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ESS Technology
ESS Technology
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ESS Technology Incorporated is a private manufacturer of computer multimedia products, Audio DACs and ADCs based in Fremont, California with R&D centers in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada and Beijing, China. It was founded by Forrest Mozer in 1983 as Electronic Speech Systems. Robert L. Blair is the CEO and President of the company.[1]

Key Information

Historically, ESS Technology was most famous for its speech synthesis technology developed by Mozer as well as their line of sound chips for audio cards known as the Audiodrive series. Currently, it is known for the SABRE line of DAC and ADC products used in several audio and mobile devices.

History

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ESS Technologies was founded in 1983 as Electronic Speech Systems, by Professor Forrest Mozer, a space physicist at the University of California, Berkeley and Todd Mozer, Forrest Mozer's son, and Joe Costello, the former manager of National Semiconductor's Digitalker line of talking chips. The company was created at least partially as a way to market Mozer's speech synthesis system (described in US patents 4,214,125, 4,433,434 and 4,435,831) after his (3-year, summer 1978 to summer 1981, extended) contract with National Semiconductor expired sometime in 1983. Costello left soon after its formation and started Cadence Designs with his former boss from National. Fred Chan, a VLSI designer and software engineer[citation needed] in Berkeley, California, joined in 1985, and took over running the company in 1986 when Todd Mozer left for graduate school.

Electronic Speech Systems produced synthetic speech for, among other things, home computer systems like the Commodore 64. Within the hardware limitations of that time, ESS used Mozer's technology, in software, to produce realistic-sounding voices that often became the boilerplate for the respective games. Two popular sound bites from the Commodore 64 were "He slimed me!!" from Ghostbusters and Elvin Atombender's "Another visitor. Stay a while—stay forever!" in the original Impossible Mission.

At some point, the company moved from Berkeley to Fremont, California. Around that time, the company was renamed to ESS Technology. Later, in 1994, Forrest Mozer's son Todd Mozer, an ESS employee, branched off and started his own company called Sensory Circuits Inc., later Sensory, Inc., to market speech recognition technology.[2]

In the mid-1990s, ESS started working on making PC audio, and later, video chips, and created the Audiodrive line of sound chips, used in hundreds of different products. Audiodrive chips were at least nominally Creative Sound Blaster Pro compatible. Many Audiodrive chips also featured an in-house developed version of the OPL3 FM synthesizer chip known as ESFM (or ESFM Synthesizers). These synthesizers were often reasonably faithful to the OPL3, which was an important feature for the time as some competing solutions, including Creative's own CQM synthesis featured in later ISA Sound Blaster compatibles, offered sub-par FM sound quality. Some PCI-based Audiodrives (namely the ES1938 Solo-1) also provided legacy DOS compatibility through Distributed DMA and the SB-Link interface.[citation needed]

In 2001 ESS acquired a small Kelowna design company (SAS) run by Martin Mallinson and continues R&D operations in Kelowna. The Kelowna R&D Center developed the SABRE range of DAC and ADC products that are used in many audio systems and cell phones.

Present day

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As of today, ESS is known for their SABRE line of DACs and ADCs. The ESS SABRE ES9038P is their flagship and competes against the Japanese-based AKM (Asahi Kasei Microdevices) AK4499EXEQ and American-based Cirrus Logic CS43131 for a share of the market. ESS and AKM dominate the desktop audiophile devices including external DACs and integrated all-in-one DAC/Amp devices. Meanwhile, Cirrus Logic dominates the portable device market,[3] with Apple Inc. being the number one customer accounting for approximately 89% of its chip sales in 2025.[4]

Most recently, ESS SABRE DACs are used in the LG V10 smartphone, with a quad DAC configuration present in the V10's successor LG V20. A slightly upgraded version of the same DAC in the V20, the SABRE ES9218P,[5] is used in the V30 as well as the V40 ThinQ. The luxury Sennheiser HE 1 electrostatic headphone[6] utilizes 8 internal DACs of the SABRE ES9018.

Several PCI Express-based Sound Blaster cards such as the Sound BlasterX AE-5 and AE-5 Plus and the Sound Blaster AE-7 and AE-9 also contained ESS SABRE DACs. The AE-5 and AE-5 Plus were equipped with SABRE ES9016 DACs while the AE-7 and AE-9 came with SABRE ES9018 and ES9038 DACs respectively (the latter being one of the flagship products of ESS in the present day).

Staff

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Forrest Mozer continues his research work at the University of California as Associate Director of Space Sciences. He was awarded EGU Hannes Alfven Medallist 2004 for his work in electrical field measurement and space plasma and also was involved in building the microphone to record sounds from the Mars Lander. He is a member of the board of directors of Sensory, Inc.

Fred Chan held a number of positions at ESS, and was CEO of Vialta, an internet offshoot of ESS, before stepping down from his position on July 18, 2007, to pursue philanthropic interests.[citation needed]

Games featuring ESS-speech

[edit]
  • Fisher Price Jungle Book Reading (Apple II, 19??)
  • Impossible Mission (C64, 1984)
  • Ghostbusters (C64, 1984)
  • Cave of the Word Wizard (C64, 1984)
  • Talking Teacher (C64, 1985)
  • Kennedy Approach (C64, 1985)
  • Desert Fox (C64, 1985)
  • Beach Head II (C64, 1985)
  • 221b Baker Street (C64, 1986)
  • Solo Flight (C64, 1986)
  • Big Bird's Hide and Speak (NES, 1990)
  • Mickey's Jigsaw Puzzles (DOS, 1991)

Products

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ES1869F AudioDrive sound chip
ES1938 sound chip
  • ES1868 AudioDrive[7]
  • ES9016K2M SABRE 32-bit/384 kHz DAC
  • ES9018 SABRE DAC
  • ES9038/ES9038P SABRE DAC
  • ES9218P SABRE high fidelity system-on-chip; 32-bit stereo mobile digital-to-analog converter with 2 Volt headphone amplifier.[5]

See also

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
ESS Technology, Inc. is a privately held, fabless semiconductor company headquartered in , that specializes in designing and marketing high-performance analog and mixed-signal audio devices for , automotive, and professional applications. Founded in 1984 by Forest Mozer, the company initially developed synthetic speech technology for early personal computers, such as the Commodore 64, and speech-enabled toys, marking one of the first waves of integrated in consumer devices. Over four decades, ESS Technology has evolved into a leader in audio semiconductors, pioneering advancements in digital-to-analog conversion and high-fidelity sound processing. The company's flagship family of products, introduced in 2008, includes digital-to-analog converters (DACs) renowned for their exceptional exceeding +130 dB and ultra-low plus noise (THD+N) below -120 dB, with models like the ES9039PRO widely regarded as the highest-performing DACs in the industry. ESS Technology also offers analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) with +128 dB and -117 dB THD+N in mono mode, alongside USB solutions since 2018 that integrate high-speed controllers and advanced audio rendering, as well as Crescendo system-on-chip (SoC) designs for multichannel audio applications like soundbars, now in their seventh generation. Key milestones include the launch of SABRE HiFi DACs in 2014 for mobile and consumer use, SABRE PRO in 2016 for , and next-generation DACs such as the ES9039PRO and ES9027PRO in 2022. In 2025, ESS Technology announced its new flagship SMART ADCs, including the ES9823PRO and ES9823MPRO, featuring industry-leading +128 dB and Hyperstream IV modulation technology for superior audio capture in professional and consumer audio settings. Since 2019, under the leadership of President and CEO Dr. Saied Tehrani, who brings over 30 years of experience, ESS Technology has maintained its focus on innovation, with research and design centers in , , , and to serve global markets.

Founding and Early Development

Founding and Initial Incorporation

Electronic Speech Systems was established in 1983 in , by Forrest Mozer, a professor of space physics at the , whose research in and physics influenced the company's direction toward synthetic speech hardware development. Mozer co-founded the venture with his son Todd Mozer and Joe Costello, who had previously managed National Semiconductor's speech synthesis group, focusing initially on hardware for generating synthetic speech based on Mozer's patented technologies. The founders served as the core initial team, operating from a modest setup in Berkeley to prototype and market speech synthesis solutions for consumer devices. In 1984, the company was formally incorporated as a entity and renamed ESS Technology, Inc., coinciding with a relocation to , to support expanded operations in audio technology. This transition marked the company's shift toward broader applications while retaining its roots in innovation.

Pioneering Speech Synthesis Technology

In the mid-1980s, Electronic Speech Systems (ESS), founded by physicist Forrest S. Mozer and his son Todd Mozer, developed hardware modules centered on innovative chip designs for low-cost . These modules utilized time-domain compression techniques to encode and reproduce spoken phrases efficiently, reducing the need for extensive memory storage while maintaining intelligible output suitable for embedded applications. The core innovation stemmed from Mozer's patented methods, which analyzed natural speech into compact digital parameters—such as pitch-synchronous segments—for synthesis on large-scale integration (LSI) chips, enabling affordable hardware integration without bulky ROM requirements. A pivotal milestone came in 1984 with the release of ESS's solutions compatible with the Commodore 64 home computer, which facilitated voice output directly through software integration. This allowed developers to incorporate synthesized speech into applications without additional hardware, marking one of the earliest instances of practical voice capabilities in consumer computing. The technology powered notable video games, including Epyx's , where compressed speech phrases like "Another visitor. Stay awhile... STAY FOREVER!" were generated on-the-fly, enhancing immersion on resource-constrained 8-bit systems. Technically, ESS's early algorithms employed a pitch-adaptive compression scheme that segmented speech into short frames, applying variable-rate encoding to preserve natural prosody while minimizing data size—often achieving up to 10:1 compression ratios for phoneme-like units. This approach produced human-like voices by reconstructing audio from stored parameters rather than relying on samples, avoiding the high storage demands of full and making it viable for low-power devices. The method's efficiency was demonstrated in real-time playback at standard sampling rates, balancing quality and computational overhead on era-specific processors. ESS's initial market entry emphasized partnerships with toy manufacturers, licensing their synthesis chips for speech-enabled products such as interactive dolls and educational devices. Building on prior technology licensing—such as the National Semiconductor Digitalker chip (MM54104) used in —these collaborations introduced affordable voice features to consumer goods, with ESS focusing on integrated modules that embedded synthesis directly into toy circuitry for responsive audio playback. This positioned ESS as a key enabler of synthesized speech in the burgeoning interactive sector during the .

Evolution of Product Lines

AudioDrive Chipsets for PC Multimedia

In the mid-1990s, ESS Technology shifted focus toward PC multimedia audio, introducing the AudioDrive series of chipsets as affordable, highly integrated alternatives to proprietary sound solutions like Creative Labs' . These chipsets enabled single-chip implementations for sound cards, combining processing, synthesis, and interface support to meet the growing demand for enhanced PC gaming and multimedia experiences. The ES1868 AudioDrive, launched in 1995, represented a pivotal advancement as a mixed-signal single-chip solution offering full Pro 2.0 compatibility. It integrated a 20-voice ESFM (ESS FM) music for FM synthesis, support for file playback and recording, and MIDI interfacing via an UART mode , all while supporting full-duplex audio operations. Key technical features included 16-bit stereo codec for CD-quality wave audio input/output, built-in mixer controls for sources like line-in, microphone, and CD audio, and dual game ports for connectivity, ensuring seamless compatibility with DOS and early Windows games. This chipset gained substantial market traction in the budget segment of the PC sound card industry, where it was adopted by major vendors including Aztech (e.g., in Sound Galaxy models) and Media Vision for their entry-level offerings. ESS's AudioDrive solutions captured a notable share of the mass-market PC audio sector by providing low-cost, low-noise performance that rivaled higher-end competitors, powering millions of systems for gaming and basic tasks. The AudioDrive lineup evolved through subsequent iterations to address emerging needs in synthesis quality and interface standards. The ES1788, introduced in the mid-1990s, built on the ES1868 by enhancing audio integration with improved 16-bit stereo capabilities and dual ports, while maintaining FM synthesis and emulation for broader peripheral support. Later, the ES1938 PCI AudioDrive, released around 1997, advanced the series with PCI bus compatibility and refined options—including hardware ESFM, software-based, and external ROM support—delivering superior music fidelity for Windows 95-era applications without sacrificing DOS legacy.

Acquisition of Silicon Analog Systems and Development of High-End Audio

In 2001, ESS Technology acquired Silicon Analog Systems (SAS), a small design firm based in , , , which specialized in analog audio conversion technologies. This acquisition, led by SAS founder Martin Mallinson, brought the brand under ESS's portfolio, focusing on high-resolution digital-to-analog converters (DACs) and analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) for applications. The move pivoted ESS toward premium audio solutions, leveraging SAS's expertise in low-noise, high-fidelity chip design to enhance the company's offerings beyond consumer PC multimedia. Following the acquisition, ESS introduced the SABRE family of DACs in 2008, with early models like the ES9008 setting benchmarks for high dynamic range and low distortion in audiophile and professional equipment. A key outcome of this acquisition was the development of advanced Sabre DACs, exemplified by the ES9218 SABRE HiFi system-on-chip introduced in 2016. This chip employs 32-bit processing to handle high-resolution audio formats, including up to 384 kHz PCM and DSD512, while achieving a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 130 dB through its integrated analog volume control, enabling precise sound reproduction in demanding environments. Widely adopted in audiophile-grade equipment such as digital music players and professional audio workstations, the ES9218 underscores ESS's commitment to ultra-low distortion performance, with total harmonic distortion plus noise (THD+N) reaching -114 dB under optimal conditions. Central to the Sabre lineup's superiority is ESS's patented HyperStream modulator architecture, a noise-shaping delta-sigma technology that pushes timing and quantization noise outside the audible band. This innovation minimizes distortion in conversion, delivering cleaner signal paths and broader dynamic ranges compared to conventional modulators, and has become a hallmark of Sabre DACs since the post-acquisition era. HyperStream's iterative generations, starting with early implementations in Kelowna-developed chips, enable reduced out-of-band noise, supporting applications requiring exceptional clarity and low power consumption. Building on these advancements, technology expanded into mobile audio ecosystems, with integration in LG's V-series smartphones beginning with the V10 model in 2015. The V10 incorporated an ESS DAC (ES9018C2M) paired with a dedicated headphone amplifier, marking an early foray into portable high-fidelity audio and setting the stage for subsequent models like the V20, which featured the ES9218 Quad DAC for enhanced multichannel processing and . This shift broadened 's reach from stationary gear to on-the-go devices, influencing mobile audio standards through superior conversion .

Applications in Gaming and Devices

Speech Integration in 1980s Video Games

In the mid-1980s, ESS Technology, originally founded as Electronic Speech Systems, pioneered the integration of speech synthesis into video games, particularly for the Commodore 64 platform, enabling developers to incorporate realistic voice lines that enhanced immersion without requiring additional hardware. This innovation stemmed from their proprietary speech compression codec, which allowed for high-fidelity audio playback using minimal memory resources. One of the earliest and most iconic applications was in (1984, ), where ESS's technology powered the digitized speech of the Elvin Atombender, delivering memorable phrases such as "Another visitor! Stay awhile... STAY FOREVER!" to taunt the player during gameplay. Similarly, (1984, ) utilized ESS speech synthesis for character dialogues, including calls like "Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!" which played at key moments to reinforce the game's thematic elements. These implementations relied on ESS's software-based , embedded directly into the game cartridges, to generate real-time speech by decompressing pre-processed audio samples on the Commodore 64's hardware, bypassing the need for full-waveform sampling or external emulation. The market reception of ESS-enabled speech was overwhelmingly positive, as it differentiated these titles in a era dominated by chiptune audio, significantly boosting sales—Impossible Mission became one of Epyx's top-selling games, with the voice feature cited as a major draw for players seeking novel interactive experiences. This success influenced subsequent designs, such as Beach-Head II (1985, Access Software), which adopted similar ESS technology for military command voices like "Follow me, men!" to guide players through strategy sequences, further popularizing spoken narration in action games. However, the high demand led ESS to increase licensing fees post-Impossible Mission, prompting developers like Epyx to seek alternatives for future projects. By the late and into 1990, ESS's speech capabilities extended to educational titles, exemplified by Big Bird's Hide and Speak (1990, Hi-Tech Expressions) for the , which featured clear, digitized character voices to aid in and memory exercises for young children. This application demonstrated the versatility of ESS's underlying synthesis techniques, originally developed for gaming, in broadening interactive entertainment to learning software.

Adoption in Consumer Electronics and Smartphones

ESS Technology's audio solutions have seen significant adoption in smartphones, particularly through LG's V series, which pioneered high-fidelity mobile audio starting in 2015. The LG V10 integrated a 32-bit Hi-Fi DAC utilizing the ESS Sabre ES9018 chip, paired with a Sabre 9602 headphone amplifier, to support high-resolution playback up to 32-bit/192 kHz and automatically optimize audio based on connected headphones. This marked an early push toward audiophile features in consumer devices, allowing users to enjoy enhanced clarity and detail from wired connections. Subsequent models built on this foundation; the LG V20 introduced the industry's first 32-bit Quad DAC configuration with four ESS Sabre ES9218 converters, which minimized distortion and ambient noise by up to 50% compared to standard setups, delivering a more immersive listening experience even for compressed streaming audio. The evolution continued with the and V40 ThinQ, both featuring the advanced ESS ES9218P Quad DAC for superior dynamic range and low-noise performance. These chips enabled 32-bit hi-res audio processing, digital filter options for sound customization, and robust amplification capable of driving demanding , positioning LG flagships as portable players. In parallel, ESS partnered with for the 2015 HE 1 electrostatic , incorporating eight ES9018 DACs in a balanced parallel setup to achieve exceptional and support for 24-bit/192 kHz playback, along with higher formats like DSD. This collaboration highlighted ESS's role in premium headphone systems, where the DACs contributed to the device's reputation for studio-reference accuracy. Broader integration of ESS DACs extends to portable digital-to-analog converters and AV receivers, where they power high-end home theater and mobile audio solutions. Since 2018, select ESS chips have included hardware-based MQA rendering, streamlining the decoding of files for lossless hi-res streaming without additional software overhead, as seen in devices from brands like Ayre Acoustics and various OEM portable units. This adoption has democratized access to advanced audio features in . The impact of these integrations on is profound, particularly in smartphones and , where quad-DAC architectures like those in LG's V series provide enhanced noise isolation—reducing and interference for a blacker audio background—and deliver audiophile-grade on the go. Users benefit from stable imaging, extended , and the power to drive high-impedance loads (up to 600 ohms) without , transforming everyday devices into viable tools for critical listening and elevating mobile audio beyond typical consumer standards.

Leadership and Current Operations

Key Founders and Executives

ESS Technology was co-founded in 1984 by Forrest S. Mozer, a professor of space physics at the , who brought expertise in technology developed from his earlier patents on integrated circuit-based systems. Mozer's contributions focused on pioneering research and development in synthetic speech, enabling the company's initial products for devices like speech-enabled toys and early computers such as the Commodore 64. Later, he served as a board member at Sensory, Inc., another venture he co-founded in 1994 to advance voice recognition technologies. Fred S. L. Chan joined as a co-founder alongside Mozer in 1984 and assumed the roles of President, CEO, and Chairman in 1985, guiding the company's expansion from into multimedia chipsets. Under his leadership, ESS Technology achieved significant growth, reporting net revenues of $23.7 million and net income of $4.8 million in 1992, driven by innovations in audio and for PCs. Chan stepped down as Chairman and director in 2007 to pursue philanthropic interests, including substantial donations to support , such as a $250,000 gift to the University of in 2014 for transfer students in engineering programs. Following Chan's departure as Chairman in 2007, Robert L. Blair continued as President and CEO—a role he had held since 1999—until , providing long-term stability and during the company's shift toward high-performance audio solutions in the and . In , Dr. Saied Tehrani was appointed President and CEO, bringing over 30 years of experience from roles at companies like Spansion, Everspin, Freescale, and ; he has since overseen advancements in the audio product line. transitioned to in . This succession marked a continued emphasis on technical innovation under experienced management, with Tehrani receiving the IEEE Daniel E. Noble Award in for his contributions to embedded systems.

Market Position and Recent Innovations

ESS Technology, Inc., a privately held fabless company headquartered in , specializes in the design and marketing of high-performance audio integrated circuits (ICs), including digital-to-analog converters (DACs), analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), and related solutions for consumer, automotive, and professional applications. As of late 2025, the company employs approximately 180 people and operates without in-house manufacturing facilities, relying on third-party foundries for production. In the competitive audio semiconductor market, ESS Technology positions itself as a leader in high-fidelity audio solutions, particularly for premium mobile devices and equipment, where it competes with and Microdevices (). holds a dominant share in portable audio, deriving about 86% of its revenue from Apple products, which underscores its stronghold in ecosystems. In contrast, ESS Technology has gained traction in Android flagship smartphones, powering in devices from manufacturers like and , such as the LG V-series and certain models featuring Quad DAC technology. Recent innovations highlight ESS Technology's focus on advanced audio processing. In May 2025, the company released three flagship PRO SMART ADCs—the ES9823MPRO and ES9823PRO (2-channel) and ES9843PRO (4-channel)—based on the Hyperstream IV architecture, achieving a of up to +130 dB in mono mode and supporting AI-enhanced features through the second-generation Processor (ASP2) for custom processing like equalization and control. Concurrently, ESS introduced Intelligence Studio, a drag-and-drop software tool that enables engineers to program ASP2-equipped devices, streamlining design workflows and reducing reliance on external DSPs. Looking ahead, ESS Technology is emphasizing expansion into audio applications and deeper integration in automotive systems, with the of automotive-grade audio products in February 2025 to meet demands for high-performance in-vehicle entertainment and advanced driver-assistance systems. The company has not pursued major acquisitions since its 2003 purchase of Divio Inc., instead prioritizing internal R&D for next-generation audio ICs.

References

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