High-Speed ADC AD9245 Equivalent In Production

AD9245 Alternatives: Complete 14-Bit 50 MSPS ADC Comparison Guide

Published: September 9, 2026 · Category: High-Speed ADCs · Reading time: ~10 min

The Analog Devices AD9245 is a widely deployed 14-bit, high-speed pipelined ADC available in 20, 40, 65, and 80 MSPS speed grades. Operating from a single 3V supply, it features an on-chip sample-and-hold amplifier, internal voltage reference, differential input with 500 MHz bandwidth, and parallel CMOS output data. Its combination of resolution, speed, and low power has made it popular in communications subsystems, medical imaging, ultrasound equipment, and instrumentation. However, as with many ADI high-speed converters, extended lead times have become a significant supply chain concern for OEMs.

This guide provides a comprehensive comparison of AD9245 alternatives, including the SXA021 by Shenxin Tech as a pin-to-pin compatible option, along with functional alternatives from other manufacturers.

What Are the Best AD9245 Alternatives?

The table below summarizes all major alternatives. Detailed comparisons follow in subsequent sections.

Part Number	Manufacturer	Compatibility	Resolution	Sample Rate	Key Advantage	Lead Time
SXA021	Shenxin Tech	FAE-Confirmed P2P	14-bit	50 MSPS	FAE-confirmed P2P; validation required	~6 weeks
AD9244	Analog Devices	Functional	14-bit	40/65 MSPS	Same ADI family, 5V supply	Varies
MAX1042	Maxim (ADI)	Functional (different tier)	10-bit	225 kSPS	ADC+DAC combo, GPIO	Varies

Which AD9245 Alternatives Are True FAE-Confirmed P2P Replacements?

For teams with existing AD9245 PCB designs, the FAE-confirmed SXA021 P2P mapping provides a migration starting point. Production use still requires electrical, timing, thermal, and system-level validation:

FAE-Confirmed P2P Mapping — QFN32 package matching the AD9245's 32-lead LFCSP footprint. Board-level compatibility must be verified before production migration.

Interface-Compatible — Parallel CMOS output with 14-bit data bus, matching the AD9245's output format and timing.

Electrical Performance — 14-bit resolution, 50 MSPS sample rate, 3.0-3.3V supply, -40°C to +85°C operating range.

SXA021 — Shenxin Tech (FAE-Confirmed P2P)

The SXA021 is a Chinese-made 14-bit, 50 MSPS ADC in a QFN32 package with parallel CMOS output. It is designed as a cost-effective, supply-secure alternative to the AD9245, offering an FAE-confirmed P2P migration path subject to board-level validation. While its SNR (65-67.8 dB) and SFDR (70-78 dB) are lower than the AD9245's higher-grade variants, it provides sufficient dynamic performance for many communications, imaging, and industrial applications where supply chain stability and cost optimization are priorities.

SXA021 vs AD9245: Detailed Specification Comparison

Parameter	SXA021	AD9245 (65 MSPS grade)
Resolution	14-bit	14-bit
No Missing Codes	Guaranteed	Guaranteed
Sample Rate	50 MSPS	65 MSPS
Architecture	Pipelined	Pipelined (multistage differential)
SNR	67 dB typical	71.1 dB (min, fIN=2.4 MHz)
SFDR	70-78 dB	86 dBc (typical)
DNL	—	±0.5 LSB (typical), ±1.0 LSB (max)
INL	—	±1.6 LSB (typical), ±5.55 LSB (max)
Input Bandwidth	100 MHz	500 MHz (full power)
Input Range	—	1 V p-p to 2 V p-p (differential)
Interface	Parallel CMOS	Parallel CMOS
Package	QFN32	32-lead LFCSP
Power Dissipation	≤414 mW	300 mW (65 MSPS)
Supply Voltage	3.0-3.3V	2.7V-3.6V (AVDD)
Operating Temperature	-40°C to +85°C	-40°C to +85°C
On-Chip Reference	Yes	Yes
Clock Duty Cycle Stabilizer	—	Yes
Pinout	FAE-confirmed P2P mapping; board-level validation required	—
Lead Time	~6 weeks	Typically longer
FAE Support	Direct, local	Through distributor

AD9245 values per AD9245 Rev. E datasheet, Analog Devices (65 MSPS grade shown as closest to 50 MSPS). SXA021 values per Shenxin Tech FAE-confirmed specifications.

Migration Path: From AD9245 to SXA021

Hardware: FAE-confirmed P2P mapping. QFN32 package matches the AD9245's 32-lead LFCSP footprint. Board-level validation required, layout compatibility must be verified.

Interface: Parallel CMOS 14-bit output bus is pin-compatible. Data format (offset binary or twos complement) and output timing match the AD9245. Existing FPGA/MCU read logic works unchanged.

Supply: 3.0-3.3V single supply compatible with AD9245's 2.7V-3.6V AVDD range. No power supply changes needed.

Performance Trade-off: The SXA021's SNR (65-67.8 dB) and SFDR (70-78 dB) are lower than the AD9245's. For applications requiring maximum dynamic range, this trade-off should be evaluated against the supply chain benefits. Contact us to discuss evaluation requirements and confirm available options.

Supply Chain: 6-week standard lead time with direct factory relationship and local engineering support in Shenzhen.

How Do SNR, SFDR and Power Consumption Compare?

The SXA021 delivers 65-67.8 dB SNR at 50 MSPS, matching the AD9245's 14-bit performance. The AD9245 offers 71.1-72.7 dB SNR at higher 65-80 MSPS rates, while the AD9244 achieves 73 dB at 65 MSPS. The SXA021's lower power consumption and 6-week lead time provide a practical second-source option with comparable dynamic range.

Typical performance per datasheet. AD9245 values shown for 65 MSPS grade as closest comparison point.

SNR Comparison (dB)

SXA021 (Shenxin Tech, 50 MSPS)67.8 dB (typical)

AD9245 (ADI, 65 MSPS)71.1 dB (min)

AD9245 (ADI, 80 MSPS)72.7 dB

AD9244 (ADI, 65 MSPS)73 dB

SFDR Comparison (dBc)

SXA021 (Shenxin Tech, 50 MSPS)78 dB (typical)

AD9245 (ADI, 65 MSPS)86 dBc (typical)

AD9245 (ADI, 80 MSPS)87.6 dBc

AD9244 (ADI, 65 MSPS)85 dBc

Power Dissipation Comparison (mW)

SXA021 (Shenxin Tech, 50 MSPS)≤414 mW

AD9245 (ADI, 65 MSPS)300 mW

AD9245 (ADI, 80 MSPS)366 mW

AD9244 (ADI, 65 MSPS)550 mW

Scale: 0-550 mW. AD9245 values per datasheet (sine wave input). AD9244 value per datasheet (5V supply, higher power).

What Applications Are Best Suited for These Alternatives?

The SXA021 is suitable for applications where 14-bit resolution at 50 MSPS is sufficient and supply chain stability is a priority. Below are recommended deployment scenarios with circuit configuration guidance.

Communications Subsystems — Microcell and piccell base stations, wireless transceiver intermediate-frequency (IF) sampling. The 50 MSPS sample rate supports signal bandwidths up to 25 MHz (Nyquist). Circuit: RF front-end → IF filter → differential driver → SXA021 → parallel bus → FPGA/DSP. Use external reference for best gain accuracy.

Medical Ultrasound — Multi-channel beamforming receivers using time-gain compensation and dynamic focusing. 14-bit resolution provides adequate dynamic range for echo signal acquisition. Circuit: TGC amplifier → anti-aliasing filter → SXA021 → FPGA beamformer. Multiple SXA021 devices can be parallel-synchronized for multi-channel systems.

Industrial Imaging and Instrumentation — High-speed data acquisition for industrial inspection, non-destructive testing, and spectrum analyzers. Circuit: Sensor/signal conditioning → differential ADC driver → SXA021 → parallel FIFO → processor. The parallel CMOS interface simplifies FPGA integration.

Application Selection Guide

Application	Recommended Part	Key Requirement	EVB Available	FAE Support
Communications IF sampling	SXA021	14-bit, 50 MSPS, parallel	Yes	Schematic + FPGA review
Medical ultrasound	SXA021	Multi-channel sync, 14-bit	Yes	Timing analysis
High-performance imaging (max SFDR)	AD9245 (ADI)	87.6 dBc SFDR, 500 MHz BW	Yes (ADI)	Through distributor
Legacy 5V systems	AD9244 (ADI)	5V supply, 48-LQFP	Yes (ADI)	Through distributor

What Functional Alternatives Exist for New AD9245 Designs?

For new designs where PCB layout flexibility exists, the following alternatives offer different trade-offs in performance, power, and package.

ADI AD9244 — 14-Bit, 40/65 MSPS, 5V ADC

The AD9244 is the predecessor to the AD9245 in Analog Devices' 14-bit ADC family. It shares the same pipelined architecture and core design but uses a 5V analog supply (vs the AD9245's 3V) and comes in a larger 48-pin LQFP package. It offers slightly higher SNR (~73 dBc at 65 MSPS) but consumes significantly more power (550 mW at 65 MSPS vs 300 mW for the AD9245). The AD9244 is suitable for legacy 5V systems or designs where the larger package is acceptable.

Parameter	AD9244	AD9245
Resolution	14-bit	14-bit
Speed Grades	40, 65 MSPS	20, 40, 65, 80 MSPS
SNR	~73 dBc (65 MSPS)	71.1 dB min (65 MSPS)
SFDR	~85-86 dBc	86 dBc typ (65 MSPS)
Power	550 mW (65 MSPS)	300 mW (65 MSPS)
Supply	AVDD = 5V	AVDD = 2.7-3.6V
Package	48-pin LQFP	32-lead LFCSP
Input Bandwidth	750 MHz	500 MHz
Temperature	-40°C to +85°C	-40°C to +85°C

Source: AD9244 and AD9245 datasheets, Analog Devices. Different package, supply voltage, and power — not a drop-in replacement.

Maxim MAX1042 — 10-Bit, 225 kSPS ADC/DAC Combo (Different Category)

The MAX1042 is part of Maxim's MAX1040-MAX1048 family of 10-bit, multichannel ADC/DAC combo devices with FIFO, temperature sensing, and GPIO ports. It is important to note that the MAX1042 operates in a completely different performance category from the AD9245 — it is a 10-bit, 225 ksps device designed for system supervision and control, not high-speed signal acquisition. It is included here for reference as part of the broader Maxim ADC portfolio, but it is not a functional replacement for the AD9245 in any high-speed application.

Parameter	MAX1042	AD9245
Resolution	10-bit	14-bit
Sample Rate	225 kSPS	20-80 MSPS
Architecture	SAR (multichannel)	Pipelined
Channels	8 single-ended or 4 differential	1
Interface	SPI (25 MHz)	Parallel CMOS
Power	2.5 mA at 225 ksps	300-366 mW
Package	36-pin TQFN	32-lead LFCSP
Supply	4.75-5.25V	2.7-3.6V
Temperature	-40°C to +85°C	-40°C to +85°C
Additional Features	Quad DAC, temp sensor, GPIO, FIFO	On-chip reference, DCS

Source: MAX1042 datasheet, Maxim Integrated. The MAX1042 is a system supervision IC, not a high-speed signal ADC. Not comparable in performance category.

How Do All Parameters Compare Side by Side?

Parameter	SXA021	AD9245 (65 MSPS)	AD9244 (65 MSPS)	MAX1042
Manufacturer	Shenxin Tech	Analog Devices	Analog Devices	Maxim (ADI)
Compatibility	Pin-to-Pin	—	Functional	Different category
Resolution	14-bit	14-bit	14-bit	10-bit
Sample Rate	50 MSPS	65 MSPS	65 MSPS	225 kSPS
Architecture	Pipelined	Pipelined	Pipelined	SAR
SNR (typ)	67.8 dB	71.1 dB	73 dB	—
SFDR (typ)	78 dB	86 dBc	85 dBc	—
Power (typ)	≤414 mW	300 mW	550 mW	~12.5 mW
Interface	Parallel CMOS	Parallel CMOS	Parallel CMOS	SPI
Package	QFN32	32-lead LFCSP	48-pin LQFP	36-pin TQFN
Supply	3.0-3.3V	2.7-3.6V	5V	4.75-5.25V
Temp Range	-40°C to +85°C	-40°C to +85°C	-40°C to +85°C	-40°C to +85°C
Lead Time	~6 weeks	Varies	Varies	Varies

All values per respective manufacturer datasheets. AD9245 65 MSPS grade shown as closest to SXA021's 50 MSPS. MAX1042 included for portfolio reference only.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best alternative to the AD9245 ADC?
The SXA021 by Shenxin Tech is a pin-to-pin compatible alternative offering 14-bit resolution at 50 MSPS in a QFN32 package with parallel CMOS output. Standard lead time is approximately 6 weeks. Its SNR (65-67.8 dB) and SFDR (70-78 dB) are lower than the AD9245's, making it best suited where supply stability and cost optimization are priorities.

Is there a Chinese-made equivalent of the AD9245?
Yes. The SXA021 by Shenxin Tech is a China-based alternative to the AD9245 14-bit high-speed ADC. It offers 14-bit resolution, 50 MSPS sample rate, parallel CMOS interface, QFN32 package, 3.0-3.3V supply, and -40°C to +85°C operation with direct FAE support and approximately 6-week lead times.

What speed grades does the AD9245 come in?
The AD9245 is available in four speed grades: 20 MSPS, 40 MSPS, 65 MSPS, and 80 MSPS. All variants use the same 32-lead LFCSP package and 3V single supply. The SXA021 targets the 50 MSPS speed point, filling the gap between the AD9245's 40 MSPS and 65 MSPS grades.

How does the AD9244 differ from the AD9245?
The AD9244 is an older 14-bit ADC available in 40 and 65 MSPS grades. It uses a 5V analog supply (vs the AD9245's 3V), comes in a 48-pin LQFP package (vs the AD9245's 32-lead LFCSP), and consumes more power (550 mW at 65 MSPS vs 300 mW). The AD9245 is a newer, lower-power, smaller-package evolution.

How long is the lead time for AD9245 alternatives?
The SXA021 by Shenxin Tech offers a standard lead time of approximately 6 weeks, compared to lead times for AD9245 through authorized distributors that vary by device, region, and channel. This significantly reduces supply chain risk for manufacturers of communications, imaging, and medical equipment.

Which Alternative Is Right for Your Application?

Requirement	Recommended Part	Reason
P2P option for existing AD9245 PCB	SXA021	Pin-to-pin compatible, QFN32, parallel CMOS
Maximum SNR/SFDR performance	AD9245 (ADI)	71.1 dB SNR, 86 dBc SFDR at 65 MSPS
Legacy 5V supply system	AD9244 (ADI)	5V supply, 48-LQFP, 750 MHz input bandwidth
Fastest lead time with FAE support	SXA021	~6 weeks, direct local engineering support
System supervision / low-speed control	MAX1042 (Maxim)	10-bit ADC+DAC combo with GPIO, not a high-speed replacement