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Technical Article
How Class-D Amplifiers Are Closing the Gap on Hi-res
Class-AB Amplifiers

Damian Lewis
It’s not all that uncommon to see substandard wheels and tires diminish the performance of a race car’s highly
optimized, high-performance engine. The engine has to work even harder to compensate and the overall system
performance suffers.
The same analogy applies to high-performance audio and the selection of an amplifier for driving speakers. For
years, the amplifier of choice in high-definition (HD) audio was a Class-AB amplifier. Audio Class-D amplifiers
were considered substandard because they didn’t meet all of the requirements for HD audio. But not anymore.
HD or high-resolution audio refers to audio that has above 16-bit quality (beyond that of compact discs) and a
greater than 44.1kHz sample rate, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Dynamic Range and Bandwidth of Some Audio Formats

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In HD audio, the digital front end comprises digital signal processors with 32-bit audio data paths, ≥96kHz
audio sample rates and integrated 24-bit ultra-low-noise digital-to-analog converters (DACs). A higher bit count
improves the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and dynamic range (DR), providing better resolution (>97dB) so
that very small sounds are audible yet not distorted. Faster sample rates yield higher bandwidths (sample
rate/2) beyond the human ear range (> 22kHz), but encode more information about the sounds for accurate
reproduction.
The audio amplifier driving the speaker is at the back end, where audio performance and safety are realized
and evaluated. A system has a host of sound-enhancement and sound-compensation processing algorithms
such as equalization, dynamic range control, sound field spatialization and 3-D effects. But even with all of
these processing capabilities, an audio amplifier that complements them must still meet certain HD audio
specifications, including:
• A SNR and DR > 97dB.
• Total harmonic distortion plus noise (THD+N) < -80dB.
• Bandwidth (BW) > 22kHz.
A HD audio amp paired with these automatic algorithms creates a harmoniously working system where the
digital engineer does not have to manually run large processing algorithms to compensate for the audio
amplifier. After all, there’s no good digital substitute for a great high-performing analog amplifier. In fact, having a
high-performance analog amplifier makes it possible to achieve the same or higher performance with a smaller/
simpler/cheaper digital engine.
Previous generations of Class-D amplifiers achieved a THD+N of 0.03% (-70dB) compared to similar-output-
power Class-AB amplifiers with 0.005% (-86dB) of THD, as shown in Figure 2. Figure 3 shows the same
comparison, but it uses TI’s latest high-power Class-D amplifier. Previously, Class-D amplifiers were not
considered for HD audio solutions, even though Class-D amplifiers tend to be ~1.5 times more efficient at
high-power levels and as a result don’t require very large heat sinking when compared to similar-power Class-
AB amplifiers.

Figure 2. High-power Class-AB THD vs. Power Performance

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Figure 3. TPA3251D2 THD+N vs. Power Performance

TI’s latest generation of high-power Class-D amplifiers boost the overall performance and efficiency of HD audio
systems by creating a symbiotic relationship with the digital engine while efficiently transferring enhanced audio
quality to the speakers. The TPA3251D2 and its family of devices offer 0.002% (-94dB) THD+N, 100dB of SNR
and 100kHz bandwidth while delivering >70W of output power. This family is compatible with systems with
ultra-low noise and audio sample rates up to 192kHz. In addition, the built-in protection features make for safe
driving in the HD audio world.
TIDA-00874, shown in Figure 4 demonstrates the symbiotic, harmonious relationship between the TPA3251D2
and digital engines for HD systems. If you are interested in designing with a Class-D amp, TIDA-00874, a
TI Design reference design pairs the TPA3251D2 Class-D audio amplifier with the PCM5242 audio DAC and
provides the ability to stream multiple digital-input audio formats with sample rates as high as 192kHz for an
enhanced acoustic experience.

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Figure 4. Tida-00874 with the TPA3251D2 and PCM5242

Less than ten years ago, compact discs were delivering what we considered the highest quality sound. Today,
Golden-Ear audiophiles would scoff at 16-bit quality. Along with this rapid boom of higher quality audio over the
past decade is an excessive number of amplifier options. Just as we scoff at CDs now, audiophiles use to scoff
at Class-D amps. However, that is no longer the case. A perfect example of the crisp sound from Class-D audio
amps is the TPA3251D2. This is the same device I mentioned above and it was also demoed at CES2016,
where listeners were blown away by what they heard.
What is helping you deliver higher quality audio in your system? I used the TPA3251D2 as an example for this
post, which is from a family of devices that includes the TPA3250D2 and and the TPA3255 as well. Do you have
any experience with these devices or other Class-D amps? Log in to post a comment below.

Additional Resources
• Search TI’s entire audio IC portfolio.
• Read the TPA3251D2 data sheet.
• Check out the TPA3251D2D2 PurePath™ ultra-HD evaluation module.
• See other recent audio blogs.

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