OLDHAM, UK, May 10, 2007 — NAD Electronics and Zetex Semiconductors announce the joint development of high-performance digital amplifiers incorporating Zetex Class Z direct digital feedback amplifier (DDFA) technology, a unique performance-optimized digital amplifier architecture.
NAD is a brand known for delivering audio products with outstanding performance and value for the money. The intelligent deployment of new technology is a cornerstone of the NAD philosophy, but the overriding principle is that “it must bring a performance advantage.” For digital amplifier technology, NAD has set a high barrier for acceptance. The audio performance must match or exceed that of the best linear amplifiers to be considered. The only solution to pass this test is the Zetex DDFA technology.
Greg Stidsen, NAD’s Director of Product Development, explained: “The high efficiency of Class D is well known and advantageous, but this alone does not qualify it for inclusion in a NAD product. With the Zetex technology we get the efficiency but, more important, we also get the no-compromise audio performance our customers expect.”
The Zetex prime objective for DDFA products is to provide the semiconductor technology to enable its customers to manufacture products of the highest possible audio quality. Realizing the potential of the digital amplifier concept, in which the whole amplifier process is performed in the digital domain, delivers fundamental advantages over conventional approaches. Abolishing digital-to-analog conversions and implementing control functions in the digital domain bring performance to a new level.
“Zetex is proud to partner NAD in such an ambitious development,” said Dr. Franz Riedlberger, Chief Technology Officer of Zetex. “Combining the technologies of Zetex and NAD will deliver an outstanding and highly specified product. All the previous drawbacks of digital amplifiers are simply removed by use of digital feedback; power supply noise and output stage distortion are rejected, and output impedance is very low. The result is the lowest available distortion and noise coupled with outstanding linearity, leading to a detailed and natural sound.”
Editor’s Note:
Zetex Semiconductors is a UK-based semiconductor company with a broad portfolio of power and signal management oriented products. Already well known in audio circles for low-noise bipolar transistors, the company has undertaken extensive research to develop a position of technology leadership in digital amplifiers.
Headquartered near Manchester in the UK, Zetex Semiconductors has manufacturing and sales operations in Asia, Europe and the US and is supported by distributors in more than 45 countries (www.zetex.com/salesnetwork). Its parent company, Zetex plc, is quoted on the official list of the London Stock Exchange (listing symbol: ZTX).
NAD is a developer of specialty home audio and home cinema products. The company was founded in the UK in 1972 and is now a member of The Lenbrook Group of Companies of Pickering, Ontario, Canada.
For Further Information, please contact:
Bryan Stanton
J.B. Stanton Communications
jbs@jbstanton.com
Greg Stidsen
NAD Electronics International
gstidsen@nadelectronics.com
Ronald Doctor
Zetex Semiconductors
rdoctor@zetex.com
