Product category:
Analogue and Mixed Signal ICs
News Release from: Zetex | Subject: Class Z
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 05 January 2005
Novel feedback technique aids audio
quality
New from Zetex at the Consumer Electronics Show is a direct digital feedback technology claimed to set new standards in digital amplifier sound quality.
New from Zetex at the Consumer Electronics Show is a direct digital feedback technology claimed to set new standards in digital amplifier sound quality Named Class Z, this proprietary technology will be demonstrated using a digital amplifier, operating from an unregulated supply, that achieves a THD+N figure of less than 0.005% and a damping factor greater than 250
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 7 May 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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Zetex Class Z direct digital feedback amplifier (DDFATM) technology provides NAD Electronics with no-compromise audio performance.
Digital audio chipset boasts linear qualities
Class Z chipset uses direct digital feedback amplifier (DDFA) technology for a listening experience to rival the best linear amplifiers.
The sound quality produced by the switching amplifier challenges that of the very best linear amplifier.
A scalable amplifier system architecture that can be applied to a broad range of amplifier power levels, Class Z also promises to dramatically simplify system design and reduce cost.
Zetex aims to integrate the technology into a new range of digital amplifier products during 2005 that target the high quality power amplifier and AV receiver sectors.
The novel Class Z amplifier architecture uses a fast and highly accurate digital feedback loop which compensates for a wide range of technical design issues that have traditionally served to compromise switching amplifier sound quality.
The direct digital feedback architecture from Zetex handles the limitations of FET output bridges at high powers, is tolerant to high levels of PSU noise and accommodates nonlinearities in output filters.
In addition, tradeoffs between distortion and dissipation in the output stage are removed.
The additional features that Class Z brings to digital amplifier design are also significant.
The technology's ability to accurately sense and immediately act on audio signal data means that fault protection, system diagnostics, amplifier self-test and speaker load detection facilities are readily implemented into digital amplifier systems.
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