A microphone system includes a microphone and a pre-amplification conditioning circuit configured within a housing and comprising a pair of matched JFETs configured in a differential pair with common-source configuration and, when biased, are operable to receive and amplify the differential microphone output signal. The microphone further includes a pair of BJTs configured as a complimentary feedback transistor pair with each of the pair of BJTs coupled in parallel to a corresponding one of the pair of matched JFETs, and a current sink coupled to the matched JFETs and corresponding emitter electrodes of the BJTs and operable to maintain a fixed total direct current through each of the matched JFETs and BJTs, which reduces the JFETs corresponding electrical load, reduces signal noise, and increases a maximum amplified microphone output signal level at the drains of the matched JFETs.

A modular headphone system that can afford the wearer configurable choices of hearing protection and quality sound delivery for music and programming is provided. In an embodiment, a modular headphone includes a headband and an earpiece mounted to the headband. The earpiece comprises a can comprising a speaker, the can secured to the headband. A removable and replaceable music ear cup is removably mountable to the can to overlie the speaker. A removable and replaceable hearing protection/sound amplification (HP/amp) ear cup is removably mountable to the can to overlie the speaker.

An amplifier stage uses a loaded transistor amplifier circuit including a load that causes greater second order harmonic distortion energy than third order harmonic distortion energy to be produced in said loaded transistor amplifier circuit for amplifying a source audio signal to produce an audio output signal. The spectrum of the fundamental orders of harmonic distortion is adjusted to improve perceived sound quality or listening enjoyment.

An audio system includes an H-bridge. The audio system implements one or more techniques for ensuring a transistor within the H-bridge does not turn on in the event of the detection of a short-circuit on the output of the H-bridge. Other transistors within the H-bridge can turn and thus audio can still be played to a speaker.

The present invention is in the field of booster stage circuit for a power amplifier, and an external supply voltage power amplifier comprising said booster stage circuit, such as for amplifying an electronic signal to a speaker system. These amplifiers may be provided with an external supply voltage.

The present invention is in the field of booster stage circuit for a power amplifier, and an external supply voltage power amplifier comprising said booster stage circuit, such as for amplifying an electronic signal to a speaker system. These amplifiers may be provided with an external supply voltage.

An apparatus and method for improving the efficiency of a D class amplifier, particularly at lower output levels. A class D amplifier having a load with inductance, such as a transducer, is configured to concurrently act as its own buck regulator. A capacitor connected to ground and to both ends of the transducer through switches functions as the buck regulator in connection with the inductance of the transducer, providing the class D amplifier with additional voltage levels such as might be provided by a G/H class amplifier but without the added complexity or expense of the G/H configurations. Better efficiency is possible than that provided by a 100% efficient conventional buck regulator. No envelope detector is required, nor any change to the gain of the digital signal to the class D amplifier. Feedback may be used if desired, but is not required to obtain a high quality output signal.

Multiple example valve amplifiers are provided. A first example valve amplifier is provided which comprises (i) a valve power amplifier switchable between a high-power mode and a low-power mode and (ii) a loudspeaker simulator circuit, the valve amplifier being configured such that the valve power amplifier drives the loudspeaker simulator circuit in the low-power mode. A second example valve amplifier is provided which comprises a switched-mode power supply, SMPS, system), the SMPS system comprising (i) an SMPS and (ii) circuitry configured to enable an output impedance of the SMPS to be switched between first and second output impedances, the first output impedance being lower than the second output impedance.

An aspect includes an apparatus including a first amplifier; a first field effect transistor (FET) including a first source coupled to an output of the first amplifier, and a first drain for coupling to a first load; and a first gate drive circuit including an input coupled to the output of the first amplifier and an output coupled to a first gate of the first FET. Another aspect includes a method including amplifying a first audio signal using a first audio amplifier to generate a first voltage; generating a first gate voltage based on the first voltage; applying the first gate voltage to a first gate of a first field effect transistor (FET) coupled between the first audio amplifier and a first audio transducer; and applying the first voltage to a first source of the first FET.

An aspect includes an apparatus including a first amplifier; a first field effect transistor (FET) including a first source coupled to an output of the first amplifier, and a first drain for coupling to a first load; and a first gate drive circuit including an input coupled to the output of the first amplifier and an output coupled to a first gate of the first FET. Another aspect includes a method including amplifying a first audio signal using a first audio amplifier to generate a first voltage; generating a first gate voltage based on the first voltage; applying the first gate voltage to a first gate of a first field effect transistor (FET) coupled between the first audio amplifier and a first audio transducer; and applying the first voltage to a first source of the first FET.