Abstract
Audio power amplifiers, which are the focus subject of this report, are
electronic amplifiers that improve the strength of very low-power audio
signals to a level suitable for driving speakers or headphones. It does this
by taking energy from a power supply and controlling the output to match the
input signal shape but with larger amplitude. This is typically the final
stage in an audio playback signal chain.
Databeans segments audio power amplifiers into class AB and class D products
which combined accounted for an estimated $752 million or 32 percent of the
$2.4 billion special purpose consumer analog segment in 2009. This $2.4
billion total market value is higher than the total for "Consumer Analog"
noted in the above table due to numerous special purpose consumer analog
products used in other market segments outside of the CE market.
Power amplifier circuits are classified as A, B, AB and C for analog designs,
and class D and E for switching designs based upon their conduction angle.
Class AB and class D designs are the most prevalent classes in audio power,
accounting for a combined $765 million in projected 2009 revenue. Databeans
projects that sales of audio power amplifiers will grow 9 percent on average
over the next five years to reach $1.2 billion by 2014 as ASPs decline by 7
percent annually over the same period.
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