Driving electrostatic transducers

Electrostatic transducers represent a very interesting alternative to the traditional inefficient electrodynamic transducers. In order to establish the full potential of these transducers, power amplifiers which fulfill the strict requirements imposed by such loads (high impedance, frequency depended, nonlinear and high bias voltage for linearization) must be developed.

This paper analyzes power stages and bias configurations suitable for driving an electrostatic transducer. Measurement results of a 300 V prototype amplifier are shown. Measuring THD across a high impedance source is discussed, and a high voltage attenuation interface for an audio analyzer is presented.

THD below 0:1% is reported.