The device integrates support for a differential or single ended mic, and includes drivers for speakers or headphone, and mono line output. External component requirements are reduced as no separate microphone or headphone amplifiers are required.

Advanced Delta Sigma Converters are used along with digital decimation and interpolation filters to give high quality audio at sample rates from 8 to 48ks/s. Additional digital filtering options are available in the ADC path, to cater for application filtering such as wind noise reduction, plus an advanced mixed signal ALC function with noise gate is provided.

An on-chip PLL is provided to generate the required Master Clock from an external reference clock. The PLL clock can also be output if required elsewhere in the system.

The WM8974 operates at supply voltages from 2.5 to 3.6V, although the digital supplies can operate at voltages down to 1.71V to save power. The speaker and mono outputs use a separate supply of up to 5V which enables increased output power if required. Different sections of the chip can also be powered down under software control by way of the selectable two or three wire control interface.

WM8974 is supplied in a very small 4x4mm QFN package, offering high levels of functionality in minimum board area, with high thermal performance.