SAR ADC or Delta Sigma ADC? What's Your Preference?

Successive approximation register (SAR) analog to digital converters (ADCs) take a continuous analog waveform and converts it into a discrete digital representation via a binary search through all possible quantization levels before converging upon a digital output.

Conversely, Delta-Sigma ADCs employ different configurations of complicated digital filtering to enhance the overall resolution of the ADC.

SAR and Delta-Sigma are two of the most common types of precision analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) available today.

If you're a design engineer, do you have a preference? If so, why? Leave a comment below.

If you're not sure, then please attend the March 22nd Webinar: TI SAR ADCs vs. Delta-Sigma ADCs: Different Architectures for Different Applications

Top Comments

COMPACT over 8 years ago

I prefer flash.
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adsicks over 8 years ago in reply to michaelkellett

I agree with that too. If you are doing and audio application or such, and want all of those kind of features. I guess the point I was making is if you want the truest digital representation of the signal the SARs are best, as you pointed out with what you wrote about SARs.....I guess my personal take is if I can get the truest digital representation of a signal that is possible, the rest can be done in software. Especially now with a FPGA set up.
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rscasny over 8 years ago in reply to michaelkellett

Of course, you are right.

If you have the time, please attend the webinar.

Randall
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michaelkellett over 8 years ago

@Randall,

No rational engineer could possibly have a general preference for one type over the other:- the part you use will depend on the application - but I think you know that. I won't vote.

@Jeff

Sigma delta converters have several other advantages: inherent built in anti alias filter, frequently have adjustable sample rates and noise shaping, higher resolution regardless of cost , often offer additional signal processing on chip.

Of course SAR converters have their own advantages like low latency, precision control over sampling time is possible, power tracks the actual sample rate.

MK
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adsicks over 8 years ago

The only pull for Deltas is the lower cost for high res.....
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