MANHASSET, N.Y. — Seeking to overcome the poor fidelity inherent in liquid crystal display (LCD) TVs, Waves Audio Ltd. (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Tripatch Technology Inc. (San Jose) have jointly developed an audio reference design that promises to help OEMs improve the audio quality of their LCD TVs.
Called MaxxBass, the reference design combines includes Waves' MX3000AS MaxxBass ASIC and Tripath's TAA2008 class T digital amplifier. The combination of both parts overcomes the poor audio quality inherent in existing LCD TVs because of the small loudspeaker enclosures often used, the companies said.
The design does not employ the usual bass boost technology, but instead a patented psychoacoustic algorithm that enables one to hear bass far below the physical limitation of the speakers by optimizing sound perceptions.
MaxxBass enables the user to hear frequencies up to 1.5 octaves
below what is generated. By enabling small full range speakers to be embedded in a wide range of consumer products, the technology could find its way into portable loudspeakers, car audio, computers and home theater systems as well as LCD TVs, the companies said.
In addition, the reference design enables audio amplifiers to produce just one-eighth the heat of traditional amplifiers while in normal operation. Heat is a major design issue with flat panel display makers because of the slim chassis.
According to the companies, the reference design can be easily integrated into new products. Waves and Tripath are also working with independent LCD TV speaker suppliers to develop products based on the reference design.
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