Class d chip amps have become very popular in both products, DIY kits as well as simple boards. Their sonic qualities too have improved with lower distortion and post filter feedback designs.
Will class D replace class A/B chipamps soon, some companies may just stop producing, leading to their death ?
Will class D replace class A/B chipamps soon, some companies may just stop producing, leading to their death ?
... short answer? I believe yes.
Class AB will go the same way as Class A before it and be relegated to the esoteric.
Some might argue that's already the case.
Class AB will go the same way as Class A before it and be relegated to the esoteric.
Some might argue that's already the case.
When demand falls off, there is no reason to continue production of unwanted components as they become too expensive to produce in smaller quantities.
There will always be the very lowest power chipamps ( say <1W) which stay classAB I think as they're simpler and produce no EMI. But for the rest, classD will drive them to extinction its just a matter of time. I've not noticed many new developments of classAB chip amps out of TI in recent years, plenty of classDs though.
Yes and through hole discrete components will disappear next in favor of SMD.
Then it will be the turn of clean water, followed by breathable air.
Then it will be the turn of clean water, followed by breathable air.
Us DIY enthusiasts are a mere drop in the ocean. The mainstream manufacturers cater for the big manufacturers.
And after the chip amps have become obsolete, NOS LM3886 and the like will be traded for ridiculous money on Ebay, and a little while later the market will be dominated by fakes.
Do you think that the Chinese really care for EMI, especially in their low prized export products? I guess they just stick that CE label on anything without further examinations.
Best regards!
There's a bunch of audiophiles that always like the old part better. Makes me think of the 2N3055, a very common transistor that came out in multiple versions over its long product life. It fell out of favor in audio, as soon as better transistors came out in the eighties. Now, the old style 2N3055 is developing a bit of a cult following because they are getting hard to find. So I guess you should buy chip amps now, keep them for a while and sell them after 30 years.
Chances are you're right, CE doesn't require testing just self-certification. Plausible deniability.
There are also many 5 volt, and under, class D amplifiers. These are tiny, often filterless and offer significant efficiency gains Vs class A/B amps of similar design. Obviously target applications are mobile devices.
I think some A/B chip amps will always remain. There will always be some application that necessitates an absence of all switching, either on the outputs themselves or, in the total system for EMI sensitive applications. I could see there being some very niche military, medical, aerospace etc applications that might demand non class D amplifiers for certain signals. Of course you'd expect them to go discrete too if that were the case.
I think some A/B chip amps will always remain. There will always be some application that necessitates an absence of all switching, either on the outputs themselves or, in the total system for EMI sensitive applications. I could see there being some very niche military, medical, aerospace etc applications that might demand non class D amplifiers for certain signals. Of course you'd expect them to go discrete too if that were the case.
If you've never noticed: the CE mark that the Chinese put on does not have the same spacing as the legitimate logo. They evade the regulations that way. We dubbed the Chinese one "Chinese Export", because it's just funny!
Such as the PAM8403. Surprising power output for a chip amp that runs anywhere from 3 to 6 volts with minimal outboard components.
https://www.diodes.com/assets/Datasheets/PAM8403.pdf
But Diodes Incorporated makes a load of other PAM low power chips, such as the PAM8106. You can find more about them here too.
https://www.diodes.com/assets/Uploa...Audio-Amplifier-Diodes-PAM8106-NPA-052018.pdf
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Well , class A is still on the top of every audio enthusiast choice , never been relegated and wont be for long 😀
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The tiny low power class D amps are beneficial both for conserving battery power and for conserving board space. Because the devices dissipate very little heat, they can be crammed into the tiniest nooks and crannies on the board, without causing thermal issues. So as soon as performance in a small package is required, those chips are the way to go.
I think smaller class AB chips will live on for a while, not only in EMI sensitive applications, but also in bottom-of-the-barrel products, where old technology is used to save cost and performance is not as important. Toys like walkie-talkies, megaphones and such might contain them for some more years.
I think smaller class AB chips will live on for a while, not only in EMI sensitive applications, but also in bottom-of-the-barrel products, where old technology is used to save cost and performance is not as important. Toys like walkie-talkies, megaphones and such might contain them for some more years.
I've been both an enthusiast and professional in electronics and audio since the mid-1970s ... and I've never even considered owning a Class A amplifier.
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do we care ? A good chip is a black box with manufacturer implementation ap. note and if it’s better than yesteryears black box the technology inside is of no consequence. Perhaps by knowing the technology inside you end up making the wrong choice due to your own prejudices or worse, reading BS spewed by others on the web.
I don’t think the demise of older chips should be any bad thing except for repair.
If you like to design and build your own circuits without black boxes, then all the details are relevant. We can build any Class of amp that takes our interest. It’s just DIY.
I don’t think the demise of older chips should be any bad thing except for repair.
If you like to design and build your own circuits without black boxes, then all the details are relevant. We can build any Class of amp that takes our interest. It’s just DIY.