News: Microelectronics
21 February 2025
SounDigital uses Infineon’s 100V normally-off E-mode CoolGaN transistors
Manufacturers of audio equipment constantly seek to enhance sound quality while also meeting the growing demand for compact, lightweight, more integrated and energy-efficient designs. At the same time, they must ensure seamless connectivity, cost-effectiveness and user-friendly functionality, making audio product development more complex than ever. To overcome these challenges, SounDigital has integrated CoolGaN transistors from Infineon Technologies AG of Munich, Germany into its new 1500W Class D amplifier, which features an 800kHz switching frequency and five channels. Infineon says that its GaN technology has improved the amplifier’s energy efficiency by 5% and reduced energy loss by 60%.
“GaN transistors significantly enhances our overall system performance with minimized system cost and increased ease of use,” comments SounDigital’s CEO Juliano Anflor.
“GaN technology is transforming the audio amplifier industry, providing unparalleled efficiency and performance,” says Johannes Schoiswohl, head of Infineon’s GaN business line. “Infineon’s leading GaN solutions deliver superior sound quality, higher power density and reduced energy consumption, enabling SounDigital’s audio systems to reach new levels of fidelity and performance.”
Picture: Infineon’s 100V normally-off E-mode CoolGaN transistor in a PQFN-3x5 package.
For its 1500W Class D amplifier, SounDigital selected Infineon’s 100V normally-off E-mode transistors: IGC033S101 in a PQFN-3x5 package and IGB110S101 in a PQFN-3x3 package. With their low on-resistance, the transistors are suitable for demanding high-current applications, enabling significant improvements in both sound quality and efficiency of SounDigital’s amplifier. The GaN-based amplifier also delivers high performance while reducing power dissipation by 75W, allowing for a 50% smaller heat sink. Additionally, the overall system size has been reduced by 40% without compromising performance. The audio quality has been further improved by the CoolGaN transistors, with total harmonic distortion (THD) reduced by 70%, enabling more precise and detailed sound. At the same time, the idle current has been reduced by 40%, significantly improving energy efficiency.
Infineon launches CoolGaN transistor families built on 8-inch foundry processes
