On-the-fly introduction of inter-channel delay in a pulse-width-modulation amplifier

A multiple-channel audio processor and an associated plurality of power stages in an audio system are disclosed. The audio processor includes a plurality of audio amplifier channels, each of which includes a pulse-code-modulation (PCM) to pulse-width-modulation (PWM) conversion function, which generates PWM signals for application to the plurality of power stages. The audio amplifier channels each also include an interchannel delay function for delaying the PWM edges relative to other channels, for reducing noise. The audio amplifier channels each also include delay adjust circuitry for gradually increasing and decreasing the interchannel delay of the channel on startup and shutdown. This permits a single control terminal (VALID) at the processor to globally enable and disable all of the power stages.