QUICK START GUIDE
Demonstration System EPC9106
2 | | EPC – EFFICIENT POWER CONVERSION CORPORATION |
WWW.EPC-CO.COM
| COPYRIGHT 2017
DESCRIPTION
The EPC9106 demonstration board is a reference design for a 150 W /
8 Ω Class D audio amplifier. The demonstration board uses a
Bridge-Tied-Load (BTL) design, composed of four ground-referenced
Half-Bridge Output Stages. This architecture and topology allows
scalability and expandability.
The EPC9106 reference design has demonstrated 96% efficiency at
150 W / 8 Ω, and 92% efficiency at 250 W / 4 Ω.
The EPC9106 demonstration board features the EPC2016C
enhancement mode (eGaN®) field effect transistor (FET), as well as
the Texas Instruments LM5113 gate driver.
A complete block diagram of the circuit is given in figure 1. For more
information on the EPC2016C eGaN FET please refer to the datasheet
available from EPC at www.epc-co.com. The datasheet should be read
in conjunction with this quick start guide.
QUICK START PROCEDURE
The EPC9106 demonstration system is easy to set up to evaluate the
performance of the EPC2016C eGaN FET in a Class D audio amplifier
application. Refer to figure 2 for proper connection and measurement
setup before following the testing procedures.
The EPC9106 can be operated using one of two alternative methods:
a. High Performance Setup
b. Lower Performance Setup
a. High Performance Setup
1. Connect the left/right analog inputs to the balanced analog input
XLR connectors
2. Connect the left/right analog input cables to the audio source
(pre-amp)
a. Use a CD/DVD player with a high-performance pre-amp
3. Turn the master volume control fully counter-clockwise
(minimum volume)
4. Connect the high-voltage power supply
5. Bring up both “+” and “–” power supply rails simultaneously
(use a tracking power supply). Both channel LEDs will remain RED
until ±20 V is reached.
6. Adjust high voltage power supply rails to around ±27 V
DC
7. Connect left and right outputs to the loudspeaker of choice
NOTE: While both loudspeaker outputs are ground-referenced, neither is connected
to ground. DO NOT CONNECT EITHER OF THESE LOUDSPEAKER OUTPUTS TO ANY
SYSTEM OR TEST EQUIPMENT GROUND!!
8. Play audio source
9. Adjust master volume control to appropriate listening level
Analog Audio Input
Balanced Input
Differential XLR x 2, 2 V
RMS
Sensitivity
Unbalanced Input
Single-ended RCA Phone x 2, 2 V
RMS
Sensitivity
Power Supply
Bipolar Power Supply
±20 V
DC
to ±30 V
DC
Audio Performance
THD+N 0.003%
8 Ω, 1 kHz, 5 W Power
THD+N 0.005%
8 Ω, 1 kHz, 15 W Power
THD+N 0.006%
8 Ω, 1 kHz, 50 W Power
THD+N 0.03%
8 Ω, 1 kHz, Full Power
THD+N <0.03%
8 Ω, 20 Hz-20 kHz, -9 dB
Frequency Response
20 Hz – 20 kHz, ±0.5 dB, 8 Ω
SNR/DNR
107.8 dB (Unweighted), 110 dB (A-weighted)
Power Output (8 Ω)
150 W
RMS
Continuous
Power Output (4 Ω)
250 W
RMS
Continuous
Figure 1: Block diagram of single channel of EPC9106.
+HV
-HV
Input Processing & Drivers
b. Lower Performance Setup
1. Connect the left/right analog inputs to the unbalanced analog
input RCA phono connectors
2. Connect the left/right analog input cables to the audio source
a. Use a CD/DVD player with analog audio outputs
b If you use an MP3 player (or iPod), only use wave files,
or PCM audio – DO NOT USE MP3 files for demo!)
3. Turn the master volume control fully counter-clockwise
(minimum volume)
4. Connect the high-voltage power supply
5. Bring up both “+” and “–” power supply rails simultaneously
(use a tracking power supply). Both channel LEDs will remain RED
until ±20 V is reached.
6. Adjust high voltage power supply rails to around ±27 V
DC
(use a tracking power supply)
7. Connect left and right outputs to the loudspeaker of choice
NOTE: While both Loudspeaker Outputs are Ground-Referenced, Neither is con-
nected to Ground. DO NOT CONNECT EITHER OF THESE LOUDSPEAKER OUTPUTS TO
ANY SYSTEM OR TEST EQUIPMENT GROUND!!
8. Play audio source
9. Adjust master volume control to appropriate listening level
