New generation amplifier models are a result of the same miniaturization that has caused computers and cell phones to shrink. While the features are growing, the size of today's consumer products is becoming smaller and smaller. In the past, tube amps would be commonplace and take up a big part of the living room. Tube amps still have their fair share of fanatics. Nonetheless they have been replaced by solid-state amps for the most part.
Modern solid-state amplifiers combine the conventional pre amp and power amp stages into a neat single package no larger than a DVD player. A new generation of super-miniature amplifiers, such as the Amphony Model 200 microFidelity amp, has become possible due to new developments in audio technology regarding power efficiency. Even though these mini amps provide up to 50 Watts - enough to drive a speaker to high volume, they are no larger than a deck of cards.
"Class-A" and "Class-AB" amplifier topologies were the two most important amplifier architectures of past audio amplifiers. These technologies have rather low power efficiency. Only a small part of the consumed energy - typically in the order of 20% to 30% - is actually transformed into audio by analog amplifiers. The left over portion is radiated as heat. This requires that depending on the supported output power, analog audio amps have to provide substantial cooling which is achieved by using heat sinks. These heat sinks do not permit these amplifiers to be made very small.
"Class-D" amplifiers are based on a digital design which provides higher power efficiency than "Class-A" or "Class-AB" amplifiers - usually in the order of 80% to 95%. Therefore only a small portion is wasted as heat which was the key in being able to miniaturize audio amplifier designs. One major difficulty which has slowed the progress of "Class-D" amplifiers is audio distortion which is caused by nonlinearities of the switching output stage.
Newer amplifier products have emerged such as "Class-T" and newer "Class-D" architectures. These technologies, such as the one used in Amphony's Model 200 provide for a feedback of the output signal to the amplifier input. Using this design, the amplifier is able to compensate for errors brought on by the switching output stage. Amplifiers based on this design are able to achieve low audio distortion similar to previous analog amplifiers but at the same time the power efficiency of digital amplifiers.
These new generation miniature audio amplifiers are suited for a range of new applications where traditional audio amplifiers have failed. These applications include installations, such as in-ceiling installations, with minimal space or connecting speakers to a cable box or DVD/MP3 player where minimum space is key.
Modern solid-state amplifiers combine the conventional pre amp and power amp stages into a neat single package no larger than a DVD player. A new generation of super-miniature amplifiers, such as the Amphony Model 200 microFidelity amp, has become possible due to new developments in audio technology regarding power efficiency. Even though these mini amps provide up to 50 Watts - enough to drive a speaker to high volume, they are no larger than a deck of cards.
"Class-A" and "Class-AB" amplifier topologies were the two most important amplifier architectures of past audio amplifiers. These technologies have rather low power efficiency. Only a small part of the consumed energy - typically in the order of 20% to 30% - is actually transformed into audio by analog amplifiers. The left over portion is radiated as heat. This requires that depending on the supported output power, analog audio amps have to provide substantial cooling which is achieved by using heat sinks. These heat sinks do not permit these amplifiers to be made very small.
"Class-D" amplifiers are based on a digital design which provides higher power efficiency than "Class-A" or "Class-AB" amplifiers - usually in the order of 80% to 95%. Therefore only a small portion is wasted as heat which was the key in being able to miniaturize audio amplifier designs. One major difficulty which has slowed the progress of "Class-D" amplifiers is audio distortion which is caused by nonlinearities of the switching output stage.
Newer amplifier products have emerged such as "Class-T" and newer "Class-D" architectures. These technologies, such as the one used in Amphony's Model 200 provide for a feedback of the output signal to the amplifier input. Using this design, the amplifier is able to compensate for errors brought on by the switching output stage. Amplifiers based on this design are able to achieve low audio distortion similar to previous analog amplifiers but at the same time the power efficiency of digital amplifiers.
These new generation miniature audio amplifiers are suited for a range of new applications where traditional audio amplifiers have failed. These applications include installations, such as in-ceiling installations, with minimal space or connecting speakers to a cable box or DVD/MP3 player where minimum space is key.
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You can find further details concerning home audio amplifiers as well as other amplifier types from Amphony's website.
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