Techniques for controlling one or more audio amplifiers in or associated with a device coupled on a local area network are disclosed. An example playback device includes a processor, an amplifier, a network interface, and a memory. The memory includes a software module that, when executed by the processor, causes the playback device to: operate in a first power mode in which the amplifier consumes a first amount of power; while operating in the first power mode, determine that a defined time has passed since receiving, via the network interface, a specified type of data packet; and based on determining that the defined time has passed since receiving the specified type of data packet, transition from operating in the first power mode to operate in a second power mode in which the amplifier consumes a second amount of power, wherein the first amount of power is greater than the second amount of power.

Techniques for controlling one or more audio amplifiers in or associated with a device coupled on a local area network are disclosed. An example playback device includes a processor, an amplifier, a network interface, and a memory. The memory includes a software module that, when executed by the processor, causes the playback device to: operate in a first power mode in which the amplifier consumes a first amount of power; while operating in the first power mode, determine that a defined time has passed since receiving, via the network interface, a specified type of data packet; and based on determining that the defined time has passed since receiving the specified type of data packet, transition from operating in the first power mode to operate in a second power mode in which the amplifier consumes a second amount of power, wherein the first amount of power is greater than the second amount of power.

An audio amplifier includes an operational amplifier, a replica of an output stage of the operational amplifier, and a feedback circuit configured such that, in a normal mode, an output signal of the operational amplifier is fed back to the input side of the operational amplifier, and such that, in a calibration mode, an output signal of the replica is fed back to the input side of the operational amplifier. The calibration circuit cancels out the offset voltage of the audio amplifier. An adjustment circuit changes the offset of the audio amplifier according to a control signal S1. A control circuit adjusts the control signal such that an output signal V.sub.S of the replica is within a predetermined target range in a state in which a predetermined voltage is input to the audio amplifier. Memory stores the control signal S2 acquired in the final stage.

A power amplifier includes an input amplifier, a comparator, a switching circuit, an output filter and a feedback filter. The input amplifier receives an input signal of the power amplifier at a positive input of the input amplifier and an output signal of the feedback filter at a negative input of the input amplifier. The input amplifier has a capacitive feedback from an output of the input amplifier to the negative input of the input amplifier. The comparator receives the output signal of the input amplifier at a positive input of the comparator and the output signal of the feedback filter at a negative input of the comparator. The comparator provides a control signal based on a comparison between signal levels of the signals at the positive and the negative inputs of the comparator. The switching circuit includes power switches and receives the control signal and controls the power switches that connect an output of the switching circuit to either a positive supply voltage or a negative supply voltage based on the control signal. The output filter receives an output signal provided at the output of the switching circuit and provides a filtered signal thereof to an output of the power amplifier. The feedback filter receives the output of the power amplifier and provides a filtered feedback signal to the negative input of the comparator and towards the negative input of the input amplifier.

A amplifier with improved space efficiency includes a housing that dissipates heat having an upper wall and two side walls and having an interior with upper and lower portions. The amplifier further includes an upper circuit board in the upper portion and a lower circuit board in a lower portion. The amplifier further includes a connector that electrically connects the upper and lower circuit boards.

Techniques for controlling one or more audio amplifiers in or associated with a device coupled on a local area network are disclosed. The device receives at least one selected source from other devices also coupled on the network According to one aspect of the techniques, an automatic shutdown control module is provided in the device to power down the audio amplifiers when there is no audio data flow coming to the device or power up the audio amplifiers when there is audio data flow coming to the device. In one embodiment, the procedure to power down or power up the amplifiers is in accordance with a hysteresis, wherein the hysteresis, being lagging of an effect behind its cause, protects the amplifiers and makes the powering-down or powering-up procedure unnoticeable to a user.

Techniques for controlling one or more audio amplifiers in or associated with a device coupled on a local area network are disclosed. The device receives at least one selected source from other devices also coupled on the network According to one aspect of the techniques, an automatic shutdown control module is provided in the device to power down the audio amplifiers when there is no audio data flow coming to the device or power up the audio amplifiers when there is audio data flow coming to the device. In one embodiment, the procedure to power down or power up the amplifiers is in accordance with a hysteresis, wherein the hysteresis, being lagging of an effect behind its cause, protects the amplifiers and makes the powering-down or powering-up procedure unnoticeable to a user.

Voltage level shifting in a switching output stage is presented. The circuit may include a switching output stage configured to receive an analog input signal and provide a responsive digital output signal, the switching output stage having a first switching device coupled to a first supply voltage and a second switching device coupled to a second supply voltage, the first switching device and the second switching device being coupled to a common output node. The apparatus may also include a voltage level shifter circuit coupled to a switching control node of the second switching device, the voltage level shifter configured to shift a voltage level at the switching control node of the second switching device relative to the analog input signal, wherein the digital output signal at the common output node transitions as the input signal reaches a predetermined threshold value.

The present disclosure provides a magnetic circuit system. The magnetic circuit system comprises a main magnet assembly, the main magnet assembly includes a first main magnet, a second magnet spaced with the first main magnet, and a soft magnet clamped between the first main magnet and the second main magnet, poles of the first and second main magnets with a same polarity are opposite to each other, and the magnetic circuit system further comprises a clamping portion configured to fix the main magnet assembly. The present disclosure further provides a speaker using the magnetic circuit system. In the speaker provided by the present disclosure, through adding a clamping portion in the magnetic circuit system, the reliability of the magnetic circuit system can be enhanced, thereby improving acoustics performance of the speaker.

A switchless pre-amplifier input circuit includes an audio input connector that receives a first audio device operable at a first impedance and a second audio device operable at a second impedance less than the first impedance. A preamplifier circuit outputs a preamplified audio signal in response to amplifying a first audio signal generated by the first audio device or a second audio signal generated by the second audio device. The switchless pre-amplifier input circuit further includes a impedance selector circuit that adjusts an impedance at the output to reach the second impedance in response to connecting the second audio device to the audio input connector and to adjust the impedance at the output to reach the first impedance in response to connecting the first audio device to the audio input.