Class-T amplifier: Difference between revisions

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A Class T amplifier is an audio amplifier product. Rather than being a separate "class" of amplifier, Class T is a registered trademark for Tripath's amplifier technologies. It is an implementation of Class D amplifiers, but improves the control scheme to create more efficient and higher quality audio amplification. The control signals in Class T amplifiers may be computed using digital signal processing or fully analog. Currently available implementations use a loop that is similar to a higher order Delta-Sigma (ΔΣ) (or sigma-delta) modulator with an internal digital clock to control the sampled comparator. The two key aspects of this topology are that (1) feedback is taken directly from the switching node rather than the filtered output, and (2) the higher order loop provides much higher loop gain at high audio frequencies than would be possible in a conventional single pole amplifier.

Despite increased performance at a price similar to class D technology, financial difficulties have caused Tripath to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on 8 February 2007.

Products and applications

Tripath used to sell the amplifiers as chips, or as chipsets, to be integrated into products by other companies in several countries. For example:

Sony, Panasonic and Blaupunkt use them in several car stereos and integrated home cinema systems
Apple Computer used them in their Power Mac G4 Cube, Power Mac G4 (Digital audio), eMac and iMac (Flat Panel) computers
Sonic Impact manufactures a very inexpensive portable battery powered amplifier based on the technology. It has received very good reviews from the audiophile press despite its modest price and implementation.
Audio Research, a very high end audio electronics company, formerly an exclusive tube circuit specialist, produced a Tripath based audiophile amplifier.
Kingrex uses the Tripath chip in its value-priced T20 and T20U integrated amplifiers

External links

US Patent for ClassT amplifier
41Hz Audio offers DIY amplifier kits based on Tripath chips and has an excellent technical overview in a 'Toolbox/Theory' page on its site

This electronics-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

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 Despite increased performance at a price similar to class D technology, financial difficulties have caused Tripath to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on [[8 February]] [[2007]].
+==Products and applications==
 [[Image:Blaupunkt PA2150 T-Amp top.jpeg|thumb|right|Blaupunkt PA2150 T-Amp<br/>"Powered by Tripath"]]
 Tripath used to sell the amplifiers as [[Integrated circuit|chip]]s, or as [[chipset]]s, to be integrated into products by other companies in several countries. For example:
@@ Line 8: / Line 9: @@
 * [[Apple Computer]] used them in their [[Power Mac G4 Cube]], [[Power Mac G4]] (Digital audio), [[eMac]] and [[iMac|iMac (Flat Panel)]] computers
 * [http://www.si5.com/ Sonic Impact] manufactures a very inexpensive portable battery powered amplifier based on the technology. It has received very good reviews from the audiophile press despite its modest price and implementation.
-* [[Audio Research]], a very high end audio electronics company, formerly an exclusive tube circuit specialist, produces a Tripath based audiophile amplifier. (Tripath went out of business and there is currently no class T product available from AR)
+* [[Audio Research]], a very high end audio electronics company, formerly an exclusive tube circuit specialist, produced a Tripath based audiophile amplifier.
 * [http://www.kingrex.net/ Kingrex] uses the Tripath chip in its value-priced T20 and T20U integrated amplifiers