MPS buys Dutch audio DSP designer Axign
Monolithic Power Systems in the US has acquired Axign in the Netherlands for its digital signal processing to add to its power management expertise.
Axign specializes in programmable multicore DSP for audio processors with near-zero distortion signals, with significantly reduced power consumption for automotive and consumer audio systems when combined with power designs from MPS.
Traditional Class-D audio amplifiers struggle to deliver low distortion levels throughout the full audio frequency range, and are forced to trade off power consumption for audio fidelity. Combining ultra-fast data conversion and a fully digital control loop to take feedback directly from the loudspeaker, instead of before the power stage’s output filter.
This architecture not only ensures that the sound from the loudspeaker is an accurate reproduction of the audio source, but also enables such precise control of the Class-D pulse-width modulation (PWM) signals that negligible power is consumed in the power stage or output filter.
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Axign’s focus for the audio DSP is on extremely low idle losses. Typical music or sound has a very high peak-to-average power ratio so low idle dissipation is the key for keeping cool.
Thermal constraints dictate the power capacity that designers can extract from a device, which is particularly important in small enclosures such as Bluetooth speakers, smart speakers and soundbars which suffer from quick rises in temperature. These have little airflow and adding drivers in the enclosure contributes to even higher temperatures. Axign’s audio DSP enables more output power without running into thermal issues.
Axign’s Zero Common Mode modulation eliminates ripple current in the output filters during idle operation, dissipating less power for less thermal issues. The removal of heatsinks, fans and other bulky pieces of metal lowers the product cost while saving space.
The losses in audio applications can be divided into switching losses, filter losses and power stage conduction losses. Axign has addressed lower switching and filter losses with the ZCM modulation implementations. Conduction losses are kept arbitrarily low by supporting various external power stages, including cheap and low-ohmic MOSFET amps and even GaN-based amplifiers.
“When I listened to music from an Axign amplifier, I instantly recognized the excellent sound quality — the rich texture, wide dynamics, and clear spatial resolution,” said Michael Hsing, the founder and CEO of MPS.
“I realized that combined with MPS’s technologies, we can bring that audiophile quality to the mass market. Axign’s passion for delivering best-in-class performance products matches our culture — the pursuit of excellence. Axign will also bring its expertise and innovation not only to the audio market, but also to other applicable fundamental technologies for different market segments,” he said.
MPS says plans to expand its presence in the Netherlands in Enschede, tapping into Axign’s established local presence with universities. It also has audio DSP design support in the UK and Japan. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
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