How to Choose Nuvoton Audio Solutions for Embedded and Automotive Applications

Introduction – Nuvoton's Expansive Audio Portfolio

Engineers building next-generation embedded systems, consumer electronics, or automotive applications often face challenges around balancing performance, power efficiency, and integration complexity in audio designs. Nuvoton’s audio portfolio addresses these head-on, offering a deep and scalable range of solutions—from ADCs and CODECs to full-featured audio SoCs and smart amplifiers.

With mature silicon and production-ready devices, Nuvoton provides robust building blocks for everything from compact smart speakers and surveillance systems to automotive safety features like eCall and AVAS. Their roadmap supports real-world deployments today, while premium features such as DSP integration and third-party audio enhancement technology set Nuvoton apart.

Feature-Rich Audio Component Categories where Nuvoton excel

Nuvoton’s offering spans the full signal chain of audio design:

1. Audio Converters (ADC/DAC)

• NAU7802: Precision 24-bit single-channel ADC with ENOB 23-bit and on-chip calibration

• NAU8502 / NAU85L20B / NAU85L40B: Ultra-low power stereo and quad ADCs for 8–96kHz SR

• NAU8421: High-end stereo DAC with 128dB SNR and low latency

2. Audio CODECs

• NAU88L21 / NAU88L25B: Class-G headphone drivers, up to 192kHz SR, with headset detection

• NAU88L20: ULP stereo CODEC with Class-AB amp for power-sensitive designs

• NAU88S26: Supports SoundWire for digital audio interfaces in high-performance platforms

3. Amplifiers & Smart Amps

• NAU83G10 / NAU83G20 / NAU83G60: Class-D audio amps with Klippel Control Sound (KCS), PEQ, DRC, and ALC features

• NAU8315 / NAU83110: Compact mono amps for mobile and wearable designs

• AEC-Q100 options are available or in qualification for automotive use

4. Audio SoCs with Integrated DSPs

• ISD94124 Series: Cortex®-M4F at 200 MHz, USB 1.1 FS, integrated DMICs, AEC, NR, and beamforming for voice capture

• ISD933H3: Hybrid architecture (Cortex®-M33 + Tensilica HiFi3), 1.5 MB SRAM, USB 2.0 HS and low-latency ADC/DAC interfaces

5. Voice ICs for Playback & OTA Updates

• NSP2340A / ISD2130: Embedded flash voice ICs for announcements, intercoms, or appliances

• NSP Series: OTA-enabled updates, voice overlay/playback, tiny SOP packages, and ultra-low standby current for appliance and safety systems

Features of Nuvoton Audio Solutions Addressing the Challenge

• Multi-Channel Codec Support

  • Stereo to 8-channel I²S/TDM (NAU88C10, NAU88C20, NAU88C30)

  • Sampling rates: 44.1–192 kHz, 16–32 bit resolution
    

• Integrated DSP Engine

  • Acoustic echo cancellation (AEC)

  • Noise suppression and automatic gain control (AGC)

  • Parametric EQ and dynamic range compression
    

• Low-Power Operation

  • <3 mA codec-active current; <1 µA shutdown mode

  • Dynamic power gating on unused channels
    

• Flexible Interfaces

  • I²S, PCM, TDM master/slave modes

  • On-chip PLL for jitter-free clocking
    

• Voice-IA-Ready MCUs

  • Arm Cortex-M55 with Ethos-U55 NPU accelerator

  • On-device wake-word detection and keyword-spotting

  • Up to 256 kB SRAM for audio buffers and ML models
    

• Seamless Integration

  • Single-chip solutions reduce PCB area

  • Full software support: HAL, middleware and reference apps

Detailed Specifications

Parameter	NAU88C10 Stereo Codec	NAU88C30 8-Channel Codec	M55M1 Voice MCU
Audio Channels	2	8	N/A
Sampling Rate	44.1–192 kHz	44.1–192 kHz	N/A
Resolution	16–32 bit	16–32 bit	12–24 bit ADC/DAC
DSP Functions	AEC, AGC, EQ	AEC, AGC, EQ	Wake-word, noise suppression
I²S/TDM Ports	1 × I²S / TDM	2 × I²S / TDM	I²S master/slave
Active Current	2.8 mA (typ.)	4.5 mA (typ.)	5 mA (core + DSP active)
Shutdown Current	<1 µA	<1 µA	<2 µA
Package	QFN32, LQFP48	QFN48, LQFP64	LQFP100, BGA100
Supply Voltage	2.7–3.6 V	2.7–3.6 V	1.7–3.6 V

Highlighting Nuvoton’s Unique Audio Capabilities

What sets Nuvoton apart is not just the breadth of its offering, but the integration of advanced audio enhancement and smart functionality. These USPs include:

MaxxAudio® DSP Integration

• Select devices like NPCP215F and NPCA110 Series integrate Waves MaxxAudio®, delivering:

  • Virtual bass enhancement

  • Dialog clarity

  • Intelligent volume control

• Ideal for conference speakerphones, monitors, and soundbars

Bongiovi DPS

• Available on NPCA120D / NPCA121D, this technology enables premium sound tuning through real-time audio remastering

• Used in VR gaming headsets and portable speaker applications

Automotive-Ready Designs

• Multiple parts (e.g. ISD941B24, NAU83U15, NAU88U10) are AEC-Q100 qualified or in progress, supporting eCall, AVAS, T-Box and infotainment systems

• eCall and AVAS reference designs provided to meet ITU and VDA standards for automotive audio

Ultra-Low Power Consumption

• ULP ADCs and CODECs (like NAU85L20B, NAU88L20) target battery-powered or wearable devices

• Voice ICs with OTA updates and <1 µA standby support ultra-efficient consumer and medical devices

Product Highlights with Real-World Applications

Industry Applications and Use Cases

Automotive Infotainment

Nuvoton codecs feed DSP-tuned audio into head-units, supporting 5.1 and 7.1 surround, while M55 MCUs handle voice commands for navigation, calls and media control—all under AEC-certified conditions.

Embedded Consumer Audio Devices

Portable speakers, soundbars and smart home hubs leverage NAU88C low-power DSP to deliver clear voice pickup and rich playback without external DSP chips.

Voice-Enabled Edge AI

Edge-AI modules using M55M1 process wake-word detection and noise-robust ASR locally, reducing cloud dependency and ensuring privacy for smart assistants and medical monitors.

Industrial and IoT Gateways

Factory-floor gateways use multi-channel audio analytics (vibration, leak detection), all processed in-chip, minimising latency and simplifying system BOM.

Summary table of Nuvoton Audio applications:

Application	Nuvoton Components
Smart Intercom & Doorbell	ISD94124S + NAU83G10
Smart Speaker & USB Microphones	ISD933H3 + NAU88L21C
VR Gaming Headset	NPCA121D + 2x NAU8315
Conference Soundbar	NPCP215F (DSP + AMP with MaxxAudio®)
Automotive eCall	ISD941B24 + NAU88U10 + NAU83U15
Embedded Appliance Voice Feedback	NSP2340A Series
Surveillance/Smart Camera	ISD94124C + NAU88C10 + NAU8315

Conclusion – Why Choose Nuvoton Audio Solutions?

Nuvoton offers one of the most comprehensive and capable audio portfolios on the market. With everything from discrete ADCs and CODECs to advanced DSP-enabled SoCs and automotive-qualified smart amplifiers, the platform scales across application types and complexity levels.

Engineers can confidently design with production-ready parts and benefit from integrated features like MaxxAudio®, Bongiovi DSP, far-field voice pickup, and low-power operation.

Looking for support selecting the right audio ICs for your design?

Contact our team for recommendations, datasheets, or evaluation boards.

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FAQs for Nuvoton's Comprehensive Audio Solutions:

Q: Which Nuvoton codec is best for stereo vs multi-channel audio?

A: Use NAU88C10 for stereo applications; choose NAU88C30 (8-channel) or NAU88C20 (4-channel) when you need surround or multiple mic arrays.

Q: How do I implement echo cancellation and noise suppression?

A: All NAU88C codecs include built-in DSP blocks for AEC and noise suppression—simply enable them via I²C registers and load the reference coefficients.

Q: Can the Cortex-M55 MCU run custom voice-AI models?

A: Yes—its Ethos-U55 accelerator supports TensorFlow Lite Micro; you can deploy custom wake-words or command classifiers within the 256 kB SRAM.

Q: What software support does Nuvoton provide?

A: Nuvoton offers a full C-API HAL, board support packages, middleware (FreeRTOS, TFLM), as well as their own suite of evaluation kits with demo firmware, GUI tools and their NSP Playlist Editor.