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Comparison of the Driving Modes of an Audio Power Amplifier Considering the Characteristics of the Loudspeaker: Voltage Drive vs. Current Drive

스피커의 특성을 고려한 음향 전력 증폭기 구동 방식의 비교: 전압 구동 방식과 전류 구동 방식

  • Eun, Changsoo (Department of Radio and Information Communications Eng., Chungnam National University) ;
  • Lee, Yu-chil (Kaidas Co., Ltd.)
  • Received : 2017.06.01
  • Accepted : 2017.07.20
  • Published : 2017.09.30

Abstract

Audio power amplifiers have been designed based on the premise that the impedance of loudspeakers is fixed at nominal 4 ohms or 8 ohms. However, it is known that the impedance varies with frequency and takes on the nominal value at some limited frequencies. The principle of the loudspeaker operation reveals that the sound pressure produced by the loudspeaker is proportional to the current flowing in the voice coil, not the voltage between the two terminals. We take the characteristics of the loudspeaker into account and compare the frequency responses of the loudspeaker in voltage-drive mode and current-drive mode via computer simulations, to conclude that the audio amplifier drive mode should be re-considered in an effort to improve the sound quality.

Keywords

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