I

INTEGRATED A.F. AMPLIFIER - PART 1

Design by T. Giesberts

It sometimes seems as if the design of an audio amplifier is a also be switched without any interfer-
competition to achieve the lowest possible distortion. ence arising and irrespect.ive of the
However, reducing distortion below a certain (Iow) level position of the input selector.
The voltage amplifier and tone con-
merely increases the cost of the amplifier and does trol are based on Type NE5532 inte-
not further improve the sound quality. It is for this reason grated operational amplifiers. This
that the design of the integrated amplifier has been type of JC offers a virtually unrivalled
prtcey quahty ratto. Tbe (arguably)
kept simple, although the maximum distortion is slightly improved performance of 'bet-
weil below the discernible (audible) level. ter devices bears no comparison to
the far lugher cost of these ICs,
The input stgnats are applied to the
""I"> the normal, healthy human ea.r. of 10 Hz to 70 kHz, circuit via audio sockets KI-KS' There
.1 the sound produeed by an arnpli- are four inputs: TAPE, TUNER, CD and
fier with a total harmonie dtstortton Auxültary). All four are terminated
Circuit description
of, say. 0,001% sounds exactly the into the standard 47 kn [Rj+Rg}.
same as that produeed by one whieh The eireuit of the preamplifier is Four-ehannel analogue swttches
has a distortion figure of 0.2%, like shown in Fig. 1. The integrated input ICI and 1C2are connect.ed in parallel.
the present integrated audio amplt- selector enables switehing from one JC! functions. in combination with SI.
fter. Of courae, the latter could not in input to another simply by a direct as the RECORD SELECT controL while
the world of the audto b uff. be called voltage , which eliminates any likeli- ICI and 52 form the SOURCE SELECT
'bt-ft'. Never-the-Ieas, it sounds excel- hood of interference between the vari- control. These ICs contain buffer
lent. produces 85 W into 4 n or 45 W aus Inputs. The recordmg output stages which can be actuated in pairs
into 8 n and covers a frequency range uses an identical Je, so that thrs can by the application of 12 V to thetr

L1d'Ll '0~K~L ~ ..
..~'" EmtmE,04
r
1-1 2 1,01,
1 lk '-"

R';:::K2 RI ~2A
'C' , I
r r "'" r [t
u " MUTEINI1 L
~oo
~28 ~ C~'.
r
l2:::K3 12
1!I!1 rc TAPEt
.~ 2.1N4003 .~

. .. J:E... ""v
V61AS
R2:::::K4R2 ~2C :.t Rn
Ulll 10 LM1D37
, RIO K'!!-...R s ----t..llLr •
Q ~,
•
L3~K5 L3 ~2J)

ABC 0 ,~
,,'C," [ f- .~, ~
r: 57
C~2. ~

l
ie , 'Ollrl
R3;::K6R3 " a
~'.0 i:z c~o. L
5:"
L4;::K7

Rt::K8R4

'-'
L4

~
,,,,
~~ql
" "
:::'
+,~iJ
$12V

+'10 01'---
r .. ~ '"'

..
~"~
".
~, ~
",~

'I, Iy t
~~:.~
t..~~{:
lN4148

n. ~i!= '7 ,
r~" [r ~
,':!~ ~~~:,
12V"--,, ~
• -& "[ • '"
'" " !'"
I" '"I
~~ ,-110
~aa
oh '"2"

1~ ~ s [r -~.". r .J ...
" "
~Al

'" 'I', ~ 1N"~48

"~

9r" 'P~>
tz '~
~
".,. " A
'"" , EI C D
,- '.'
.,.
['ll-1 ,.
•• 1 t ..

~
'" IC4a 1 r------- 6_
ein. ,
"------'
. [~'" :r~.~
~L3 ROO A
"
•
'02
';!L-, Ra
['!Lli 18
MUTE INIi L r ~~~

r ~:.ICS~: I~
R2 8 28
.n
f'Y..!1,c '~
\!Z--,
..!Z.L... "
~
"
"" ec
["-!4lZ
.!!!.!.l!2I)
10
LM1037 17 VBIAS
[
,'
.. .. ~., rC3,IC4 = NE5532 : ;~~

".
, CJ7. 12V
:tl "----,,
+ I LM317 I ,
~
+
'\7 L.!!!...... ", 220n

I
lOk ......
'"
R41 ~ I ~ I
co, - I,
------ ,I
, ,,
n ~:1~L
----------------------,
~ l~'2V
'"
,, ,,
R42 ~

" '"
'C2
" ~~
rca 'C,
, o

'" , S1 ,

,
ca ~ ce ,, 1-----'1

1 ~ I 30V

~~~ ~~ 100n

IRECORD 1:' sOURCE K11b '

'-""+'-+1: • IC6 (I b:f-------E";mQiI-<>-G
I LM337 I
- 12\1 I sELECT sELECT ' 12\1 -
I!. I
----------------------, &36062·11·11

Fig_1, Cicuit diagram 01the preamplilier,

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS SEPTEMBER 1994

11
control inputs (A. B. C. D). They can
operate from 5-28 V. have low dis tor-
tion (0.04%) and a low notse level
(5 )lVI.
B0139 BC550C
During quiescent operation, the BC560C
control inputs are held low by pull-
down resrstors RII-R18' They are ac-
tuated when 12 V ts applied
by 51 or 52' The
to thern
ICs and
are connected via box header Kll.

to
The two outputs
TAPE
of ICI are applied
out sockets Kg and KlO- Note
the switches

c
J. •
-e
re
."
~OO""

th at these stgrials are entirely f nde-

pendent of the SOURCE signal selected
with lC2.
The outputs of IC2 are fed to the
preamplifier proper via BALANCE con-
trot PI- Resistors Rg and RJO enau re
that the balance control frorn zero is
gradual. Logarithmic potentiometer
P2 functtons as VOLUME contral.
Voltage amplification is provided
by IC3a and IC4a' The arnplification is
deterrnined by the ratio R23:R24 and
R25:R26. In the present design. it is
arranged at x5 to give a nominal out-
put voltage of 1 V for an input of
about 250-300 rnV. Bear in mi nd BOV64B
BOV64B
that the balance coritrcl introduces BOV65B
BC639
some attenuation. BC640

m .1
Ctrcutts IC3band IC4bare active el-
ements in the tone control. which is
a standard Bandaxall destgn. Its
eross-over potn t is at 1 kHz and tt
provides up to 12 dB attenuation or • c , C
i1"
ampltftcatron. Potentiometer P3 is the
BASS control and P4 the TREBLE con- 936062X • 12 'OV

tro!.
The output stgnal is 'freed' of an-
noying on-off switching plops by
relay Re j • whtch ts controlled by Tl. Fig. 2. Clrcult diagrarn 01!he power amplilier.

Produced and published by ELEKTOR TICEHURST TN5]HE GERMANY NETHERLANDS

ELECTRONICS (Publishingl Telephone: (0580) 200 657 (National) Elektor Verlag GmbH Elektuur BV
er +44 580 200 657 tlnternationat ) Süsterfeld Straße 25 Perer Treckpoelstruat 2--4
Editor: LeD Seymour Fax: (0580) 200 616 (National) 5100AACHEN 6191 VKBEEK
Technical Editor: J. Buhing or +44 580 200 616 (Inlernolimwl) Editor: E.J.A. Krempelsauer Editor: P.H.M. Baggen

Editol"ial & Administrative Offices: Head Office: GREECE POLAND

PO. Box 1414 P.O. Box 75 Elektor EPE Elektor Elektronik
DORCHESTER DT2 8YH 6190AB BEEK Karlskaki [4 02~ 777 warszawa 130
England The Netherlands 16673 Voula-ATHENA Skrytka Pocztcwa 271
Telephone: (0305) 250 995 (NaTional) Telephone: +31463894 +4 Editor: E. Xanthoulis Editor: W. Marciniak
or +44 305 250 995 (tntemationat ) Telex: 56617 (elekt nl)
Fax: (0305) 250 996 (NaTional) Fax:+3146370161 HUNGARY PORTUGAL
er +44 305 250 996 (Inlel1la/iollal ) Director: M.M.J. Landman Elektor Elektronikai foly6rat Ferreira & Bento Lda.
Editor-ln-Chief/Publisher: 1015 Budapesr R.D. Bstefäni, 32-IQ
U.K. Advertising Office: P.E.L. Kersemakers Batthyäny u. 13 1000LlSBOA
3 Cresceru Terrace Ccrnmercial Manager: Editor: Lakatos Andräs Editor: F. Ferreira de Almeide
CHELTENHAM GL50 3PE K. van Noordenne
Telephone: (0242) 51 0 760 INDJA SPAIN
Fa" (0242) 226 626 Distribution: Elektor Electromcs PVT Lrd Resistor Electronica Aplicada
SEn1QUR Chhorani Bullding Calle Maudes 15 Entlo C.
International Advertising Office: 1270 London Road 52C. Proctor Road. Grant Rand (E) 28003 MADRID
Elekluur BV LONDON SWl64DH BOMBAY400007 Editor: Agustin Gonzales Buelta
P.O. Box 75 Editor: CR. Chandarans
6190 AB BEEK Printed in rhe Netherlands by NOB. SWEDEN
The Netherlands Zoeterwoude ISRAEL Electronic Press AB
Telephone: +31 46 38 94 44 Elekrorcal Box 5505
Fax:+3146370161 Overseas edltions: PO Box 4J096 14105 HUDDINGE
FRANCE TEL AVlV 61410 Editor: Bill Cedrum
Subscriptions: Elektor sari Publisher: M. Avraham
WOTldWide Subscription Service Lid. Les Trois Til1euls
Unit 4, Gibbs Reed Farm B.l' 59; 59850 NIEPPE
Pashley Road Editor: G.c.P. Reedersdorf

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS SEPTEMBER 1994


Immediately the supply voltage is
swttched off', the relay is denergized,
so that its contacts short-circuit all
inputs to earth. When the supply is
switched on, Cl4 must be charged. via
~7' to at least 1.4 V before Tl comes
on to actuate the relay. This means
rbat the outputs are not enabled for a
few seconds after the supply is
swttchcd on.
The ctrcutt of the power amplifier is
given in Fig. 2. Transistors Tl and T2
form the input amplifier and T3 and
T4 the drivers for output stages TB
and T7. Transistor Ts serves to set the
quiescent current through the output
transistors.
The input impedance of the power
amplifier is determined by R2 and
parallel-connected Rs and Rtl. The
input srgnal is applied to Tl and T2
via C2 and C3. The operating point of
the transistors is set with the aid of
R5-RI2'
The amplified stgnal is then applied
to driver stages T3 and T4. The oper-
ating point of these tranststors ts set
by Rll and Rl2 respecttvely. Preset PI
serves to ensure that the two operat-
ing points are Identtcal, so that in the
absence of an input the output is ex-
actly zero.
Power darlington transistors TB
and T7 form the output stages, which
provide the necessary current for dri-
ving the loudspeakers. Reststors Rl9
and R20 further stabilize the cper at-
tng point of the transistors.
Transistor TS serves to set the tern-
perature-independent quiescent cur-
rent setfing of the output stages. The
current through these transistors is
set to a gtven value wtth P2. The col-
lector-emitter voltage of TS ts set to
cause a tiny current (=100 m.A]
through T6 and T7 to obviate cross-
over dtstortron in the output stages.
This kind of dtstortron artses when
the tranststors do not react instantly
when a small signal is applied to their
BARNSLEY & DISTRICT AMATEUR
RADIO CLUB
The Barnsley & Distriet Amateur Radio
Club will be holding its fourth Amateur
Radio Rally on 13 November. 1994. at the
Metrodome Complex in Barnsley town
centre, whtch is less than 2 miles [Tom
Junction 37 ofthe MI in South Yorkshire.
This is a new venue, all on one level
with excellent facilities for the disabled,
a licensed bar/restaurant and aseparate
cafeteria.
The Rally will have all the usual ama-
teur radio and computer dealers, radio
clubs, specialist groups and 'bring and
buy'. There is ample car parking at the
Metrodome, as weil easy access from the
bus and railway stations.
For further Information contact Ernie,
G4LUEQTHR on (0226) 716339 between
ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS SEPTEMBER 1994
Ir see test
'Vo'V
22V*22V
Fig, 3, Circuit diagram of the power supply for the integrated
bases. This happens because the
transistors do not start to conduct
until the stgnal level cxcccds the level
of the base-emttter potential. When a
small btas ts present on the ba ses,
the tranststors react immediately
even when the applied signal is smal!.
Capacitor Cg decouples the (direct
voltage) operating point.
Since Ts-1'7 have virtually the same
temperature coefficient and, more-
over, are thermally coupled. the oper-
ating points of Tg and T7 are automat-
ically compensated for changes in the
ambtent temperature.
Like all rranststors. TI and T2 have
a collector-base capacitance, which
causes high frequencies to be arnpll-
fied to a lesser degree than low and
middle frequencies. This inequality is
compensated by C7 and CS. which en-
sure that amplification is more or less
even over the cntirc frequency range.
The overall amplification is deter-
mined by the feedback provtded by R3
and Ra. Capacitor C4 ensures that
theis feedback has no effect on the di-
reet voltages. The feedback not only
determines the ampUfication. but it
also lessens distortion of the signal.
6 p.m. and 8 p.m. (Mondays 6-7 p.m.).
ROBBING THIEVES
OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO STEAL
The rughtmare possibility of'betng robbed
of expensive cameras, lenses, A/V equtp-
ment and items that can never be re-
placed (such as photo albums, films, per-
sonal jewelry. computer disks, sensitive
tnformatton. and others) ts reduced greatly
by Portastor htgh-securtty cabinets from
Portasilo.
These imenselystrong, solidsteel, smgle-
door or double-doof units are designed
to safeguard a wtdevanety of readily portable
items. Added Ilexrbütty is provided by
Portastor hrgh-securtty cabinet worksta-
tions for in-situ operation of htgh-rtsk
equipment.
Stngle-door untts Signal the visible in-
11
+ 0 -
936062·11·12
30V *30V
amplltier.
The circuit diagram of the power
supply is shown in Fig, 3. The supply
is simple, but robust. It consists of a
sturdy toroidal mains transformer. a
35 A bridge recttfter and four large.
heavy-duty electrolytic capacttcr s.
Reststors RI-Rt protect these capaci-
tors against too high charging c u r-
rents. Resistors R5-RS prevent the
charging currrent to the power ampli-
fier board rising unduly. Diode 01
provides matns on indication.
The 30 V output lines are taken dt-
reet 10 the power amplifier (Fig, 2).
and to the preamplifier (Fig, 1). In the
preamplifier, they are brought down
to 2xl2 V by regulators IC5 and IC6.
Series resistors R4Sand R4Blimit the
voltage drop across these regulators.
which, nevertheless, need to be
mounted on a heatstnk.
The relay delay circuit has tts own
power supply, which is derived d i-
rectly from the secondary of matna
trans former Tr-j. The 2x22 V alternat-
ing voltage is rectified by D3 and D4
and applied [0 Tl. The supply vollage
for Re j is reduced by the few volts
drop across ~g and buffered by C30.
.(936062(
dication ofrobust securtoty as they have
proinent block hinges and wheel oper-
ated bolts. These conspicuous sccurtty
fitttngs visually impress and physically
deterwould-be thieves. They have a much
larger storage capacity than comparable
safes.
Double-door cabinets have a discreet,
tnconsptcuous appearance and are de-
stgned to blend in with other smart, mod-
ern office furmshmgs so as not to draw
attention. They are, though, formindable,
solid-steel storage untts with proven anti-
attack devtces.
Portasilo Ud has BS5750 Part 1 Qualily
Assurance Certification and the equtva-
lent European EN2900 I and international
1509000 I standards.
Portasilo Ltd. Blue Bridge Lane, York.
England YOl4AS, Phone (0904) 653040.