The MAX98396 is the newest addition to Maxim Integrated's portfolio of Class D/G amplifiers, offering the industry's lowest power, lowest noise and highest thermal efficiency demanded by battery powered Bluetooth and always-on smart speakers. The MAX98396 offers 12.7mW of quiescent power consumption at 12V Power Vdd (PVDD), which meets and exceeds the industry's standby power compliance regulations for always-on speakers. And this power efficiency allows the speaker to be driven higher and longer before reaching the thermal limit.
Maxim also confirms the MAX98396 is ultrasound ready with 45kHz of bandwidth and a dedicated data path. The device offers an upgraded sampling frequency of up to 192kHz and an ultrasound signal bypass path to prevent ultrasound signal attenuation by the audio processing. This features, combined with artificial intelligence (AI) software and ultrasound, enables applications with touchless gesture sensing, presence detection and proximity sensing.
"As consumers embrace voice assistance in everyday life, speakers are proliferating throughout the connected home and new use cases are driving the demand for higher audio performance and artificial intelligence-enabled smart speakers," says Peter Cooney, SAR Insight & Consulting. "And as these modern devices continue to shrink in size, thermal management is becoming even more critical."
"The MAX98396 Class D/G amplifier was designed to meet the needs of next-generation smart and wireless speakers," says Kevin Ko, business manager of Mobile Audio Solutions at Maxim Integrated. "The high-resolution audio-compatible speaker amplifier features ultra-low noise performance, making it well-suited for placement bed side. Upgraded, ultrasound-ready features enable the newest trend of contactless smart speakers."
The MAX98396 is available now at Maxim Integrated's website for $1.12 (1000-up, FOB USA) and also available from authorized distributors. The MAX98396EVSYS evaluation system is available for $184
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