WM8946ECS/R - Stereo Low-Power Audio Codec | Cirrus Logic
Référence : WM8946ECS/R ✓ ActifWM8946ECS/R Présentation
An audio codec is an interface IC that converts analog audio into digital PCM data and converts digital PCM or audio data back into analog signals. In the broader semiconductor hierarchy, the WM8946ECS/R belongs to the audio codec class, interface ICs, and integrated circuits. It integrates both conversion directions into one compact component, allowing a host processor to communicate digitally while speakers, microphones, headphones, or line-level circuits use analog signals.
The WM8946ECS/R provides a 24-bit conversion interface, 48 kSPS sampling capability, and 98 dB signal-to-noise ratio. Its two ADC and two DAC channels support full stereo audio paths. I2C and SPI interfaces provide host-control options, while the integrated video buffer expands its applicability to portable devices and embedded systems that handle both audio and composite video. The low-power characterization is particularly relevant to battery-powered equipment.
The WM8946ECS/R uses a 36-W-CSP package with dimensions of 2.97 mm by 3.07 mm. This very small package supports compact PCB layouts but requires careful component placement, short analog routing, and a stable power-supply implementation. Exact pin assignments, control-register details, voltage limits, clock requirements, and recommended application-circuit values are not present in the supplied verification snippets and must be confirmed in the manufacturer datasheet before schematic release.
Typical applications include portable media players, personal audio devices, smartphone accessories, automotive infotainment systems, industrial human-machine interfaces, and compact embedded audio consoles. In each case, the codec can provide the stereo conversion interface between analog transducers and a digital host while I2C or SPI handles configuration and data control. The video-buffer feature may be useful in systems combining audio playback with video output requirements.
Designers should verify the complete pin configuration, exposed-ball connections, analog input and output limits, digital interface voltage levels, clocking scheme, and decoupling requirements in the official WM8946 data. Because the package is only 2.97 mm by 3.07 mm, PCB assembly capability, solder-mask design, and component-placement tolerances should also be reviewed before committing to the footprint.
This page consolidates the verified distributor, manufacturer-document, packaging, interface, and pricing references while identifying unavailable technical fields transparently. It also separates directly documented WM8946ECS/R attributes from design assumptions, helping engineers locate the official datasheet and assess whether the 36-ball low-power stereo codec fits a compact audio subsystem.
Alternatives de remplacement direct pour WM8946ECS/R — même boîtier, compatible broche à broche. Les références à boîtier différent nécessitant une retouche du PCB sont exclues.
Aucune alternative de remplacement direct disponible pour ce produit.
Demander des alternativesWM8946ECS/R Valeurs maximales et caractéristiques électriques
| Product Type | Stereo low-power audio codec |
| ADC Channels | 2 channels |
| DAC Channels | 2 channels |
| Converter Resolution | 24 bit |
| Maximum Stated Sampling Rate | 48 kSPS |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio | 98 dB |
| Digital Control Interfaces | I2C and SPI |
| Video Buffer | Integrated |
| Boîtier | 36-W-CSP |
| Package Dimensions | 2.97 mm x 3.07 mm |
| Type de montage | Surface mount |
Guide de configuration des broches du WM8946ECS/R 2.97 mm x 3.07 mm
Configuration des broches du WM8946ECS/R (boîtier 2.97 mm x 3.07 mm). Ce circuit intégré numérique comprend des GPIO, des interfaces de communication (UART, SPI, I2C) et des broches d'alimentation. Consultez la fiche technique du fabricant pour les fonctions alternatives des broches et les options de configuration. Indispensable pour la conception de systèmes embarqués et la conception de circuits imprimés.
Aucune donnée de brochage détaillée disponible pour WM8946ECS/R.
Consultez la fiche technique pour la configuration complète des broches.
Applications typiques
WM8946ECS/R convient pour 6 applications: Portable Media Player, Automotive Infotainment Audio, Industrial Human-Machine Interface, Smart Speaker Sensor Interface, Audio and Video Accessory, Compact Embedded Audio Console.
Portable Media Player
The WM8946ECS/R fits a portable media player that requires a compact stereo audio path and digital host connectivity. Its two ADCs and two DACs provide bidirectional audio conversion, while 24-bit resolution and 48 kSPS operation suit digital playback and recording workflows. I2C or SPI allows the application processor to configure the codec and transfer audio data without relying on a separate host-side interface. The 36-W-CSP package measuring 2.97 mm by 3.07 mm helps conserve board area in a battery-powered enclosure. Because the device is characterized as low-power, it is also relevant to portable designs where analog conversion and digital processing must coexist within strict size and energy constraints. The final power budget must use the official operating modes, sample rate, and analog-load conditions rather than the generic low-power description.
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Automotive Infotainment Audio
The WM8946ECS/R can serve as the stereo audio conversion element in a compact automotive infotainment or head-unit design. Two ADC channels support microphone or line-level input capture, two DAC channels support stereo playback, and the documented 98 dB SNR provides a strong baseline for audio signal integrity. I2C and SPI connectivity allows a digital head-end processor to configure operating modes and exchange audio data. The integrated video buffer may simplify mixed audio-video designs where a separate buffer would otherwise consume board area. Before using the device in an automotive end product, engineers must verify its operating temperature, supply range, qualification status, EMC requirements, and lifecycle commitment from the official manufacturer documentation. Those qualification details are not present in the supplied distributor snippets and should not be assumed from the presence of a video-buffer feature.
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Industrial Human-Machine Interface
The WM8946ECS/R is applicable to industrial human-machine interfaces that require local audio prompts, operator input, or status tones in a compact control panel. The stereo ADC and DAC arrangement supports two-channel capture and playback, while 24-bit resolution and 48 kSPS operation align with common digital audio control paths. I2C is useful when an embedded controller already uses that bus, and SPI provides an alternative for systems requiring deterministic serialized transfers. Integrating the codec in the 36-W-CSP package can reduce connector count by placing conversion circuitry directly beside the host processor. Industrial qualification, temperature range, EMC performance, and long-term supply status must be verified directly in the WM8946 documentation. Production designs should also plan careful partitioning between analog audio traces and the power, communications, and switching circuitry surrounding the codec.
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Smart Speaker Sensor Interface
A smart speaker or voice-terminal design can use the WM8946ECS/R for dual-channel microphone capture and stereo playback when the enclosure includes multiple analog audio transducers. Two ADCs reduce the need for separate converters, while two DACs support headphone, line, or amplified playback stages after appropriate output conditioning. The 98 dB SNR figure is useful during signal-chain budgeting for microphone and music paths, although system noise also depends on analog front-end design. I2C and SPI control support different embedded-host architectures, and the compact 2.97 mm by 3.07 mm W-CSP preserves routing space around power-hungry processors and radios. Engineers should confirm microphone biasing, input ranges, clock requirements, and digital audio format from the official datasheet before selecting external passive networks or amplifiers.
Recommandé
Audio and Video Accessory
The WM8946ECS/R is a natural candidate for a compact audio-video accessory because it combines stereo ADC and DAC functions with an integrated video buffer. A system can use the ADCs for analog audio input, route digital audio through I2C or SPI, and use the DACs for analog audio reproduction while preserving a video path within the same design space. Its 24-bit resolution, 48 kSPS capability, and 98 dB SNR support a high-quality stereo audio section. The 36-W-CSP package also reduces the footprint required for audio conversion. Exact video-buffer topology, supported video signal levels, synchronization behavior, and whether the buffer can be bypassed are not stated in the supplied snippets, so the complete signal path must be validated against the manufacturer datasheet before PCB implementation.
Recommandé
Compact Embedded Audio Console
The WM8946ECS/R fits an embedded audio console that requires both analog capture and playback within a restricted board area. Two ADC channels can accept stereo or dual-microphone inputs, and two DAC channels can provide stereo analog outputs to an amplifier, headphone driver, or line-output stage. At 24 bits and 48 kSPS, the codec supports a conventional digital audio format, while its 98 dB SNR provides a useful specification for separating converter performance from downstream amplifier noise. The device can be controlled through either I2C or SPI, allowing integration with different embedded processors. The very small 36-W-CSP package requires assembly-process assessment and careful analog layout. Engineers should also verify clock master/slave requirements, supported data formats, reset behavior, and supply sequencing from the official documentation.
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Récapitulatif des produits recommandés
Données de référence d'ingénierie pour WM8946ECS/R — comparaison, recommandations de conception et informations de conformité.
Guide de sélection
Comparaison avec les alternatives
| Paramètre | Ce produit |
|---|---|
| Package | 36-W-CSP, 2.97 mm x 3.07 mm |
| Brand | Cirrus Logic |
| ADC Channels | 2 channels |
| DAC Channels | 2 channels |
| Converter Resolution | 24 bit |
| Sampling Rate | 48 kSPS |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio | 98 dB |
| Host Interfaces | I2C and SPI |
| Video Buffer | Integrated |
| Verified Unit Price | $1.5430 as of 2026-10-28 |
Principaux différenciateurs
- Bidirectional stereo conversion in one compact component (vs WM8783GED/V)
- Supports both I2C and SPI host connectivity (vs WM8762CGED)
- Adds an integrated video-buffer function (vs WM8725CGED)
Notes de conception
The WM8946ECS/R uses a 36-W-CSP package measuring only 2.97 mm by 3.07 mm, so assembly capability and component-placement tolerances must be checked before layout release. Place the manufacturer-recommended bypass capacitors adjacent to their designated supply and ground balls, and follow the official land pattern rather than creating a footprint from package dimensions alone. Confirm whether the package has an exposed thermal or electrical connection and reproduce that requirement exactly on the PCB.
Separate analog input and output routing from digital clock, control, and switching paths to preserve the codec's documented 98 dB SNR. Use short analog traces, minimize loop area, and keep return currents continuous beneath or adjacent to the relevant signal paths. The verified records do not supply the manufacturer's grounding or reference-layout details, so the final topology should be copied from the official application circuit and adapted only after confirming every pin and component value.
Do not select supply and decoupling values from generic codec conventions. Confirm the WM8946ECS/R operating-voltage range, permitted current, analog and digital supply relationships, power-up sequence, and bypass requirements in the manufacturer datasheet. Evaluate both conversion performance and total board energy at the intended 48 kSPS workload, because the supplied data confirms a low-power characterization but does not provide numerical current consumption.
I2C and SPI clocks and data lines must satisfy the interface timing and voltage-level requirements specified in the official datasheet. Keep digital routes away from analog inputs, use a continuous ground reference, and validate clock jitter and signal integrity at the codec pins. If the device also processes video, keep video routing spatially separated from microphone and line inputs to prevent shared return currents from degrading audio noise performance.
Informations de conformité
The supplied distributor and document records do not explicitly state RoHS, REACH, AEC-Q100, lead-free, halogen-free, or conflict-minerals status. These fields require confirmation from the manufacturer product page or current compliance documentation.
