Minimizing startup transients in an audio playback path

A method may be provided for powering up or down a playback path (9) comprising a digital-to-analog converter (14) for generating a non- ground-centered analog intermediate voltage (VIN) centered at a common-mode voltage and coupled to a driver (16) for generating a ground-centered playback path output voltage (VOUT) at an output of the driver (16) wherein the output of the driver is clamped via a finite impedance (30) to a ground voltage. The method may include transitioning continuously or in a plurality of discrete steps the analog intermediate voltage (VIN) from an initial voltage to the common- mode voltage such that the transitioning is substantially inaudible at the output (VOUT) of the driver (16). A method for operating an output clamp (30) of an output driver stage of a playback path (9) may include transitioning continuously or in a plurality of discrete steps an impedance (32) of the output clamp (30) in order to match an output offset of the output driver stage in order to minimize audio artifacts appearing at an output (VOUT) of the output driver stage (16).