Maxim Integrated Products

A Class D amplifier's high efficiency makes it ideal for portable and compact high-power applications. Traditional Class D amplifiers require an external lowpass filter to extract the audio signal from the pulse-width-modulated(PWM) output waveform. Many modern Class D amplifiers, however, utilize advanced modulation techniques that, in various applications, both eliminate the need for external filtering and reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI). This application note discusses the advantages of Class D filters and the recent improvements that can not only reduce board space, but can also significantly reduce the cost of many portable/compact systems.