XTRA Series
XPA 2004

4x 200 watts @ 4Ω; 4 x 100 watts @ 8Ω; 2 x 400 watts @ 8Ω (bridged)

Status:

Active

Role:

Project Lead Engineer.
Responsible for all circuit design, system architecture, layout and coordination with mechanical, Product Development (PD) and New Product Introduction (NPI) teams to assure product meets performance, cost and scheduling targets. My specific role was to launch a refresh of existing models and design and incorporate the constant power version into the family using a common PCB.

Description:

This amplifier is a member of the XTRA Series line of full rack amplifiers. These are Extron’s first and only full rack amplifiers which helped establish the company’s reputation as a preeminent amplifier presence. All the amplifiers in this series have professional grade THD+N and SNR figures, with unweighted noise floors typically exceeding 105dB. All models are Energy Star qualified and feature power factor correction. The amplifier stages utilize fixed frequency, naturally sampled modulators driving a Class AD output stage. This series includes low impedance, 70V, 100V and combo models.

Innovations:

Circuitry was devised which piggybacks information on top of that already being transmitted across an existing primary-secondary isolation boundary. This allows bidirectional transfer of control and state information between the amplifier and power supply without requiring the additional cost and real estate of additional isolation such as optocouplers or transformers.

A unique innovation found in the combo models of this series is a custom power supply control scheme which dynamically senses and regulates the high voltage power supply rails. This ensures optimum headroom is maintained across all amplifier channels regardless of which channel is loaded.