Designing for Digital Audio

Designers are being asked to shrink the size and power requirements of their systems. Using digital amplifiers for their audio amplification can help with both these requirements, but there is no free lunch. Designing with digital amplifiers involves attention to different parameters than class-AB amplifiers. This paper discusses some of these parameters, and concludes with two sample designs—one for a speaker system for LCD monitors and TVs, and the second for a mobile phone—both making use of digital amplifiers.