A threshold value adjustment circuit for adjusting a predetermined threshold value is provided in a stage followed by a protection circuit which starts protection operation when a load current flowing into an MOSFET exceeds the threshold value. A voltage proportional to a drain current and generated between the opposite ends of a current detection resistor Rd inserted between the high-side MOSFET and a positive power supply +V, and an output of an output voltage detection circuit for detecting the voltage amplitude of an analog signal from a low pass filter for modulating an output of a class D amplifier stage are inputted to the threshold value adjustment circuit. The threshold value adjustment circuit adjusts the threshold value in such a manner that a limit current of the MOSFET is set as the threshold value when the output voltage is large, and protection operation is started in response to a lower current than the limit current when the output voltage is small.