The MAX98396's low noise level of 15.5 uVrms is 50 percent lower than that of the closest competitor, allowing the speakers to be placed in near-silent locations.
The MAX98396 is the latest addition to Maxim Integrated's Class D/G amplifier portfolio, delivering the lowest power consumption, lowest noise, and highest thermal efficiency in the industry—qualities demanded by battery-powered Bluetooth speakers and always-on smart speakers. This energy efficiency allows the speaker to operate at higher volumes and for longer periods before reaching its thermal limit. Furthermore, the MAX98396 is ultrasonic-ready with a 45 kHz bandwidth and a dedicated data path. This feature, combined with AI software and ultrasonic technology, enables touchless gesture detection, presence detection, and proximity sensing.
Key Advantages
- Ultra-low power consumption: The MAX98396 offers 12.7 mW of standby power consumption at 12V Vdd (PVDD), which is nearly five times lower than other similar amplifiers. This low standby power meets and exceeds industry standby power compliance standards for always-on speakers.
- Minimal background noise: The MAX98396's low noise level of 15.5 µVrms is 50 percent lower than the closest competitor, allowing for speaker placement in near-silent environments.
- Ultrasonic ready: The MAX98396 offers an enhanced sampling rate of up to 192 kHz and an ultrasonic signal bypass path to prevent ultrasonic signal attenuation by audio processing.
