The journey toward transitioning the audio world into pure digital technology architecture has received a major boost. There has been lots of discussion, and new technology released of late, pertaining to digital (or Class D) amplifiers in the digital audio market.
Due to lower performance and lacklustre power efficiency, digital power amplifiers were usually reserved for those audio applications where consumers had the lowest expectations for sound quality. Now reaching new levels of power and dynamic range (the ratio of the loudest possible sound to the smallest possible hum), digital amplifiers are expected to rock the $1,9 bn consumer audio amplifier market.
Simply put, new digital amplifiers are a growing opportunity in the wired digital audio market, as they provide a compelling cost advantage, space savings, preferred thermal characteristics, and ease of use. With products now on the market that can drive more than 300 W into a 4 Ω speaker, while also providing less than 0,05% THD+N at 1 W (low noise and distortion), demand is expected to surge ahead. A rating of 300 W is a substantial amount, considering that most bookshelf speakers require only about 40 W to reach an acceptable volume.
Dynamic range-sensitive applications that in the past would bypass the digital solutions include DVD receivers, home theatre, active speakers, LCD TV, and HDTV. All of these applications are popular, and replacement rates are climbing. Databeans estimates that consumer digital audio amplifiers reached nearly $300m in 2006. Growing at a compound annual growth rate of 26%, this market should reach nearly $1 bn, representing over 31% of the overall audio amplifier market by 2011.
Products now hitting the market that enable this crossover include TI's TAS5261 and TAS5162. Both offer OEMs a design alternative at attractive pricing for maintaining exceptional dynamic range and the power required to impress listeners. TI has a leading position in Class D amplification applications, and the number-one share in Class D consumer audio as well. Another company, JamTech, has been innovating in the digital amplifier space and launched its JM2020, a digital amplifier optimised for LCD, handhelds, and active speakers. Wolfson's integrated digital amplifier, the WM8956, is optimised for more power conscious applications, such as mobile phones and multimedia players, where Class D amplification is available for internal speakers, while an included DAC drives the analog audio output for headphones.
Competition will be fierce and ASPs are expected to drop significantly. ASSPs have historically garnered smaller margins in the analog world, but the volumes suggested here will certainly attract the elite strategic players.
For more information contact Susie Inouye, Databeans, [email protected], www.databeans.net
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