D2Audio

In 2002, in the burgeoning tech hub of Austin, Texas, a startup named D2Audio was founded with a clear mission. The company focused on designing intelligent digital audio power amplifiers. Their core innovation was the Digital Audio Engine (DAE), a family of integrated circuits that used real-time digital feedback to monitor and enhance sound quality. This technology promised to deliver the efficiency and small size of digital amplifiers without compromising on the robust, high-quality sound of top-tier analog systems. The company's leadership included CEO Rick Knox in its early years, followed by Brian Wong, who took the helm as President and CEO in 2005. Under their guidance, D2Audio carved out a niche by supplying complete, customizable amplifier modules to manufacturers of consumer, automotive, and professional audio equipment, significantly cutting their clients' time-to-market. The pivotal moment for D2Audio came in July 2008. Intersil Corporation, a major player in high-performance analog solutions, announced it was acquiring the company. For Intersil, the acquisition was a strategic move to broaden its product portfolio and strengthen its position in the consumer electronics market. D2Audio's technology was seen as a perfect synergistic fit with Intersil's existing power and signal-conditioning products. Following the acquisition, the D2Audio team and its technology were integrated into Intersil, continuing to develop next-generation audio solutions.