Systems and methods for reduction of audio artifacts in an audio system with dynamic range enhancement

An audio system contains a signal path comprising an analog portion (16, fig.2) having a selectable analogue gain, and a digital portion (12, 14, fig.2) having a selectable digital gain. A controller (20, fig.2) switches the analogue gain between a first and a second analogue gain and switches the digital gain between a first and a second digital gain. The product of the first analog gain and the first digital gain is substantially equal to the product of the second analog gain and the second digital gain. The control circuit also controls an analog response of the signal path to reduce the occurrence of audio artefacts arising from the gain switching. The digital signal path portion (12, 14, fig.2) comprises a digital-to-analog converter 15 comprising a modulator. The reduction of audio artefacts is achieved by modifying the analog response of at least one of the modulator and the digital-to-analog converter for a duration of time, by bypassing a filter of the digital-to-analog converter. The response may be modified by activating a switch 17 to bypass a low-pass filter of the DAC.