MAX98300/02: Maxim stereo Class D amplifiers extend battery life while reducing EMI, clipping, noise, and clicks/pops

The MAX98300/MAX98302 represent a substantial advancement in Class D amplifier power consumption by achieving supply current as low as 700microamps/channel. Critical to maximizing battery life in today's portable products, this low supply current has been achieved without sacrificing EMI suppression, clipping behavior, noise performance, or click-and-pop levels. In fact, these features have all been improved. In real-world testing, where competing ICs require EMI-suppression components, the MAX98300/MAX98302 have been shown to consume 90% less quiescent power than the nearest competitive solution.

Patented EMI-reduction techniques** and careful circuit design allow the MAX98300/MAX98302 to have the industry's lowest EMI emissions, and they eliminate the need for output filtering found in traditional Class D devices. The MAX98300/MAX98302's EMI performance not only makes it easy to pass FCC and CE EMI limits, but also avoids interference with other sensitive circuits. Additionally, since no filtering components of any kind are required with speaker cable or trace lengths of 24in and beyond, the MAX98300/MAX98302 save significant board space and supply current.

These Class D amplifiers deliver 2.4W/channel, while ensuring clean recovery from clipping events that may occur when the amplifier is driven hard to yield the highest sound-pressure level (SPL) possible. They have a low offset voltage (±1mV, typ), and carefully address other sources of click-and-pop noise to ensure the best performance. The MAX98300/MAX98302 offer five gain settings (6dB, 9dB, 12dB, 15dB, and 18dB) and use a novel, single-pin selection method to minimize pin count, package size, and solution size.
The MAX98300/MAX98302 operate from 2.6V to 5.5V and are fully specified over the -40 degrees Celsius to +85 degrees Celsius extended industrial temperature range. The MAX98300 is packaged in a space-saving, 0.4mm pitch, 9-pin WLP (1.26mm x 1.26mm x 0.64mm) and is priced at $0.42 (1000-up, FOB USA). The MAX98302 is packaged in a 14-pin TDFN-EP (3mm x 3mm x 0.75mm) and is priced at $0.48 (1000-up, FOB USA). Samples and evaluation kits are available to speed designs.