GaN Systems and Axign Demonstrate New 500W Class-D Reference Audio Amplifier

GaN Systems, the leading GaN power semiconductor specialist and audio technology innovator Axign, debuted a new groundbreaking GaN-based 500W Class-D audio amplifier. This reference design merges best-in-class technologies, including GaN Systems’ GaN power transistors and Axign’s Class-D controller, enabling companies to create unique audio systems that are smaller, sleeker, more efficient, more powerful, and provide better audio quality than previous generations.

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) announced the CES 2022 Innovation Awards honorees, including those recognized as Best of Innovation honorees. The CES Innovation Awards is an annual initiative honoring outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products across 27 product categories. The CES 2022 Innovation Awards program received a record-high number of over 1800 submissions. audioXpress highlights the audio-related awards.

In this article for Voice Coil, Mike Klasco (Menlo Scientific) recaps MEMS Drivers and related hot technologies for 2021, providing an update about products and companies that stood out in 2020. The article, which summarizes the more extensive reports published by audioXpress in January 2020 and 2021, looks at the impact of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) for audio and discusses the implications for other game-changing technologies that reduce size, increase performance, extend battery life, and enhance features and functionality in headphones, wearables and compact speakers.

The new Harman Kardon Citation Amp has been initially launched in Europe for now. The new product offers a very interesting set of features, in a compact, Internet-connected Class D design, extending even further the brand's Citation family of connected home audio products, including support for WiSA uncompressed wireless surround technology. Carrying the longstanding tradition of the Harman Kardon Citation designation, the new Class D Citation Amp evolves as a Digital Loop Amplifier controlled by the Axign AX5689 IC and audio converter.

Axign B.V. received an equity investment from KBC Focus Fund as the lead investor, together with Innovation Industries and Oost NL. This investment round enables Axign to mass produce and launch the company’s unique range of audio devices worldwide. Additionally, the new funding will support the development and introduction of next-generation devices for active speakers and streaming audio systems.

Continuing audioXpress' Amplifier Series, looking at the latest technologies and Class-D amplification platforms, Ward Maas writes about Axign, a new company from The Netherlands, founded by former Philips and NXP employees who worked on the pioneering Class-D efforts. Established in 2014, their efforts have resulted in the development of the AX5689m a Class-D audio amplifier controller chip in a QFN package. audioXpress visited the company to find out more and to receive a demo. This article was originally published in audioxpress, December 2017.

Another great edition of audioXpress. Discover how well the Naim Audio Mu-so Qb Wireless Music System did in our in-depth review. Read about Axign, and how this Dutch company is revolutionizing Class-D efforts. Explore the ideal acoustic listening environment for dipolar and multi-directional speakers. Build an omni-directional coaxial speaker tower. Read an interview with Floyd Toole. And don’t miss the first part of our complete "Audio Editors Roundup." Now available online!