MAX 4410 Stereo Headphone Driver?

[rsaavedra]

An ad for this was listed in Headfi's little ad box, I clicked on it quite intrigued that there is advertisement for one specific chip:

http://www.maxim-ic.com/quick_view2.cfm/qv_pk/3459

It is described as a "Stereo Headphone Driver" though, not sure if it's correct to call it an opamp. Anyone knows about its so called advantages because of allegedly "No Bulky DC-Blocking Capacitors Required"? Is there any circuit that rivals the standard CMOY (or maybe the PIMETA) using this opamp?

 

[tyre]

Yeah, I've read through the datasheet before. The output coupling capacitors are not needed because of the IC's built in charge pump which creates a dual supply from the batteries.

I made a small layout for the max9721 recently, which is similar to the max4410 except it runs at a lower voltage and has a fixed gain. I'm gonna try to make a layout for the max4410 too eventually.

Here's a link to a chinese DIY site for a max4410 based pcb:

http://www.erji.net/read.php?tid=141775&page=1&fpage=1

 

[kramer5150]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyre Yeah, I've read through the datasheet before. The output coupling capacitors are not needed because of the IC's built in charge pump which creates a dual supply from the batteries. I made a small layout for the max9721 recently, which is similar to the max4410 except it runs at a lower voltage and has a fixed gain. I'm gonna try to make a layout for the max4410 too eventually. Here's a link to a chinese DIY site for a max4410 based pcb: http://www.erji.net/read.php?tid=141775&page=1&fpage=1

Looks a lot like a little dot Micro. I have one of those coming in the next week

Link here...


http://www.little-tube.com/forum/for...sp?TID=11&PN=1

 

[blip]

I think that these are mostly adventageous if you want to use a single-supply... in which case something like this is about the only way to get low DC offset without caps.

Beyond that it seems potentially promising... it has low-THD at low-power though it goes up fast... It certainly has nice features built in (like mute). I just gave the app note a quick skim but it looks potentially useful... though a lot more complex to implement...

Anyway, I've been curious about this chip for a while...

 

[rickcr42]

Have had that chip sitting there right in front of me on a shelf for about three months now and so far ....it sits

not slamming it just low on the priority list of "things needing doing" since all my portable audio requirements have been weeded down to just two chips for all analog stages and all my home based audio uses tubes or discretes.My initial reason for aquiring the chip was for the click/pop suppression which i find interesting but was going to use it as a line driver and not headphone amp.Still may though I have been in the habit of using a buffer/output transformer combo for that duty

I do though find that I am turning to Maxim more and more for other solutions and especially powering solutions and am stering to have a semi-pattern forming :

TI-USB digital,differential amps,the OPA627 opamp
ADI-most Op-Amps,ALL portable audio opamps,InAmps,all CFB Amps,all DACs and ADCs,
LT-power devices (LDO VRegs) ,some low noise opamps,all "new" buffers
Maxim-power devices (especially switching regs),signal generators,special purpose chips
Cirrus Logic-digital interfacing (spdif/aes3 send/receive) and CODEC

 

[Nisbeth]

I've just skimmed the DS for this and it looks like it might be an ideal candidate for a USB-powered amp: The low supply voltage means it would be possible to do multi-stage regulation of the supply voltage to remove noise from the USB power

Any thoughts/comments on this?


/U.

PS: Tyre, would you care to post a picture of your layout for the MAX9721?

 

[tyre]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nisbeth I've just skimmed the DS for this and it looks like it might be an ideal candidate for a USB-powered amp: The low supply voltage means it would be possible to do multi-stage regulation of the supply voltage to remove noise from the USB power Any thoughts/comments on this?

Hmm, sounds interesting. I was just looking through the Maxim site and noticed the max9722. It can take up to 5.5V. Maybe that would be good for a slightly higher voltage swing than the max4410 when combined with a LDO regulator for the USB power. It also has differential inputs, for whatever that's worth.


Quote:

Originally Posted by Nisbeth PS: Tyre, would you care to post a picture of your layout for the MAX9721?

Sure. It's not a particularly great layout though. I was trying to make as small an amp as possible. The two pads to the upper right are the + and - battery connections. The others are for inputs/outputs. Unfortunately, this IC only comes in a QFN package, so I had to make a new package library where the leads extend past the chip's edge for easier soldering.

 

[rickcr42]

Just for general info-most of the Maxim parts have an eval board pattern you can copy and print to make your own.since it is their part they mostly do a well thought out pattern that you need make only minor changes for audio use and those mostly just part size unless you do all SMD

 

[skilpad]

Hi Tyre,

Please consider the layout of your board with respect to the power pad, or
Paddle as Maxim calls it
“. Ensure that the exposed paddle is electrically isolated from GND and VDD.
Connect the exposed paddle to VSS if necessary.”
The top solder mask might prevent a direct short between the “paddle” and the two track’s that you routed underneath the device but its generally not considered safe practice, thermal performance might also suffer.

Hope this helps

 

[duchamp]

Anyone have any new updates on projects with this chip?