK4493 versions will be next, whereas the flagship parts like AK4499 (which I bet aren't selling anywhere near as much) are pushed back. The mobile chips already being back out presumably means they found another fab for those.

In the ADC realm, it looks like the 2-, 4- and 8-channel versions of their AK555x and AK557x series (along with AK5534 and AK5538) are being rebooted, while all the 6-channel ones remain EOL.

 

[skyfly]

AK4191EQ, THD+N -153dB?

High $$ Audio Precision would not be able to measure it.

 

[boXem]

AK4191EQ, THD+N -153dB?

High $$ Audio Precision would not be able to measure it.

It's not a DAC, it's a delta/sigma modulator.

 

[hmscott]

AK4191EQ, THD+N -153dB?
High $$ Audio Precision would not be able to measure it.

It's not a DAC, it's a delta/sigma modulator.

The combo was original supposed to release in Q2 2021... but the paired AK4498 has been EOL'd, so the "Preview" label on the AK4191EQ needs updating...unless it will be used in combo with an "updated" AK4498EQ?

"These new chips supposedly are not targeted for manufacturing until Q2 2021"
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...dac-with-dedicated-d-s-chip.11993/post-347888

"The AK4498 is available now. The AK4191 will be sampling in Q2 2020":

AKM Proposes Two-Chip D/A Solution for High-End Audio Product Development
https://audioxpress.com/news/akm-pr...lution-for-high-end-audio-product-development

Hopefully AKM will wow us with their future as yet unreleased "come-back" DAC chips

 

[hmscott]

AKM's top DAC chips are listed as "EOL" "End of Line" products:
EOL (End Of Life) | Product Lifecycle | SUPPORT | AKM - Asahi Kasei Microdevices

NOTICE
"AK4498EQ, AK4499EQ: The redevelopment plan of Flagship DAC products will be available soon."...

AK4499EQ | Audio D/A Converters | PRODUCTS | Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM)
AK4498EQ | Audio D/A Converters | PRODUCTS | Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM)
...many more are listed as EOL - End of Line...

I had hoped these and others had production moved to other firms, but it looks like AKM is going to reinvent their top DAC's as part of their post-fire recovery efforts.

Audio ICs | PRODUCTS | AKM - Asahi Kasei Microdevices
Audio D/A Converters | Audio | PRODUCTS | Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM)

Besides the Part Status "EOL" chips, there are a number of chips Status "PREVIEW" or under development, and there chips with Status "MP" or in Mass Production:
View attachment 137255
Product Lifecycle | SUPPORT | Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM)
View attachment 137254

Very interesting, AKM has changed most of the previously EOL listings:

EOL (End Of Life) | Product Lifecycle | SUPPORT | AKM - Asahi Kasei Microdevices

to NRND:

NRND (Not Recommended for New Designs) | Product Lifecycle | SUPPORT | AKM - Asahi Kasei Microdevices

Which means the products are available, but not recommended for new designs, back-stepping one step from EOL to NRND:

Which means the products are available, but not recommended for new designs, back-stepping one step from EOL to NRND:

 

[JSmith]

Has this announcement been missed, or is there another thread?

Update from Asahi Kasei Microdevices - The Return of Velvet Sound

Following the major fire that destroyed its semiconductor factory in Japan, Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM) is back online and promises new announcements in January 2022. audioXpress received notice from Gaku Suzuki, General Manager for Digital Marketing HiFi ICs at AKM that the company's famed...

audioxpress.com

December 2 2021, 18:10

Following the major fire that destroyed the AKM semiconductor factory in Nobeoka, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, bringing to a halt manufacturing operations, and strongly affecting the global supply of the critical DAC and ADC chips used by many audio equipment manufacturers, the company is finally resuming production. As audioXpress has learned, the company's official website that hosts information about AKM's Audio and Voice ICs, DSPs, and current sensors, among other products, has been relaunched (www.akm.com) and will be offering more updates.

"We are preparing to resume the shipment of samples in 2022. Sample shipments have previously been impacted by the fire that occurred in October of 2020 at our semiconductor plant in Nobeoka, Miyazaki, Japan. Details will be announced in January of 2022." Gaku Suzuki also confirmed to audioXpress that by the end of January, AKM is planning to release a new product related to high-end audio ICs.

As audioXpress also learned, all the above mentioned AKM chips, including the AK4462, AK4498, AK4499 and AK4336 references are no longer in production. Asahi Kasei Microdevices intends to confirm a new generation of products starting in January 2022.

JSmith

 

[Saidera]

Yeah I saw the news. Some old chips were being re-released with revised designs.

 

[misterdog]

AKM releases to production the new flagship D/A converter (DAC) solution AK4499EX and AK4191 for a complete separation of digital and analog circuitry. | Archives 2022 | News | About AKM | Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM)

AKM releases to production the new flagship D/A converter (DAC) solution AK4499EX and AK4191 for a complete separation of digital and analog circuitry.

www.akm.com

Yes please. Though given most people call the 4499EQ the 4499 the new suffix of EX is going to be confusing.