MK2703STR 27MHz PLL Audio Clock Synthesizer Guide

What Is the MK2703STR and Is It Available?

The Renesas Electronics MK2703STR is a 27MHz PLL audio clock synthesizer with bypass, one clock circuit, clock or crystal input, a CMOS output, and an 8-SOIC package. Its verified input-to-output ratio is 2:2. The component is active, has 99,999 units in stock, and accepts a minimum order quantity of 1 as of 2026-11-01. It is intended for set-top box, multimedia, digital audio, and related consumer timing systems that need a dedicated low-jitter PLL clock source.

The MK2703STR combines PLL clock generation with bypass capability in a surface-mount 8-SOIC package measuring 0.154 inch, or 3.90 mm, in width. Verified pricing starts at $3.375 for quantities of 1 or more and decreases to $1.9688 at quantities of 1,000 or more, as of 2026-11-01.

Engineering takeaway: The MK2703STR is an active, broadly available option for an initial 27MHz audio-clock evaluation, subject to confirming the complete electrical limits and pin-level implementation in the official Renesas datasheet.

How Do You Design In the MK2703STR?

The MK2703STR fits a clock-generation block that accepts an external clock or crystal and produces a CMOS clock through a PLL-based timing IC. Its verified maximum frequency is 27MHz, its PLL includes bypass, and its 2:2 input-to-output ratio provides a defined starting point for clock-tree planning. Because the package contains one clock circuit, a design requiring multiple independent PLL outputs cannot assume that the same device provides them.

What verified specifications define the design envelope?

These values define the verified selection criteria, not a complete production electrical specification. Use the official Renesas document to establish the final pin assignments, electrical limits, reference network, and timing behavior before schematic sign-off.

How does the 2:2 ratio affect clock planning?

The verified ratio is 2:2. Expressed as a mathematical ratio, the output-to-input factor is 2 divided by 2, which equals 1.000. This means the nominal relationship does not indicate frequency multiplication; the output frequency is planned from the reference frequency according to that ratio. A 27MHz reference therefore corresponds to a nominal 27MHz output under the verified ratio relationship, subject to the operating conditions and modes defined by the manufacturer.

Do not treat the 27MHz maximum frequency as a blanket guarantee for every reference, load, bypass state, or operating condition. Confirm the permitted reference range and the conditions associated with maximum frequency in the Renesas MK2703 datasheet.

When should the bypass path be considered?

Bypass is a confirmed feature of the PLL, so it provides a clock-path option when the system architecture needs a direct reference route. Engineers should compare bypass behavior with the PLL operating mode against the source, destination, and clock-continuity requirements of the target system. The supplied database does not establish every mode-transition condition, so the official document must govern control sequencing and implementation.

How should the reference source be selected?

The input type supports either a clock or a crystal. A clock-driven design can use a suitable external reference, while a crystal-based design requires the manufacturer-recommended crystal network and associated layout. The verified listing does not provide a crystal-load value or a complete reference-network diagram, so engineers should not infer either one from the maximum frequency.

For either source, the selection process should establish the required reference frequency, PLL lock behavior, output stability, and downstream loading. The component’s low-jitter classification makes it relevant to digital audio clock architectures, but an exact jitter requirement must be checked against the verified system budget.

What PCB-layout practices apply to this clock IC?

Follow the official Renesas layout guidance for the final footprint, pin assignments, decoupling, reference network, and signal routing. The verified package is an 8-SOIC, so the PCB must support the manufacturer-defined surface-mount land pattern. Keep clock and supply connections short, place the required decoupling near the associated pins, and preserve a clean return path around the timing circuit.

Clock inputs, feedback or reference connections, and CMOS outputs require attention because their implementation affects the stability of the generated signal. The verified package data confirms an 8-SOIC format, but it does not provide a package drawing or approved land pattern in the supplied record. Obtain those documents before routing the board.

How does the MK2703STR affect the bill of materials?

The MK2703STR is positioned as a replacement for discrete oscillator and PLL arrangements in set-top box and multimedia systems. In a suitable architecture, consolidating clock generation and feedback functions into one timing IC can reduce the number of separate clock components and simplify the clock-source selection process.

The final bill of materials still depends on the required frequency, reference arrangement, output loading, and system clock tree. Do not remove support components until the manufacturer requirements for decoupling, the crystal or clock source, and any required network have been reviewed.

How does the pricing change with order quantity?

Verified pricing falls as the order quantity increases. Every figure below is as of 2026-11-01.

The verified base price is $1.9688 as of 2026-11-01, matching the tier for quantities of 1,000 or more. The database lists a minimum order quantity of 1, so prototype and evaluation demand can be placed without meeting a higher MOQ threshold.

Engineering takeaway: Build the schematic around the confirmed 27MHz, single-circuit, clock-or-crystal, CMOS, 2:2, and 8-SOIC specifications, then close all remaining design questions with the official Renesas datasheet before layout release or production sourcing.

Which Alternatives Can Replace the MK2703STR?

The supplied alternative data identifies only one closely related candidate: the Renesas MK2703BSLFTR. Both devices use an 8-SOIC package, and the part number places the alternative in the MK2703 family. However, the available record does not confirm identical pin assignments, electrical parameters, PLL behavior, or frequency compatibility. It is therefore a candidate for evaluation, not a verified drop-in replacement.

Matching an 8-SOIC package is not enough to establish interchangeability. Before approving MK2703BSLFTR as a substitute, verify the exact footprint, pin names and functions, supply requirements, reference-input arrangement, frequency range, PLL configuration, bypass behavior, CMOS loading, jitter performance, and operating limits against the official documentation for both parts.

No other drop-in alternative can be recommended from the supplied data. This prevents an unsupported substitution based only on similar package size, function description, or family naming.

Engineering takeaway: Treat MK2703BSLFTR as the only supplied family-related evaluation candidate, and do not release it as a drop-in substitute until its pin-level and electrical compatibility has been verified.

What Does the Market and Supply Data Say About the MK2703STR?

The Renesas Electronics MK2703STR is listed as an active component in the Clock & Timing category. Its supplied description positions it as a low-cost, low-jitter, high-performance PLL clock synthesizer intended to replace discrete oscillator and PLL circuits in set-top box and multimedia systems. This positioning targets designs that can consolidate oscillator and feedback functions into a dedicated timing IC.

Supply availability is strong in the verified database. The component has 99,999 units in stock and an MOQ of 1 as of 2026-11-01. Pricing begins at $3.375 for one unit and falls through the verified quantity tiers to $1.9688 at 1,000 units as of 2026-11-01.

The active lifecycle status and reported inventory make the MK2703STR a practical candidate for prototype work, new clock-tree designs, and scheduled production planning. Engineers should still base any final purchasing decision on the target quantity and the current distributor or XAIPART quotation rather than treating a database tier as a permanent price guarantee.

Engineering takeaway: The verified active status, 99,999-unit inventory, and MOQ of 1 support immediate sourcing evaluation, with purchasing teams using the dated price tiers as the current baseline.

Which Trends Should Clock-System Buyers Monitor?

The first design trend to monitor is consolidation of dedicated clock functions. The MK2703STR is explicitly positioned to replace discrete oscillator and PLL arrangements in set-top box and multimedia equipment. As those systems add audio and multimedia timing functions, a single PLL clock synthesizer with bypass can offer a more compact clock-source block than separate oscillator and feedback components.

The second trend is selective bypass and clock-path control. The verified PLL-with-bypass architecture lets a designer plan for both synthesized and alternate direct clock behavior. That makes the bypass function a key differentiator in architecture reviews, especially where the source may need to change with the operating mode.

The third trend is compact surface-mount integration. The 8-SOIC package provides a conventional surface-mount implementation, while the confirmed one-circuit architecture keeps the device focused on a single timing function. Its 0.154-inch, or 3.90-mm, width supports compact timing sections without requiring a separate oscillator and PLL pair in the relevant applications.

The fourth trend is disciplined low-jitter sourcing. The MK2703STR carries a verified low-jitter class and is identified for digital audio and multimedia clock-reference architectures. Buyers should qualify the part against the system jitter budget rather than treating the class label as a complete numerical guarantee. Exact jitter behavior must come from the authoritative manufacturer documentation.

The fifth trend is price-aware demand planning. The verified schedule drops from $3.375 at one unit to $1.9688 at 1,000 units as of 2026-11-01. That spread gives procurement teams a clear basis for comparing prototype spend against production-run cost. Since the stock figure and prices are dated values, request updated confirmation before committing to a large order or a long-range demand plan.

Engineering takeaway: Watch clock consolidation, useful bypass control, compact surface-mount integration, verified low-jitter positioning, and volume pricing when evaluating the MK2703STR for new audio and multimedia platforms.