company blog about Supply ADI Amplifiers Evaluation Board:Audio Amplifier,Differential Amplifier,Variable Gain Amplifier

Supply ADI Amplifiers Evaluation Board:Audio Amplifier,Differential Amplifier,Variable Gain Amplifier

Shenzhen Mingjiada Electronics Co., Ltd. is a globally recognised authorised independent distributor of electronic components, specialising in supplying electronic components for multiple sectors including automotive electronics, power semiconductors, smart lighting, 5G communications, and artificial intelligence.

Core Products: Integrated Circuits (ICs), 5G chips, new energy ICs, IoT chips, Bluetooth chips, automotive chips, AI ICs, Ethernet ICs, memory chips, sensors, IGBT modules, etc.

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Ample Inventory Assurance: Over 2 million products maintained in stock to fulfil bulk procurement requirements.

Global Supply Network: Leveraging branches in Hong Kong, Japan, Russia and beyond to deliver worldwide rapid supply.

I. Audio Amplifier Evaluation Board: High-Fidelity and High-Efficiency Acoustic Verification Platform

ADI's audio amplifier evaluation boards primarily feature digital input Class D architectures, balancing high-fidelity performance with energy efficiency. They enable rapid validation of audio amplification solutions for consumer electronics, automotive audio systems, and similar applications. The EVAL-SSM3582Z evaluation board, a representative product, is specifically designed for the SSM3582A stereo Class D audio amplifier, perfectly replicating the device's core performance and expansion capabilities.

Operating from a single 4.5V to 16.5V supply, the board features minimal circuitry requiring only a few external components to establish a complete test system, significantly reducing bill-of-materials complexity. Performance-wise, it supports switching between stereo and mono modes. Under a 16V supply and 4Ω load, stereo mode delivers 2×31.76W power (THD+N=10%), while mono mode achieves up to 49.69W peak power driving a 2Ω load, meeting the power demands of mid-to-high-end audio equipment. Furthermore, leveraging ADI's proprietary spread-spectrum Σ-Δ modulation technology, it directly drives speakers without requiring external reconstruction filters while maintaining exceptionally low electromagnetic interference (EMI) levels. An optional ultra-low EMI mode further suppresses interference above 100MHz, making it suitable for applications with long-distance speaker cabling.

For evaluation, the EVAL-SSM3582Z offers dual modes: I²C control and hardware-independent operation. It supports sampling rates from 8kHz to 192kHz (24-bit resolution) and is compatible with mainstream PCM audio protocols including I²S, left-aligned, and TDM. Companion software enables digital volume control, soft start, and temperature monitoring. The board features extensive test points for engineers to measure key parameters including output power, THD+N, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) – achieving a typical SNR of 106.5dB and THD as low as 0.004%, enabling precise verification of performance in high-fidelity audio applications. This evaluation board is widely applicable for prototype development in mobile computing devices, home audio systems, and in-vehicle entertainment systems.

II. Differential Amplifier Evaluation Board: High-Speed, Low-Distortion Signal Conditioning Solution

Designed for high-speed data acquisition and RF signal processing applications, the differential amplifier evaluation board delivers core advantages including low noise, ultra-low distortion, and flexible gain configuration. It effectively suppresses common-mode interference to enhance signal acquisition accuracy. Universal evaluation boards based on ADI's ADA4938 series high-speed differential amplifiers (such as those adapted for 16-pin LFCSP packages) serve as ideal verification tools for high-speed ADC driving and differential signal conditioning.

The ADA4938-1 amplifiers featured on these evaluation boards are manufactured using third-generation high-voltage XFCB process technology, delivering exceptional dynamic performance: -3dB bandwidth reaches 1000MHz (gain +1), slew rate is 4700V/μs, 0.1dB gain flatness spans the 150MHz frequency band, and overshoot recovery time is a mere 4ns. This enables flawless driving of high-performance ADCs with resolutions up to 16 bits and DC-to-27MHz bandwidth. For distortion control, it achieves HD2 of -106dBc and HD3 of -109dBc at 10MHz, with input voltage noise as low as 2.6nV/√Hz. Combined with an internal common-mode feedback loop, it effectively suppresses even-order harmonic distortion, ensuring signal integrity.

The evaluation board supports both differential-to-differential and single-ended-to-differential operating modes. Closed-loop gain can be flexibly adjusted via an external feedback network comprising four resistors, while the output common-mode voltage offers wide-range adjustment to accommodate diverse ADC input requirements. The board design optimises PCB layout, utilising a bare board structure for rapid prototyping. It complies with RoHS standards and operates within an industrial-grade temperature range of -40°C to +85°C. Accompanying documentation (such as the UG-889 User Guide) provides detailed circuit design solutions and test procedures, enabling engineers to rapidly validate application feasibility in industrial automation, instrumentation, and RF communications.

III. Variable Gain Amplifier (VGA) Evaluation Boards: Programmable-Gain Broadband Signal Processing Platforms

ADI's variable gain amplifier evaluation boards focus on RF and broadband signal processing scenarios, featuring programmable gain adjustment, high linearity, and wide frequency coverage. They enable precise software control of gain and bandwidth, making them suitable for complex applications in communications, radar, and electronic warfare. Representative products include the ADRF6516-EVALZ and ADL6316-EVALZ evaluation boards, addressing gain adjustment requirements for mid-to-high frequency bands and RF transmit chains respectively.

The ADRF6516-EVALZ evaluation board is specifically designed for the ADRF6516 dual-channel matched VGA. It integrates a programmable filter and gain control module, supporting bandwidth step adjustment from 1MHz to 31MHz (6-pole Butterworth response) with a gain control range of 50dB (continuously adjustable). Paired with 15dB digital gain control, it flexibly adapts to input signals of varying strengths. Operating from a single 3.3V supply with differential input/output configuration, the board delivers IMD3 and harmonic distortion performance exceeding 65dBc (at 1.5V p-p output). Its exceptional spurious-free dynamic range makes it particularly suitable for adjacent channel interference suppression in quadrature (IQ) communication systems. The on-board USB interface connects to SMA connectors, enabling programming of filter cutoff frequency and gain steps via ADI's dedicated USB software. It supports both fully differential and single-ended signal configurations, facilitating rapid performance verification in wireless communications and data acquisition systems.

The ADL6316-EVALZ evaluation board is designed for RF transmitter link applications, complementing the ADL6316 transmit-side VGA. Operating from 500MHz to 1000MHz, it integrates a balanced-to-unbalanced converter and hybrid coupler for direct interfacing with RF DACs, transceivers, and power amplifiers. This evaluation board provides 20.5dB of integrated VVA attenuation range and 14dB of DSA attenuation (0.45dB steps), offering full programmable control via a 4-wire SPI interface. Powered by a single 5V supply, it employs a Rogers 4350B and FR-370HR four-layer board design to ensure stable RF performance. Suitable for prototype development of transmit chains requiring high-precision gain adjustment in base stations, radar systems, and RF test instruments.

IV. Common Advantages and Application Value of ADI Amplifier Evaluation Boards

All three ADI amplifier evaluation boards adhere to the design philosophy of ‘precise replication, convenient debugging, and comprehensive compatibility’, offering three core advantages: Firstly, hardware-level precision matching of chip characteristics, with optimised PCB layout and thermal design ensuring evaluation data closely aligns with mass-produced products; Secondly, a robust software ecosystem featuring complementary tools such as the ACE plugin, USB control software, and DiffAmpCalc calculator supports time-domain/frequency-domain analysis, register configuration, and gain curve plotting, thereby lowering debugging barriers. Thirdly, industrial-grade reliability with an operating temperature range of -40°C to +85°C, coupled with comprehensive protection mechanisms (e.g., short-circuit, thermal, and undervoltage protection), ensures suitability for demanding environments.

In terms of application value, these evaluation boards significantly shorten development cycles. Engineers need not build test circuits from scratch; instead, they can rapidly validate device performance and system compatibility using the boards, identifying issues early in layout, gain configuration, and noise suppression. Concurrently, ADI provides comprehensive technical documentation and application notes to guide solution optimisation, accelerating time-to-market. Whether for high-fidelity audio solutions in consumer electronics, high-speed data acquisition in industrial settings, or RF signal processing in communications, ADI amplifier evaluation boards deliver reliable performance validation support.

In summary, ADI's audio, differential, and variable-gain amplifier evaluation boards—delivering performance identical to production devices alongside comprehensive debugging capabilities and robust technical support—serve as essential tools for analogue signal processing development. They provide efficient assurance for implementing high-performance amplifier solutions across diverse domains.