Progress in Power Amplifiers: Thermal Distortion

Self D. Progress in Power Amplifiers: Thermal Distortion. In: AES Convention 138. Audio Engineering Society; 2015.pp. 192:1-. Available from: https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=17627

@inproceedings{Self2015_17627,
  author = {Self, Douglas},
  title = {{Progress in Power Amplifiers: Thermal Distortion}},
  booktitle = {AES Convention 138},
  pages = {192:1-},
  year = {2015},
  month = may,
  publisher = {Audio Engineering Society},
  url = {https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=17627}
}

TY  - CPAPER
TI  - Progress in Power Amplifiers: Thermal Distortion
AU  - Self, Douglas
T2  - AES Convention 138
SP  - 1
M1  - Paper 192
PY  - 2015
DA  - 2015/05/06
UR  - https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=17627
PB  - Audio Engineering Society
LA  - en
AB  - You sometimes read of "thermal distortion" in power amplifiers supposed to be due to cyclic changes in device parameters due to varying heating over that cycle. Until recently I was unimpressed by the likelihood of its existence, reasoning that it must cause rising distortion with falling frequency, and this was not observable in measurements to 0.001% THD. (Changes in distortion due to long-term thermal changes in the output stage quiescent conditions are another matter and clearly do exist.) Improvements in test gear allowing 0.0002% measurements and the use of higher powers discloses that THD can rise with falling frequency. The component concerned is identified, and methods given for both confirming the presence of thermal distortion and reducing it.
ER  -