As sound evolves from "merely audible" to "truly enjoyable", audio chips have emerged as the core driver behind the upgrade of audio experiences in consumer electronics.

With profound expertise in the audio field, MediaTek (MTK) leverages its robust R&D capabilities, full-scenario product layout, and extreme performance optimization to deliver comprehensive audio chip solutions across multiple industries.

Centered on user needs, MTK integrates innovative technologies into chip design, breaking the traditional trade-off barriers between sound quality, power consumption, and connectivity. "High fidelity, low latency, long battery life, and wide compatibility" have become standard features of every MTK audio chip, empowering terminal products to achieve a significant leap in user experience.

MTK Audio Chip Selection & Applications

This article focuses on five core models in the MTK audio chip family: MT8512BAAV/ZA, MT6398AN/A, MA5748GWSC, MA9078N-08G5J, and MA7296AGJ8F. By analyzing key selection dimensions and combining chip characteristics with practical application requirements, it helps R&D and procurement professionals quickly identify the optimal chip solution for their products, shorten development cycles, and reduce cost losses.

01 MT8512BAAV/ZA

Selection Positioning: A core chip for entry-to-mid-range smart audio devices, focusing on "AI voice interaction + basic sound quality". It is ideal for cost-sensitive products that require voice control functions, serving as the preferred entry-level choice for smart speakers, voice assistants, and similar devices.

Core Parameters & Advantages: Adopting BCD process, it combines high performance with high reliability; supports a wide power supply range of 3.0~24V and a wide temperature range of -40~150℃, adapting to complex working environments; a 25KHz high sampling rate ensures accurate and stable audio signal transmission; integrates a dedicated AI Audio Processing Unit (APU), which can efficiently realize sound source localization and beamforming, enabling precise voice pickup and improving voice interaction accuracy even in noisy environments; supports multiple audio codecs, and can quickly optimize sound quality when paired with MTK acoustic tuning tools; built-in reverse power protection and compact packaging facilitate the miniaturization design of devices.

Applicable Scenarios: Smart speakers, voice-controlled devices, portable audio players, entry-level smart wearable audio modules, and low-cost voice interaction terminals.

02 MT6398AN/A

Selection Positioning: A dedicated companion chip for audio devices, whose core function is power management and signal transmission. It focuses on high reliability and strong anti-interference, adapting to audio devices that require stable power supply, and is a "power guarantee" selection for products such as smart speakers and audio amplifiers.

Core Parameters & Advantages: It has excellent power management and signal processing capabilities, which can stably regulate power supply, reduce power interference, and ensure clear and noise-free audio; strong anti-interference and wide interface compatibility can adapt to various audio modules and simplify the integration process; low-power design extends battery life, and miniaturized packaging saves PCB space, helping devices achieve thin and light designs; it has been applied in products such as Amazon Echo Dot 4th Gen, verified reliable by the market, and has certain overvoltage protection capabilities to cope with voltage fluctuations.

Applicable Scenarios: Smart speakers, audio amplifiers, desktop speakers, home audio-visual equipment, and wired audio terminals that require stable power supply.

03 MA5748GWSC

Selection Positioning: A high-end audio decoding chip, focusing on "high-definition sound quality + multi-channel output". It is oriented to high-end products that pursue ultimate sound quality, and is the core selection for devices such as home theaters, high-end headphones, and soundbars.

Core Parameters & Advantages: Supports multi-format high-definition decoding, compatible with Dolby, DTS and other protocols, which can parse high-definition audio, restore sound details, and achieve studio-level original sound experience; ultra-high signal-to-noise ratio and ultra-low distortion rate can suppress interference, ensuring stable and noise-free playback even at high volumes; supports multi-channel output, adapts to surround sound, and creates an immersive experience; high integration simplifies the design of high-end devices, reduces R&D difficulty, and its performance is comparable to high-end solutions with better cost performance.

Applicable Scenarios: High-end home theaters, soundbars, HiFi headphones, professional audio decoders, high-end car audio equipment, and flagship home speakers.

04 MA9078N-08G5J

Selection Positioning: A dedicated chip for portable audio devices, focusing on "low power consumption + small size + basic high fidelity". It is suitable for products with extremely high requirements on size and battery life, and is an ideal selection for wireless earphones, smart wearables, and portable Bluetooth speakers.

Core Parameters & Advantages: Adopts TSOT-23-5 miniaturized packaging, which is small in size, saves PCB space, and is easy to integrate into portable devices; the quiescent current is as low as 2μA and the shutdown current is as low as 0.5μA, and the low power consumption completely solves the battery life anxiety of portable devices; supports high-fidelity output, has good amplification and noise reduction capabilities, and can enjoy pure sound quality even in complex scenarios; wide voltage input adapts to various batteries with strong compatibility; multiple safety protection mechanisms ensure safe and reliable operation, excellent noise control, and can adapt to precision audio modules.

Applicable Scenarios: True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earphones, smart bracelet/watch audio modules, portable Bluetooth speakers, micro recording devices, and wearable audio terminals.

05 MA7296AGJ8F

Selection Positioning: A dedicated power supply chip for audio devices, whose core function is efficient power conversion. It provides stable and pure power for core components such as audio decoding and amplification, and is a "power supply guarantee" companion chip for various audio devices, suitable for products that require high power supply efficiency and stability.

Core Parameters & Advantages: The input voltage ranges from 4.5V to 17V, and the output current is 3A, meeting the power supply needs of audio devices with different powers; integrates 80mΩ high-side and 30mΩ low-side MOSFETs, with efficient power conversion, reducing loss and device heating; adopts current-mode control, with fast response, which can adapt to power changes and avoid sound distortion and device stuttering caused by unstable power supply; has complete protection functions to fully ensure device safety; TSOT-23-8 miniaturized packaging saves PCB space, and the switching frequency is adjustable, with strong flexibility, adapting to the design of various audio devices.

Applicable Scenarios: Earphones, speakers, audio amplifiers, car audio equipment, home audio-visual equipment, and industrial-grade audio terminals.

MTK’s five core audio chips cover full scenarios such as smart, home, professional, and portable. From AI voice interaction to high-definition decoding, from power supply guarantee to low-power portability, coupled with mature technology, a complete ecosystem, and high cost performance, they provide reliable support for audio device R&D, helping R&D personnel shorten cycles, reduce costs, and create more market-competitive audio products.