Post Go back to editing

Balanced line driver design for output of AD1973 Codec

Hi there,

I was referred to this forum from the Audio DSP forum here:  https://ez.analog.com/audio/f/q-a/549311/balanced-output-from-ad1937/431910#431910

I am using the AnalogDevices AD1937 audio codecs in a large loudspeaker array design and I am using 24-bit, 48 kHz, balanced audio out of the DAC portion of the AD1937's.

The reference designs for your codecs that I have seen, and on our evaluation board, are typically for unbalanced audio outputs with OpAmps.  We need all outputs to be balanced audio outputs.  Ideally achieving +18 dBu when the signal is 0 dBFS within the codec.  i.e., trying to set the maximum output voltage to +18 dBU (~6.15 Vrms), for connection to external audio devices.

Do you have a linear filter / differential amplifier design that may help me achieve this?

Many thanks,

Mark

Parents
  • Hi Mark,

    I'm an IC designer, not an apps guy, so I may be on thin ice here -- Most of our recent amplifier products that produce balanced outputs are tailored for various ADC driver applications, meaning 5v supplies. I don't know if those will work for you since they mostly have slightly less output swing than you need.

    The concept of the pair of single-ended filters discussed with you in the audio forum is definitely an alternative. Some folks worry about balance errors due to filter mismatches, so it could depend on your sensitivity there.

    Another alternative would be that we do have a balanced audio line driver in the SSM2142. As I recall, this is optimized for single-ended to differential conversion, but may have the output behavior you need. That could be possibly be used after a single-ended filter stage. In figure 33 of the AD1937 datasheet there's a differential to single-ended filter stage that, if followed by a single-ended to differential line driver with ssm2142, might give the best result. It's a bit of a longer signal chain, but seems like it could work.

    There might be a way to make a discrete differential filter with balanced output but, if so, I don't think it would be a lot smaller in board area (if that's an issue).

    Good Luck,

    Dave

Reply
  • Hi Mark,

    I'm an IC designer, not an apps guy, so I may be on thin ice here -- Most of our recent amplifier products that produce balanced outputs are tailored for various ADC driver applications, meaning 5v supplies. I don't know if those will work for you since they mostly have slightly less output swing than you need.

    The concept of the pair of single-ended filters discussed with you in the audio forum is definitely an alternative. Some folks worry about balance errors due to filter mismatches, so it could depend on your sensitivity there.

    Another alternative would be that we do have a balanced audio line driver in the SSM2142. As I recall, this is optimized for single-ended to differential conversion, but may have the output behavior you need. That could be possibly be used after a single-ended filter stage. In figure 33 of the AD1937 datasheet there's a differential to single-ended filter stage that, if followed by a single-ended to differential line driver with ssm2142, might give the best result. It's a bit of a longer signal chain, but seems like it could work.

    There might be a way to make a discrete differential filter with balanced output but, if so, I don't think it would be a lot smaller in board area (if that's an issue).

    Good Luck,

    Dave

Children