Studio Series Stereo Headphone Amplifier

A top-class unit for the audio enthusiast!

Here's a top-class headphone amplifier that can drive high or low impedance 'phones to full power levels, with very low noise and distortion. For best performance, it can be teamed with the Stereo Preamplifier described last month. Alternatively, it can be used as a standalone unit, requiring only a power supply and a volume control pot for use with any line-level signal source (CD/MP3 player etc). It even includes dual outputs, so you can listen with a friend!
Picture of the circuit:

Many of our high-power audio amplifier designs already provide an output for headphones. The additional circuitry required for headphone support is simple; just two resistors in series with the loudspeaker outputs to limit the drive current and protect the ’phones in the case of amplifier failure.

Considering its simplicity, this resistive limiting scheme works well, although it will cause distortion if the load is non-linear – a likely prospect with most headphones. Apart from eliminating this potential source of distortion, there are a number of other reasons why you might consider building a separate headphone amplifier.

For a start, not everyone owns a pair of top-rated headphones or even a high-performance power amplifier. After all, an amplifier that equals or betters the performance of this new headphone amplifier will set you back more than a few shekels!

Parts layout:

Another reason might be for use with the latest "high-tech" audio electronics gear. The headphone outputs in much of this gear cannot drive low-impedance ’phones – or at least not to decent listening levels. In addition, available output power in portable devices is deliberately limited to conserve battery energy. This means that lots of distortion might be present at higher listening levels, even with sensitive headphones.

One way around this is to feed the line-level outputs of this gear into your power amplifier and then plug your low-impedance headphones into that. That works but then you’re tethered to an immovable object. Besides, the power required to drive headphones is around 1/1000th of that required to drive loudspeakers, so a large power amplifier could be considered a tad oversized for the job!

Circuit diagram:

Features & Performance

Main Features:

• High performance – very low noise & distortion
• Drives high and low-impedance headphones
• High output power (up to 200mW; into 8? and 32?)
• Dual headphone sockets – can drive two pairs!
• Works with a preamp or any line-level audio source

Measured Performance:

Frequency response.......................... flat from 10Hz to 20kHz (see graphs)
Rated output power........................... 200mW into 8? and 32?, 85mW into 600?
Max. output power (current or voltage limited)...............575mW into 8?, 700mW into 32?, 130mW into 600?
Harmonic distortion........................ typically .0005% (600? load),.001% (32? load) and .005% (8? load)
Signal-to-noise ratio (A-weighted)......................... -130dB (600?), -120dB (32?) and -111dB (8?) with respect to 100mW output power.
Channel crosstalk.................. better than -68dB from 20Hz-20kHz at 100m? output power (see graphs)
Input impedance.................................... ~47k? || 47pF
Output impedance..................... ~5?

Note:

All tests were performed with the amplifier driven from low source impedance. For crosstalk measurements, the non-driven input was back-terminated into 600?.

CAUTION!

Continual exposure to very high noise levels (including loud music) will cause hearing loss and can cause tinnitus. Hearing loss is cumulative, gradual and almost symptomless! 

Source: Silicon Chip 28 November 2005

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Hybrid Headphone Amplifier

Potentially, headphone listening can be technically superior since room reflections are eliminated and the intimate contact between transducer and ear mean that only tiny amounts of power are required. The small power requirement means that transducers can be operated at a small fraction of their full excursion capabilities thus reducing THD and other non-linear distortions. This design of a dedicated headphones amplifier is potentially controversial in that it has unity voltage gain and employs valves and transistors in the same design.

Normal headphones have an impedance of 32R per channel. The usual standard line output of 775 mV to which all quality equipment aspires will generate a power of U2 / R = 0.7752 / 32 = 18 mW per channel across a headphone of this impedance. An examination of available headphones at well known high street emporiums revealed that the sensitivity varied from 96 dB to 103db/mW! So, in practice the circuit will only require unity gain to reach deafening levels. As a unity gain design is required it is quite possible to employ a low distortion output stage.

The obvious choice is an emitter follower. This has nearly unity gain combined with a large amount of local feedback. Unfortunately the output impedance of an emitter follower is dependent upon the source impedance. With a volume control, or even with different signal sources this will vary and could produce small but audible changes in sound quality. To prevent this, the output stage is driven by a cathode follower,based around an ECC82 valve (US equivalent: 12AU7).

This device, as opposed to a transistor configuration, enables the output stage to be driven with a constant value, low impedance. In other words, the signal from the low impedance point is used to drive the high impedance of the output stage, a situation which promotes low overall THD. At the modest output powers required of the circuit, the only sensible choice is a Class A circuit. In this case the much vaunted single-ended output stage is employed and that comprises of T3 and constant current source T1-T2.

Circuit diagram:

Hybrid Headphone Amplifier Circuit Diagram

The constant current is set by the Vbe voltage of T1 applied across R5 With its value of 22R, the current is set at 27 mA. T3 is used in the emitter follower mode with high input impedance and low output impedance. Indeed the main problem of using a valve at low voltages is that it’s fairly difficult to get any real current drain. In order to prevent distortion the output stage shouldn’t be allowed to load the valve. This is down to the choice of output device. A BC517 is used for T3 because of its high current gain, 30,000 at 2 mA! Since we have a low impedance output stage, the load may be capacitively coupled via C4.

Some purists may baulk at the idea of using an electrolytic for this job but he fact remains that distortion generated by capacitive coupling is at least two orders of magnitude lower than transformer coupling. The rest of the circuitry is used to condition the various voltages used by the circuit. In order to obtain a linear output the valve grid needs to be biased at half the supply voltage. This is the function of the voltage divider R4 and R2. Input signals are coupled into the circuit via C1 and R1.

R1, connected between the voltage divider and V1’s grid defines the input impedance of the circuit. C1 has sufficiently large a value to ensure response down to 2 Hz. Although the circuit does a good job of rejecting line noise on its own due to the high impedance of V1’s anode and T3’s collector current, it needs a little help to obtain a silent background in the absence of signal. The ‘help’ is in the form of the capacitance multiplier circuit built around T5. Another BC517 is used here to avoid loading of the filter comprising R7 and C5. In principle the capacitance of C5 is multiplied by the gain of T5.

In practice the smooth dc applied to T5’s base appears at low impedance at its emitter. An important added advantage is that the supply voltage is applied slowly on powering up. This is of course due to the time taken to fully charge C5 via R7. No trace of hum or ripple can be seen here on the ‘scope. C2 is used to ensure stability at RF. The DC supply is also used to run the valve heater. The ECC82 has an advantage here in that its heater can be connected for operate from 12.6 V.

To run it T4 is used as a series pass element. Base voltage is obtained from the emitter of T5. T4 has very low output impedance, about 160 mR and this helps to prevent extraneous signals being picked up from the heater wiring. Connecting the transistor base to C5 also lets the valve heater warm up gently. A couple of volts only are lost across T4 and although the device runs warm it doesn’t require a heat-sink.

Author: Jeff Macaulay - Copyright: Elektor Electronics

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Simple Hybrid Audio Amplifier

The debate still goes on as to which are better, valves or transistors. We don’t intend to get involved in that argument here. But if you can’t make your mind up, you should try out this simple amplifier. This amplifier uses a valve as a pre-amplifier and a MOSFET in the output stage. The strong negative feedback makes the frequency response as flat as a pancake. In the prototype of the amplifier we’ve also tried a few alternative components.

For example, the BUZ11 can be replaced by an IRFZ34N and an ECC83 can be used instead of the ECC88. In that case the anode voltage should be reduced slightly to 155 V. The ECC83 (or its US equivalent the 12AX7) requires 2 x 6.3 V for the filament supply and there is no screen between the two triodes, normally connected to pin 9. This pin is now connected to the common of the two filaments.

The filaments are connected to ground via R5. If you’re keeping an eye on the quality, you should at least use MKT types for coupling capacitors C1, C4 and C7. Better still are MKP capacitors. For C8 you should have a look at Panasonic’s range of audio grade electrolytics. P1 is used to set the amount of negative feedback. The larger the negative feedback is, the flatter the frequency response will be, but the smaller the overall gain becomes.

Circuit diagram:

Simple Hybrid Audio Amplifier Circuit Diagram

With P2 you can set the quiescent current through T2. We have chosen a fairly high current of 1.3 A, making the output stage work in Class A mode. This does generate a relatively large amount of heat, so you should use a large heatsink for T2 with a thermal coefficient of 1 K/W or better. For L1 we connected two secondary windings in series from a 2x18V/225 VA toroidal transformer.

The resulting inductance of 150 mH was quite a bit more than the recommended 50 mH. However, with an output power of 1 W the amplifier had difficulty reproducing signals below 160 Hz. The distortion rose to as much as 9% for a signal of 20 Hz at 100 mW. To properly reproduce low-frequency signals the amplifier needs a much larger coil with an iron core and an air gap. This prevents the core from saturating when a large DC current flows through the coil.

Parts layout:

Such a core may be found in obsolete equipment, such as old video recorders. A suitable core consists of welded E and I sections. These transformers can be converted to the required inductor as follows: cut through the welding, remove the windings, add 250 to 300 windings of 0.8 mm enamelled copper wire, firmly fix the E and I sections back together with a piece of paper in between as isolation.

The concepts used in this circuit lend themselves very well to some experimentation. The number of supply voltages can be a bit of a problem to start with. For this reason we have designed a power supply especially for use with this amplifier (Quad power supply for hybrid amp). This can of course just as easily be used with other amplifiers. The supply uses a cascade stage to output an unstabilised voltage of 170 V for the SRPP (single rail push pull) stage (V1).

PCB layout:

During initial measurements we found that the ripple on this supply was responsible for a severe hum at the output of the amplifier. To get round this problem we designed a separate voltage regulator (High-voltage regulator with short circuit protection), which can cope with these high voltages. If you use a separate transformer for the filament supply you can try and see if the circuit works without R5. During the testing we used a DC voltage for the filament supply. Although you may not suspect it from the test measurements (see table), this amplifier doesn’t sound bad.

In fact, it is easily better than many consumer amplifiers. The output power is fairly limited, but is still enough to let your neighbours enjoy the music as well. It is possible to make the amplifier more powerful, in which case we recommend that you use more than one MOSFET in the output stage. The inductor also needs to be made beefier. Since this is a Class A amplifier, the supply needs to be able to output the required current, which becomes much greater at higher output powers. The efficiency of the amplifier is a bit over 30%.

Author: Frans Janssens - Copyright: Elektor Electronics

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18W + 18W Stereo Hi-Fi Audio Amplifier (TDA2030)

2 x 18W Hi-Fi Stereo Power Amplifier based around two TDA2030 ICs. It has good input sensitivity, low distortion, good operating stability and full protection against overloads and output short-circuits. It can be used as a booster amplifier for existing small systems or to drive a second pair of speakers besides the ones already connected to the system. The board needs a symmetrical power supply of ±18Vdc/3A and can be connected to loads of 8 or 4 Ohm. Large heat sink is required for this circuit. Diagram shown below indicates only left channel. Make two circuits for for stereo version.

Picture of the project:

18+18 Watt Hi-Fi Stereo Audio Amplifier Circuit Diagram

Circuit Diagram:

Diagram Shows Only One Channel

Parts:

R1 = 22K
R2 = 680R
R3 = 22K
R4 = 1R-1w
D1 = 1N4001
D2 = 1N4001
C1 = 1uf-25V
C2 = 22uF-25V
C3 = 100nF-63V
C4 = 100nF-63V
C5 = 100uF-25V
C6 = 100uF-25V
C7 = 220nF-63V
IC = TDA2030

If it does not work:

1. Check your work for possible dry joints, bridges across adjacent tracks or soldering flux residues that usually cause problems.
2. Check again all the external connections to and from the circuit to see if there is a mistake there.
3. See that there are no components missing or inserted in the wrong places.
4. Make sure that all the polarized components have been soldered the right way round.
5. Make sure the supply has the correct voltage and is connected the right way round to your circuit.
6. Check your project for faulty or damaged components.

Technical Specifications:

• Supply voltage = ±18Vdc/3A symmetrical (see text)
• Current consumption = 3A maximum
• Input impedance = 500K Ohms
• Input sensitivity = 250 mV
• Signal to noise ratio = 80 dB
• Frequency response = 20 - 20,000 Hz ± 1 dB
• Distortion = 0.5 % maximum
• Load impedance = 4 - 8 ohm

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2.5 W Stereo Class D Audio Power Amplifier Using LM4663

Description : 
This circuit is a 2.5 W stereo class D audio power amplifier using LM4663.

Feature : 
Two stereo input selector, Micropower shutdown mode, Stereo headphone amplifier, no heatsink needed, “Click and pop” suppression circuitry, Delta-sigma modulator, high efficiency, single supply. Component : resistor, capacitor, LM4663, speaker, headphone.

Source:national.com

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Compact DJ Station

This project consists of a small, portable DJ mixer powered by a 9V dc external supply adaptor or from a 9V PP3 battery. The mixer features two stereo phono inputs and two stereo line-level inputs and has one stereo mixing channel. A microphone input and a stereo main output with adjustable gain are also provided. Headphone monitoring includes a cue switch for selecting Channel 1, Channel 2 or Master Channel. For easy understanding, the circuit is divided into five blocks, as follows:

General Circuit diagram:all passive circuitry (controls, faders, switches, input and output connectors) is shown in full, whereas active amplification modules are represented by suitably labeled triangle symbols.
Phono Amplifier Module: a high gain stereo amplifier suitable for moving magnet pick-up cartridges, having a frequency response according to RIAA equalization curve and based on the low noise, low distortion LS4558 dual IC. Two identical stereo modules of this type are required.
Microphone Amplifier Module: a single transistor, low noise, high gain microphone amplifier, suitable for low impedance microphones.
Mixer Module: a stereo circuit incorporating two virtual-earth mixers based on the dual BIFET TL062 Op-Amp.
Headphone Amplifier Module: this circuit was already present on this website under Portable 9V Headphone Amplifier. It features a low current drain stereo amplifier based on the low distortion, low noise 5532 dual IC, capable of delivering 3.6V peak-to-peak into 32 Ohm load at 9V supply (corresponding to 50mW RMS) with less than 0.025% total harmonic distortion (1kHz & 10kHz).

General Circuit Diagram:

DJ Station General Circuit diagram

Parts:

P1,P2,P4,P5____22K Dual gang Log Potentiometers
P3_____________22K Dual gang Linear Potentiometer
P6_____________22K Log Potentiometer
R1 to R10______30K 1/4W 1% or 2% tolerance Resistors
R11_____________1K 1/4W Resistor
C1___________2200µF 25V Electrolytic Capacitor
D1_____________3mm. or 6mm. red LED
J1 to J10______RCA audio input sockets
J11____________6mm. or 3.5mm. Stereo Jack socket
J12____________6mm. or 3.5mm. Mono Jack socket
J13____________Mini DC Power Socket
SW1,SW2________DPDT toggle or slide Switches
SW3____________2 poles 3 ways Rotary Switch
SW4____________SPST toggle or slide Switch

Circuit description:

The input source can be selected by means of SW1 for Channel 1 and SW2 for Channel 2. Moving magnet pick-ups must be connected to Phono 1 and 2 inputs, whereas CD players, iPods, Tape recorders, PC Audio outputs and the like can be connected to Line 1 and 2 inputs. After a separate Level control for each channel (P1 and P2), the two incoming audio signals are mixed and cross-faded by means of P3 and associated resistors network. The Crossfader control mixes both Channels at the same intensity when set in the middle position. When the cursor of P3 is fully rotated towards R3-R4, only Channel 1 signal is present at the Main output, whereas Channel 2 is muted.

Conversely, Channel 2 signal is present at the Main output and Channel 1 is muted when the cursor of P3 is fully rotated towards R1-R2. This network is followed by the Mixer Amplifier, the Master Level P4 and the Main output sockets. A low impedance microphone can be connected to the Mic input. P6 controls the signal level after amplification by the Microphone Amplifier module and feeds the Left and Right Mixer Amplifiers through R9-R10. In this way, the speaker's voice will be reproduced at the center of the soundstage.

A stereo Headphone Amplifier with cue gain control is provided for monitoring purposes. The Cue Select switch SW3 will allow Headphone reproduction of Channel 1, Channel 2 or Master Channel, independently of the signal present at the Main Output. J13 is a Mini DC Power Socket into which the suitable plug of a 9V dc external supply adaptor should be inserted. In any case, due to the low total current drain (about 13mA average), a 9V battery can be used satisfactorily to power the entire Station.

Magnetic Pick-up Amplifier Module

Magnetic Pick-up Amplifier Circuit Diagram

Parts:

R1,R10__________2K2 1/4W Resistors
R2,R3,R11,R12_100K 1/4W Resistors
R4,R13__________1K 1/4W Resistors
R5,R6,R14,R15__18K 1/4W Resistors
R7,R16________390K 1/4W Resistors
R8____________220R 1/4W Resistor
R9,R17_________10K 1/4W Resistors
C1,C5,C6,C10___22µF 25V Electrolytic Capacitors
C2,C7__________47µF 25V Electrolytic Capacitors
C3,C8___________2n2 63V Polyester or Polystyrene low tolerance Capacitors
C4,C9__________10nF 63V Polyester or Polystyrene low tolerance Capacitors
C11___________100µF 25V Electrolytic Capacitor
IC1__________LS4558 Dual High Performance Op-Amp

Circuit description:

A straightforward series-feedback amplifier circuit with RIAA frequency compensation, based on the High Performance LS4558 Op-Amp was used for this stage.
Despite the low supply voltage operation, the performance of this Circuit Module is quite good.

Note:

• Two identical stereo modules of this type are required.
• A more strict RIAA equalization curve will be obtained if low tolerance components are used for R5, R6, R7, R14, R15, R16 (1% - 2%) and C3, C4, C8, C9 (2% - 5%).

Microphone Amplifier Module

Microphone Amplifier Circuit Diagram

Parts:

R1______________1M2 1/4W Resistor
R2______________5K6 1/4W Resistor
R3______________1K 1/4W Resistor
C1,C3___________4µ7 63V Electrolytic Capacitors
C2____________100µF 25V Electrolytic Capacitor
Q1____________BC550C 45V 100mA Low noise High gain NPN

Circuit description:

This circuit module, based on a very simple, single transistor amplifier, features a low noise, 45dB stage gain. Input impedance: 2700 Ohm.

Mixer Module

Mixer Circuit Diagram

Parts:

R1,R2,_________68K 1/4W Resistors
R3,R4_________120K 1/4W Resistors
C1,C2,C4,C6,C8__4µ7 63V Electrolytic Capacitors
C3,C7__________10pF 63V Ceramic Capacitors
C5____________100µF 25V Electrolytic Capacitor
IC1___________TL062 Low current BIFET Dual Op-Amp

Circuit description:

Straightforward virtual-earth mixer-amplifier stage based on the very low current drawing BIFET TL062 Op-Amp.

Headphone Amplifier Module:

Headphone Amplifier Circuit Diagram

Parts:

R1,R5___________18K 1/4W Resistors
R2,R3,R4,R6_____68K 1/4W Resistors
C1,C2,C6_________4µ7 25V Electrolytic Capacitors
C3,C7___________22pF 50V Ceramic Capacitors
C4,C5,C8_______220µF 25V Electrolytic Capacitors
IC1___________NE5532 Low noise Dual Op-amp

Circuit description:

For a complete description of this stage see: Portable 9V Headphone Amplifier.

Technical data:

Sensitivity:
Microphone Input: 3.5mV RMS
Phono Input: 8mV RMS
Line Input: 500mV RMS

Maximum undistorted output:
Main output: 2.5V RMS
Headphones: 1.27V RMS into 32 Ohm load

Frequency response:
Microphone and Line: flat from 20Hz to 20KHz
Phono: according to RIAA curve ±1dB
Headphones: flat from 40Hz to 20KHz; -2.3dB @ 20Hz

Total harmonic distortion @ 1KHz and 1V RMS output:
Line: 0.013%
Phono: 0.016%
Headphones: 0.025%

Total current drawing @ 9V supply:
Standing current: 10mA
Mean current drawing: 13mA

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Pure Class-A Headphone Amplifier Schematic

400mW RMS into 32 Ohm load, Single-rail Supply - Optional Tilt Control

This design is derived from the Portable Headphone Amplifier featuring an NPN/PNP compound pair emitter follower output stage. An improved output driving capability is gained by making this a push-pull Class-A arrangement. Output power can reach 427mW RMS into a 32 Ohm load at a fixed standing current of 100mA. The single voltage gain stage allows the easy implementation of a shunt-feedback circuitry giving excellent frequency stability.
Tilt control:
The mentioned shunt-feedback configuration also allows the easy addition of frequency dependent networks in order to obtain an useful, unobtrusive, switchable Tilt control (optional). When SW1 is set in the first position a gentle, shelving bass lift and treble cut is obtained. The central position of SW1 allows a flat frequency response, whereas the third position of this switch enables a shelving treble lift and bass cut.

Circuit diagram:

Class-A Headphone Amplifier Circuit Diagram

Parts:

P1 = 22K Dual gang Log Potentiometer (ready for Stereo)

R1 = 15K 1/4W Resistor
R2 = 220K 1/4W Resistor
R3 = 100K 1/2W Trimmer Cermet
R4 = 33K 1/4W Resistor
R5 = 68K 1/4W Resistor
R6 = 50K 1/2W Trimmer Cermet
R7 = 10K 1/4W Resistor
R8 = 47K 1/4W Resistors
R9 = 47K 1/4W Resistors
R10 = 2R2 1/4W Resistors
R11 = 2R2 1/4W Resistors
R12 = 4K7 1/4W Resistor
R13 = 4R7 1/2W Resistor
R14 = 1K2 1/4W Resistor
R15 = 330K 1/4W Resistors (Optional)
R16 = 680K 1/4W Resistor (Optional)
R17 = 220K 1/4W Resistors (Optional)
R18 = 330K 1/4W Resistors (Optional)
R19 = 220K 1/4W Resistors (Optional)
R20 = 22K 1/4W Resistors (Optional)
R21 = 22K 1/4W Resistors (Optional)

C1 = 10µF 25V Electrolytic Capacitors
C2 = 10µF 25V Electrolytic Capacitors
C3 = 10µF 25V Electrolytic Capacitors
C4 = 10µF 25V Electrolytic Capacitors
C5 = 220µF 25V Electrolytic Capacitors
C6 = 100nF 63V Polyester Capacitors
C7 = 220µF 25V Electrolytic Capacitors
C8 = 2200µF 25V Electrolytic Capacitor
C9 = 1nF 63V Polyester Capacitors (Optional)
C10 = 470pF 63V Polystyrene or Ceramic Capacitor (Optional)
C13 = 15nF 63V Polyester Capacitor (Optional)
C11 = 1nF 63V Polyester Capacitors (Optional)
C12 = 1nF 63V Polyester Capacitors (Optional)

D1 = 5mm. or 3mm. LED
D2 = 1N4002 100V 1A Diodes
D3 = 1N4002 100V 1A Diodes

Q1 = BC550C 45V 100mA Low noise High gain NPN Transistors
Q2 = BC550C 45V 100mA Low noise High gain NPN Transistors
Q3 = BC560C 45V 100mA Low noise High gain PNP Transistor
Q4 = BD136 45V 1.5A PNP Transistor
Q5 = BD135 45V 1.5A NPN Transistor

IC1 = 7815 15V 1A Positive voltage regulator IC
T1 = 220V Primary, 15+15V Secondary-5VA Mains transformer

SW1 = 4 poles 3 ways rotary Switch (ready for Stereo)
SW2 = SPST slide or toggle Switch

J1 = RCA audio input socket
J2 = 6mm. or 3mm. Stereo Jack socket
PL1 = Male Mains plug

Notes:

• Q4, Q5 and IC1 must be fitted with a small U-shaped heatsink.
• For a Stereo version of this circuit, all parts must be doubled except P1, IC1, R14, D1, D2, D3, C8, T1, SW1, SW2, J2 and PL1.
• If the Tilt Control is not needed, omit SW1, all resistors from R15 onwards and all capacitors from C9 onwards. Connect the rightmost terminal of R1 to the Base of Q1.
• Before setting quiescent current rotate the volume control P1 to the minimum, Trimmer R6 to zero resistance and Trimmer R3 to about the middle of its travel.
• Connect a suitable headphone set or, better, a 33 Ohm 1/2W resistor to the amplifier output.
• Connect a Multimeter, set to measure about 10Vdc fsd, across the positive end of C5 and the negative ground.
• Switch on the supply and rotate R3 in order to read about 7.7-7.8V on the Multimeter display.
• Switch off the supply, disconnect the Multimeter and reconnect it, set to measure at least 200mA fsd, in series to the positive supply of the amplifier.
• Switch on the supply and rotate R6 slowly until a reading of about 100mA is displayed.
• Check again the voltage at the positive end of C5 and readjust R3 if necessary.
• Wait about 15 minutes, watch if the current is varying and readjust if necessary.
• Those lucky enough to reach an oscilloscope and a 1KHz sine wave generator, can drive the amplifier to the maximum output power and adjust R3 in order to obtain a symmetrical clipping of the sine wave displayed.

Technical data:

• Output power (1KHz sinewave):
• 32 Ohm: 427mW RMS
• 64 Ohm: 262mW RMS
• 100 Ohm: 176mW RMS
• 300 Ohm: 64mW RMS
• 600 Ohm: 35mW RMS
• 2000 Ohm: 10mW RMS

Sensitivity:

• 140mV input for 1V RMS output into 32 Ohm load (31mW)
• 500mV input for 3.5V RMS output into 32 Ohm load (380mW)
• Total harmonic distortion into 32 Ohm load @ 1KHz:
• 1V RMS 0.005% 3V RMS 0.015% 3.65V RMS (onset of clipping) 0.018%
• Total harmonic distortion into 32 Ohm load @ 10KHz:
• 1V RMS 0.02% 3V RMS 0.055% 3.65V RMS (onset of clipping) 0.1%
• Unconditionally stable on capacitive loads

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22W Stereo Amplifier Using TDA1554

Here is the 22 watt stereo audio power amplifier circuit diagram based on TDA1554 and integrated circuit from NXP semiconductors (formerly PHILIPS semiconductors). It is very simple and useful circuit for amplify the stereo signals .The circuit dissipates roughly 28 watts of heat, so a good heatsink is necessary. The chip should run cool enough to touch with the proper heatsink installed .the circuit operates at 12 Volts at about 5 Amps at full volume. Lower volumes use less current, and therefore produce less heat. R1 is also a 5% resistor.

Circuit diagram:

22W Stereo Audio Amplifier Circuit Diagram

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Guitar Amplifier

10W Old-Style ultra-compact Combo, Two inputs - Overdrive - Treble-enhancement

The aim of this design was to reproduce a Combo amplifier of the type very common in the 'sixties and the 'seventies of the past century. It is well suited as a guitar amplifier but it will do a good job with any kind of electronic musical instrument or microphone. 5W power output was a common feature of these widespread devices due to the general adoption of a class A single-tube output stage (see the Vox AC-4 model). Furthermore, nowadays we can do without the old-fashioned Vib-Trem feature frequently included in those designs. The present circuit can deliver 10W of output power when driving an 8 Ohm load, or about 18W @ 4 Ohm. It also features a two-FET preamplifier, two inputs with different sensitivity, a treble-cut control and an optional switch allowing overdrive or powerful treble-enhancement.

Circuit diagram:

Guitar Amplifier Circuit Diagram

Parts:

P1______________4K7 Linear Potentiometer
P2_____________10K Log. Potentiometer
R1,R2__________68K 1/4W Resistors
R3____________220K 1/4W Resistor
R4,R6,R11_______4K7 1/4W Resistors
R5_____________27K 1/4W Resistor
R7______________1K 1/4W Resistor
R8______________3K3 1/2W Resistor
R9______________2K 1/2W Trimmer Cermet
R10___________470R 1/4W Resistor
R12_____________1K5 1/4W Resistor
R13___________470K 1/4W Resistor
R14____________33K 1/4W Resistor
C1____________100pF 63V Ceramic Capacitor
C2____________100nF 63V Polyester Capacitor
C3____________470µF 35V Electrolytic Capacitor
C4____________220nF 63V Polyester Capacitor (Optional, see Notes)
C5_____________47µF 25V Electrolytic Capacitor (Optional, see Notes)
C6______________1µF 63V Polyester Capacitor
C7,C8,C9,C10___47µF 25V Electrolytic Capacitors
C11____________47pF 63V Ceramic Capacitor
C12__________1000µF 35V Electrolytic Capacitor
C13__________2200µF 35V Electrolytic Capacitor
D1_____________5mm. Red LED
D2,D3________1N4004 400V 1A Diodes
Q1,Q2________2N3819 General-purpose N-Channel FETs
Q3____________BC182 50V 200mA NPN Transistor
Q4____________BD135 45V 1.5A NPN Transistor (See Notes)
Q5____________BDX53A 60V 8A NPN Darlington Transistor
Q6____________BDX54A 60V 8A PNP Darlington Transistor
J1,J2________6.3mm. Mono Jack sockets
SW1____________1 pole 3 ways rotary switch (Optional, see Notes)
SW2____________SPST Mains switch
F1_____________1.6A Fuse with socket
T1_____________220V Primary, 48V Center-tapped Secondary 20 to 30VA Mains transformer
PL1____________Male Mains plug
SPKR___________One or more speakers wired in series or in parallel, Total resulting impedance: 8 or 4 Ohm, Minimum power handling: 20W

Notes:

• SW1 and related capacitors C4 & C5 are optional.
• When SW1 slider is connected to C5 the overdrive feature is enabled.
• When SW1 slider is connected to C4 the treble-enhancer is enabled.
• C4 value can be varied from 100nF to 470nF to suit your treble-enhancement preferences.
• In all cases where Darlington transistors are used as the output devices it is essential that the sensing transistor (Q4) should be in as close thermal contact with the output transistors as possible. Therefore a TO126-case transistor type was chosen for easy bolting on the heatsink, very close to the output pair.
• To set quiescent current, remove temporarily the Fuse F1 and insert the probes of an Avo-meter in the two leads of the fuse holder.
• Set the volume control to the minimum and Trimmer R9 to its minimum resistance.
• Power-on the circuit and adjust R9 to read a current drawing of about 25 to 30mA.
• Wait about 15 minutes, watch if the current is varying and readjust if necessary.

Technical data are quite impressive for so simple a design:

Sensitivity:
30mV input for 10W output
Frequency response:
40 to 20KHz -1dB
Total harmonic distortion @ 1KHz and 10KHz, 8 Ohm load:
below 0.05% @ 1W, 0.08% @ 3.5W, 0.15% at the onset of clipping (about 10W).

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18watt Audio Amplifier

High Quality very simple unit, No need for a preamplifier

Circuit Diagram:

18watt Audio Amplifier

Circuit Diagram:

Power Supply circuit Diagram

Amplifier parts:

P1 = 22K
R1 = 1K
R2 = 4K7
R3 = 100R
R4 = 4K7
R5 = 82K
R6 = 10R-1/2W
R7 = 22R
R8 = 1K-1/2W (optional)
C1 = 470nF-63V
C2 = 100µF-3V Tantalum bead Capacitors
C3 = 470µF-25V
C4 = 470µF-25V
C5 = 100µF-3V Tantalum bead Capacitors
C6 = 100nF-63V
D1 = 1N4148
IC1 = TLE2141C
Q1 = BC182
Q2 = BC212 50V 100mA PNP Transistor
Q3 = TIP42A
Q4 = TIP41A
J1 = RCA audio input socket

Power supply parts:

R9 = 2K2
C7 = 4700µF 25V
C8 = 4700µF 25V
D2 = 100V 4A Diode bridge
D3 = 5mm. Red LED
T1 = 30VCT, 50VA Mains transformer
PL1 = Male Mains plug
SW1 = SPST Mains switch
 
Notes:

• Can be directly connected to CD players, tuners and tape recorders.
• Do not exceed 23 + 23V supply.
• Q3 and Q4 must be mounted on heatsink.
• D1 must be in thermal contact with Q1.
• Quiescent current (best measured with an Avo-meter in series with Q3 Emitter) is not critical.
• Adjust R3 to read a current between 20 to 30 mA with no input signal.
• To facilitate quiescent current setting add R8 (optional).
• A correct grounding is very important to eliminate hum and ground loops. Connect to the same point the ground sides of J1, P1, C2, C3 & C4. Connect C6 to the output ground.
• Then connect separately the input and output grounds to the power supply ground.

Source : www.redcircuits.com

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Headphone Amplifier Using Discrete Components

An amplifier to drive low to medium impedance headphones built using discrete components.

Both halves of the circuit are identical. Both inputs have a dc path to ground via the input 47k control which should be a dual log type potentiometer. The balance control is a single 47k linear potentiometer, which at center adjustment prevents even attenuation to both left and right input signals. If the balance control is moved towards the left side, the left input track has less resistance than the right track and the left channel is reduced more than the right side and vice versa. The preceding 10k resitors ensure that neither input can be "shorted" to earth.

Circuit diagram:

Headphone Amplifier Circuit Diagram

Amplification of the audio signal is provided by a single stage common emitter amplifier and then via a direct coupled emitter follower. Overall gain is less than 10 but the final emitter follower stage will directly drive 8 ohm headphones. Higher impedance headphones will work equally well. Note the final 2k2 resistor at each output. This removes the dc potential from the 2200u coupling capacitors and prevents any "thump" being heard when headphones are plugged in. The circuit is self biasing and designed to work with any power

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Low Cost 2x20 Watt Stereo Amplifier by TDA2005

This circuit is a small stereo amplifier for all suitable applications like amplifying small speakers, boxing, etc. It is also suitable for car use but before, the power supply must be choked with at least 150mH and it must give up to approximately 6 to 7 amps during the upstream performance. Appropriate heatsink for the amplifier is SK08 with a height of 50 mm (approx. 2.5 K per watt). You should drill the cooler after soldering the board to center it properly. The TDA2005 also needs not be isolated from the heat sink, since the metal mounting part of the IC is grounded.

You should use thermal paste to improve the heat dissipation. After the assembly , case construction is left to the builder. 100K potentiometers are used for adjusting the input volume. The potentiometers are absent in the layout. The 100K resistors need only be installed if the 100 K potentiometers are not used as shown in the layout. You should use a well designed quality transformer to get less noise. It will be another good way to use a sufficient battery to power the circuit. Keep the supply wires as short as possible. Input source should be isolated from the external noises too. It is recommended to use coaxial cable to connect the input audio.

Technical data:
Performance of TDA2005M: (for this circuit); At 14.4 V supply voltage: 2 x 20 watts (stereo) into 4 Ohms.
Distortion: Approx. 0.2% at 4 Watts into 4 ohm load.
Frequency Range: Approx. 20 Hz to 22 KHz.
Input Sensitivity: Approx. maximum 150 mV rms. .
Power supply: + 8 to 18 volts, approx. maximum 3.5 Amps per channel.
Click Here to Download Schematic, PCB and Layout Files

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Dual Power Amplifier Using TDA7293 MOSFET IC

As readers will know, there are already several power amplifier projects, two using IC power amps (aka power opamps). Both have been popular, and this project is not designed to replace either of them. However, it is significantly smaller than the others, so it makes building a multiple amp unit somewhat easier because the space demand is much lower. It's quite simple to include 4 amps (two boards) into a small space, but be aware that good heatsinking is essential if you expect to run these amps at significant power levels.

Photo of Completed P127 Board

The TDA7293 IC uses a MOSFET power stage, where the others featured use bipolar transistors. The main benefit of the MOSFET stage is that it doesn't need such radical protection circuitry as a bipolar stage, so unpleasant protection circuit artefacts are eliminated. There are no apparent downsides to the TDA7293, although it was found that one batch required a much higher voltage on the Standby and Mute pins than specified, or the amps would not work. This is not a limitation, since both are tied to the positive supply rail and are therefore disabled.

This particular project has been planned for a long time, but for some reason I never got around to completing the board or the project description. This is now rectified, and it's ready to "rock and roll". The board is very small - only 77 x 31mm, so getting it into tight spaces is easy ... provided adequate heatsinking is available of course.

Description

The TDA7293 has a bewildering number of options, even allowing you to add a second power stage (in another IC) in parallel with the main one. This improves power into low impedance loads, but is a rather expensive way to get a relatively small power increase. It also features muting and standby functions, although I've elected not to use these.

The schematic is shown in Figure 1, and is based on the PCB version. All unnecessary functions have been disabled, so it functions as a perfectly normal power amplifier. While the board is designed to take two TDA7293 ICs, it can naturally be operated with only one, and the PCB is small enough so that this is not an inconvenience. A LED is included to indicate that power is available, and because of the low current this will typically be a high brightness type.

Figure 1 - Schematic of Power Amplifier (One Channel Shown)

The IC has been shown in the same format that's shown in the data sheet, but has been cleaned up for publication here. Since there are two amps on the board, there are two of most of the things shown, other than the power supply bypass caps and LED "Power Good" indicator. These ICs are extremely reliable (as are most power amp ICs), and to reduce the PCB size as much as possible, fuse clips and fuses have not been included. Instead, there are fusible tracks on the board that will fail if there is a catastrophic fault. While this is not an extremely reliable fuse, the purpose is to prevent power transformer failure, not to protect the amplifiers or PCB.

I normally use a gain of 23 (27dB) for all amplifiers, and the TDA7293 is specified for a minimum gain of 26dB, below which it may oscillate. Although this is only a small margin, tests so far indicate that the amp is completely stable. If you wish, you may increase the gain to 28 (29dB) to give a bit more safety margin. To do this, just change the input and feedback resistors (R3A/B and R4A/B) from 22k to 27k.

The circuit is conventional, and is very simple because all additional internal functions are unused. The LED is optional, and if you don't think you'll need it, it may be omitted, along with series resistor R3. All connections can be made with plugs and sockets, or hard wired. In most cases, I expect that hard wiring will be the most common, as the connectors are a pain to wire, and add unnecessary cost as well as reduce reliability.

The TDA7293 specifications might lead you to believe that it can use supply voltages of up to ±50V. With zero input signal (and therefore no output) it might, but I don't recommend anything greater than ±35V if 4 ohm loads are expected, although ±42V will be fine if you can provide good heatsinking. In general, the lower supply voltage is more than acceptable for 99% of all applications, and higher voltages should not be used unless there is no choice. Naturally, if you can afford to lose a few ICs to experiments, then go for the 42V supplies (obtained from a 30+30V transformer).

Construction

Because of the pin spacings, these ICs are extremely awkward to use without a PCB. Consequently, I recommend that you use the ESP board because it makes building the amplifier very simple. The PCBs are double sided with plated-through holes, so are very unforgiving of mistakes unless you have a good solder sucker. The best way to remove parts from a double sided board is to cut the pins off the component, then remove each pin fragment individually. This is obviously not something you'd wish to do if a power amp IC were installed incorrectly, since it will be unusable afterwards.

Figure 2 - TDA7293V Pinouts

The diagram above shows the pinouts for the TDA7293V (the "V" means vertical mounting). Soldering the ICs must be left until last. Mount the ICs on your heatsink temporarily, and slide the PCB over the pins. Make sure that all pins go through their holes, and that there is no strain on the ICs that may try to left the edge off the heatsink. When ICs and PCB are straight and aligned, carefully solder at least 4 pins on each IC to hold them in place. The remaining pins can then be soldered. Remember, if you mess up the alignment at this point in construction, it can be extremely difficult to fix, so take your time to ensure there are no mistakes.

This amplifier must not be connected to a preamp that does not have an output coupling capacitor. Even though there is a cap in the feedback circuit, it can still pass DC because there is no input cap on the PCB. I normally include an input cap, but the goal of this board was to allow it to fit into the smallest space possible, and the available board space is not enough to include another capacitor. A volume control (typically 10k log/ audio taper) may be connected in the input circuit if desired.

Note that the metal tab of the TDA7293 is connected to the -Ve supply, so must be insulated from the heatsink. The more care you take with the mounting arrangement, the better. While you can use a screw through an insulating bush and a piece of mica to insulate the tab, a better alternative is to use a clamping bar of some kind. How you go about this depends a lot on your home workshop tools and abilities, but one arrangement I've found highly satisfactory is a suitable length of 6.25mm square solid steel bar. This is very strong, and allows good pressure on the mica (or Kapton) for maximum heat transfer. Naturally, heatsink compound is absolutely essential.

Do not be tempted to use silicone insulation washers unless you are using the amp at very low supply voltages (no more than ±25V). Its thermal transfer characteristics are not good enough to allow the amp to produce more than about 10 - 20W of music, and even that can be taxing for silicone washers. The amp will shut down if it overheats, but that curtails one's listening enjoyment until it cools down again.

Power Supply

A suitable power supply is shown below, and is completely unremarkable in all respects. The transformer may be a conventional (E-I) laminated type or a toroid. The latter has the advantage of lower leakage flux, so will tend to inject less noise into the chassis and wiring. Conventional transformers are usually perfectly alright though, provided you take care with the mounting location.

The bridge rectifier should be a 35A 400V type, as they are cheap, readily available and extremely rugged. Electrolytic capacitors should be rated at 50V. The cap connected across the transformer secondary (C4) should be rated at 275V AC (X Class), although a 630V DC cap will also work. This capacitor reduces "conducted emissions", namely the switching transients created by the diodes that are coupled through the transformer onto the mains supply. The power supply will work without this cap, and will most likely pass CE and C-Tick tests as well, but for the small added cost you have a bit of extra peace of mind as regards mains noise.

Figure 3 - Suggested Power Supply

The supply shown includes a "loop breaker", which is intended to prevent earth/ ground loops to prevent hum when systems are interconnected. Please be aware that it may not be legal to install this circuit in some countries. The diodes must be high current types - preferably rated at no less than 3A (1N5401 or similar). The loop breaker works by allowing you to have the chassis earthed as required in most countries, but lets the internal electronics "float", isolated from the mains earth by the 10 ohm resistor. RF noise is bypassed by the 100nF cap, and if a primary to secondary fault develops in the transformer, the fault current will be bypassed to earth via the diodes. If the fault persists and the internal fuse (or main power circuit breaker) hasn't opened, one or both diodes will fail. Semiconductor devices fail short-circuit, so fault current is connected directly to safety earth.

Be very careful when first applying mains power to the supply. Check all wiring thoroughly, verify that all mains connections are protected from accidental contact. If available, use a Variac, otherwise use a standard 100W incandescent lamp in series with the mains. This will limit the current to a safe value if there is a major fault.

When the loop breaker is used, all input and output connectors must be insulated from the chassis, or the loop breaker is bypassed and will do nothing useful. The body of a level pot (if used) can be connected to chassis, because the pot internals are insulated from the body, mounting thread and shaft.

Note that the DC ground for the amplifiers must come from the physical centre tap between the two filter caps. This should be a very solid connection (heavy gauge wire or a copper plate), with the transformer centre tap connected to one side, and the amplifier earth connections from the other. DC must be taken from the capacitors - never from the bridge rectifier.

The order of the fuse and power switch is arbitrary - they can be in any order, and in many cases the order is determined by the physical wiring of the IEC connector if a fused type is used. With a fused IEC connector, the fuse is before the switch and it cannot be removed while the mains lead is inserted.

I have shown a 2A slow-blow fuse, but this depends on the size and type of transformer and your mains supply voltage. Some manufacturers give a recommended fuse rating, others don't. The fuse shown is suitable for a 150VA transformer at 230V AC, and is deliberately oversized to ensure that it will not be subject to nuisance blowing due to transformer inrush current. A 2A fuse will fail almost instantly if there is a major fault.

Make sure that the mains earth (ground) is securely connected to guarantee a low resistance connection that cannot loosen or come free under any circumstances. The accepted method varies from one country to the next, and the earth connection must be made to the standards that apply in your country.

WARNING: This power supply circuit requires experience with mains wiring. Do not attempt construction unless experienced, capable and suitably qualified if this is a requirement where you live. Death or serious injury may result from incorrect wiring.

Testing

Never attempt to operate the amplifier without the TDA7293 ICs attached to a heatsink!

Connect to a suitable power supply - remember that the supply earth (ground) must be connected! When powering up for the first time, use 100 ohm 5W "safety" resistors in series with each supply to limit the current if you have made a mistake in the wiring. If available, use a variable bench supply - you don't need much current to test operation, and around 500mA is more than enough. If using a current limited bench supply, the safety resistors can be omitted. Do not connect a speaker to the amplifier at this stage!

If using a normal power supply for the amp tests, apply power (±35V via the safety resistors) and verify that the current is no more than 60mA or so - about 6V across each 100 ohm resistor. No load current can vary, so don't panic if you measure a little more or less. Verify that the DC voltage at both outputs is less than 100mV. Using another 100 ohm resistor in series with a small speaker, or an oscilloscope, apply a sinewave signal at about 400Hz to the input and watch (or listen) for signal. The signal level needs to be adjusted to ensure the amp isn't clipping, and the waveform should be clean, with no evidence of parasitic oscillation or audible distortion.

If everything tests out as described, wire the amplifier directly to the power supply and finish off any internal wiring in the amp. Once complete, it's ready to use.

Source: http://sound.westhost.com/project127.htm

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High Power Headphone Amplifier Using BD139-40

Firstly, I'd like to stress that the intended use of this circuit is only one of many possible applications. Apart from the obvious usage as a headphone amplifier, the circuit can be used for a range of applications where a wide bandwidth low power amplifier is needed. Some of the options include ...

• Reverb drive amplifier - ideal for low and medium impedance reverb tanks
• High current line driver - suitable for very long balanced lines
• Low power speaker amplifier - better performance than small integrated amps
• ... and of course, a headphone amp.

In short, the amp can be used anywhere that you need an opamp with more output current than normally available. Since most are rated for around ±20-50mA, general purpose opamps are not suitable for driving long cables or anywhere else that a relatively high output current is needed.

As a headphone amplifier, this design is very similar to others on the ESP site, but the main difference is that this one (and P70) has been built and fully tested. The design is fairly standard, and every variation was checked out before arriving at the final circuit. A photo of the prototype is shown below, and at only 64 x 38mm (2.5 x 1.5 inches) it is very small - naturally, the heatsink is not included in the dimensions.

The amplifier is capable of delivering around 1.5W into 8 ohm headphones, and 2.2W into 32 ohms - this is vastly more than will ever be needed in practice. The use of a 120 Ohm output resistor is recommended, as this is supposed to be the standard source impedance for headphones. Unfortunately, many users have found that their 'phones perform better when driven from a low impedance source.

Prototype Headphone Amplifier

The circuit is based on an opamp, with its output current boosted by a pair of transistors. Distortion is well below my measurement threshold at all levels below clipping into any impedance. Noise is virtually non-existent - even with a compression driver held to my ear, I could barely hear any, and I couldn't hear any with headphones.

WARNING
Headphones are rated in dB SPL at 1mW, and this amplifier (like many other similar headphone amps) is capable of producing extreme SPLs. The levels obtainable are sufficient to cause almost instantaneous permanent hearing damage! Never operate the amp at very high levels, and never switch the amplifier on with signal while wearing you headphones.

Always start with the volume control at minimum, and gradually increase the level until it is comfortable, but not too loud. Because of the very low distortion, it is easy to increase the level too far without noticing. Your ears are precious - safeguard them at all times.

Note the warning above - this is serious. Most headphones are capable of at least 94dB SPL at 1 mW, with some as high as 107dB SPL. Even 10mW is enough to create sound levels capable of causing hearing damage, so you must be very careful to avoid damaging levels.

Continuous dB SPL	Maximum Exposure Time
85	8 hours
88	4 hours
91	2 hours
94	1 hour
97	30 minutes
100	15 minutes
103	7.5 minutes
106	< 4 minutes
109	< 2minutes
112	~ 1 minute
115	~ 30 seconds

Table 1 - Maximum Exposure to SPL
Note that the exposure time is for any 24 hour period, and is halved for each 3dB SPL above 85dB. The above shows the accepted standards for recommended permissible exposure time for continuous time weighted average noise, according to NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) and CDC (Centers for Disease Control). Although these standards are US based, they apply pretty much equally in most countries - hearing loss does not respect national boundaries.

Description

The amplifier itself is fairly conventional, and is very similar to another shown on this site (see Project 24). This amplifier does not include the active volume control, because in general it is far easier to get a good log pot (or simply 'fake' the pot's law as described in Project 01). Likewise, it does not include the cross-feed described in Project 109. If this is desired, it is very easy to implement on a small piece of tag board, or even 'sky hook' the few components off the bypass switch. Full details of how to do this will be included in the construction guide when PCBs are available.

The output transistors are biased using only resistors, rather than constant current sources. Extensive testing showed that using current sources made no discernible difference to performance, but increased the complexity and PCB size. Using separate caps for each biasing diode does make a difference though - and although it is relatively minor, the use of the two caps is justified IMHO.

The bias diodes should be 1N4148 or similar - power diodes are not recommended, as their forward voltage is too low. This may result in distortion around the crossover region, where one transistor turns off and the other on. As shown, crossover distortion is absolutely unmeasurable with the equipment I have available.

Figure 1 - Headphone Amplifier Circuit Diagram

Above is the schematic of one channel. Resistors and caps use the suffix 'R' for the right channel. The second half of the dual opamp powers the right channel. Note that the volume control shown is optional, and is not on the PCB. If needed, it may be mounted in a convenient location and the output connected to the inputs of the board as shown. D1 and D2 (L and R) are 1N4148 or similar.

One of the reasons the amp is so quiet is that the entire board runs from a regulated supply, so hum (in particular) is eliminated. Although an unregulated supply can be used, this is not recommended. The supply should be separate from that used for your preamp, because of the relatively high current drawn by the amplifier (at least with low impedance 'phones). A P05 preamp supply can be used, and will ensure optimum performance.

The prototype amplifier has flat frequency response from 10Hz to over 100kHz. Distortion is below my measurement threshold with any level or load impedance, and output impedance is almost immeasurably low. Your headphones may be designed to operate from a 120Ω source impedance (many are), so this may be added if it improves sound quality. Adding any series resistance will reduce the available power, but it is already far greater than you can use. Without series resistance, the minimum power into various load impedances is given below (based on ±15V supplies).

Impedance	Power (Direct)	120 Ohm Feed
8 Ohms	1.5 W	35 mW
32 Ohms	2.2 W	99 mW
65 Ohms	1.1 W	136 mW
120 Ohms	595 mW	149 mW
300 Ohms	238 mW	121 mW
600 Ohms	119 mW	82 mW

Table 2 - Output Power Vs. Impedance
This is not especially comprehensive, but will cover the majority of headphones in common use. In all cases, the available power is more than needed ... not so you can damage your hearing, but to allow adequate headroom for transients.

Construction

While it may be possible to build it using Veroboard or similar, there is a high risk that it will oscillate because of the very wide bandwidth of the amplifier. A capacitor may be added in parallel with R4 (L and R) to reduce the bandwidth if stability problems are encountered. Although I used an NE5532 opamp for the prototype, the circuit will also work with a TL072, but at reduced power. You may also substitute an OPA2134 or your favorite device, taking note of the following ...

The standard pinout for a dual opamp is shown on the left. If the opamps are installed backwards, they will almost certainly fail, so be careful.

The suggested NE5532 opamp was used for the prototype, and performance is exemplary. Devices such as the TL072 will be quite satisfactory for most work, but if you prefer to use ultra low noise or wide bandwidth devices, that choice is yours.

Construction is fairly critical. Because of the wide bandwidth of the NE5532 and many other audio grade opamps, the amplifier may oscillate (the prototype initially had an oscillation at almost 500kHz), so care is needed to ensure there is adequate separation between inputs and outputs. Even a small capacitive coupling between the two may be enough to cause problems.

As shown in the photo, this amplifier needs a heatsink. While it can operate without one at low power using high impedance headphones, you need to plan for all possibilities (after all, you may purchase low impedance 'phones sometime in the future). The heatsink does not need to be massive, and the one shown above is fine for normal listening levels. An aluminium bracket may be used to attach to the chassis - I recommend 3mm material. Note that the heatsink should always be earthed (grounded).

The output transistors must be insulated from the heatsink. Sil-Pads™ are quite suitable because of the relatively low dissipation, but greased mica or Kapton can be used if you prefer. If you use the suggested 3mm aluminium, you can drill and tap threads into the heatsink, removing the need for nuts.

Testing

Connect to a suitable power supply - remember that the supply earth (ground) must be connected! When powering up for the first time, use 56 ohm "safety" resistors in series with each supply to limit the current in case you have made a mistake in the wiring. These will reduce the supply voltage considerably because of the bias current of the output transistors.

If the voltage at the amplifier supply pins is greater than ±6V and the output voltage is close to zero, then the amplifier is probably working fine. If you have an oscilloscope, check for oscillation at the outputs ... at all volume control settings. Do this without connecting your headphones - if the amp oscillates, it may damage them.

Once you are sure that all is well, you may remove the safety resistors and permanently wire the amplifier into your chassis.

source: http://sound.westhost.com/project113.htm

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Cable TV amplifier

This is a very simple cable TV amplifier using two transistors. This amplifier circuit is most suitable for cable TV systems using 75 Ohm coaxial cables and works fine up to 150MHz. Transistor T1 performs the job of amplification. Up to 20dB gain can be expected from the circuit.T2 is wired as an emitter follower to increase current gain.

assembled on a Vero board.

• Use 12V DC for powering the circuit.

• Type no of the transistors are not very critical.

• Any medium power NPN RF transistors can be used in place of T1 and T2.

• This is just an elementary circuit. Do not compare it with high quality Cable TV amplifiers available in the market.

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Super Simple 3 Watt Audio Power Amplifier

Here is the circuit diagram of superb mini audio power amplifier, That can be power with 4.5 volt dc to 18 volts dc (maximum). This amplifier is based on TDA1015, Product of NXP Semiconductors formerly PHILIPS Semiconductors. The TDA1015 is a monolithic integrated audio amplifier circuit in a 9-lead single in-line (SIL) plastic package. The device is especially designed for portable radio and recorder applications and delivers up to 4 watt in a 4 ohm load impedance. The very low applicable supply voltage of 3,6 V permits 6 V applications.

Parts:

R1330K
R25.6K
R34.7R
C11uF-25V
C21uF-25V
C3100pF
C4100nF-63V
C5182pF
C6224pF
C7100uF-25V
C8100nF-63V
C910uF-25V
C101KuF-25V
IC1TDA1015

Applications:

• In-car use
• Your own unique application
• Power amplifier for audio projects
• For use with portable audio equipment
• Small but powerful multi-purpose amplifier

Special features:

• Low current drain
• High output power
• Thermal protection
• High input impedance
• Separated preamplifier and power amplifier
• Limited noise behavior at radio frequencies
• Single in-line (SIL) construction for easy mounting

Specification:

• Quiescent current : 12mA
• Thermal and short circuit protection
• Frequency Response : 60Hz - 15Khz
• Max. output power : 3W (4ohm/12V)
• Input sensitivity : 20-15mV selectable
• Power supply : 4.5 - 15V DC @ 400mA

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