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APPLICATION INFORMATION
Headphone Amplifiers
f
=
c
1
2 R C
p
L
O
(1)
C
=
O
1
2 R f
p
L
c
(2)
SLOS430E – AUGUST 2004 – REVISED MARCH 2008
Single-supply headphone amplifiers typically require dc-blocking capacitors. The capacitors are required because
most headphone amplifiers have a dc bias on the outputs pin. If the dc bias is not removed, the output signal is
severely clipped, and large amounts of dc current rush through the headphones, potentially damaging them. The
top drawing in
Figure 64 illustrates the conventional headphone amplifier connection to the headphone jack and
output signal.
DC blocking capacitors are often large in value. The headphone speakers (typical resistive values of 16
or 32
) combine with the dc blocking capacitors to form a high-pass filter.
Equation 1 shows the relationship between
the load impedance L), the capacitor O), and the cutoff frequency (fC).
CO can be determined using Equation 2, where the load impedance and the cutoff frequency are known. If fC is low, the capacitor must then have a large value because the load resistance is small. Large capacitance
values require large package sizes. Large package sizes consume PCB area, stand high above the PCB,
increase cost of assembly, and can reduce the fidelity of the audio output signal.
Two different headphone amplifier applications are available that allow for the removal of the output dc blocking
capacitors. The Capless amplifier architecture is implemented in the same manner as the conventional amplifier
with the exception of the headphone jack shield pin. This amplifier provides a reference voltage, which is
connected to the headphone jack shield pin. This is the voltage on which the audio output signals are centered.
This voltage reference is half of the amplifier power supply to allow symmetrical swing of the output voltages. Do
not connect the shield to any GND reference or large currents will result. The scenario can happen if, for
example, an accessory other than a floating GND headphone is plugged into the headphone connector. See the
Copyright 2004–2008, Texas Instruments Incorporated
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