High Fidelity Valve audio Amplifier 40W


Posted on Jun 2, 2017

The design of the 40W Valve Amplifier is shown in the figure. In valve amplifiers the predominant feature is the strong presence of the second and third harmonics, sometimes in agreement with the fourth and fifth, but always with a much wider width. Higher harmonics of the fifth are not significant until the overload exceeds 12dB. The significant difference in valve amplifiers is the alternation of the position of the second and third harmonics. In amplifiers with transistors the distinctive feature is the appearance of the third harmonic element. All other harmonics are present, but with much less width than the third one. When the overload reaches the cut-off point, all higher harmonics begin to grow, in width, at the same time. This point is generally between 3-6dB of 1% of the third harmonic. There is a close relationship between electronic deformation and musical coloring. This is also the real key to the difference in acoustics between valve amplifiers and transistors. Perhaps the most knowledgeable in this area is musical instrument manufacturers. Through chronic experimentation, they can determine how harmonics affect the tone of the instrument.


High Fidelity Valve audio Amplifier 40W
Click here to download the full size of the above Circuit.

Transistor Amplifiers strongly show the presence of the third harmonic. This harmonic as reported produces a "covered" sound, giving the recording or playback a limited quality. Instead, the lamps produce a whole range of harmonics. Especially, as already mentioned, the second, third, fourth and fifth, have a noticeable presence, giving a bronze sound. As long as an amplifier enters the area of ​​saturation, both higher harmonics are amplified, giving volume to the sound. The valves color the sound while the other elements can give more reproduction and recording fidelity.


The Amplifier Circuit

While the power is known, it is very easy to calculate the maximum current value on a resistive load such as what we theoretically take into account as a speaker. From relationship 2 we have

Ipeak(2 • Watt • R)  /  R

The maximum current in our case is 3.08 A. There are also some rules that determine the number of output lamps required to operate safely and do not shorten their lifetime. In the case of PL519, because the maximum cathode current it can withstand is 0.5A (although it can withstand currents larger than 1A), what we need to do is to divide the required current of the output with the maximum current. , Ie in this case 6 output lamps or three different pairs. If we do not want to use so many lamps, we reduce our requirements or we use as many as we want. In this case under four it will not be safe for the lamps. From relation 3 we calculate the rms value of the output voltage.

P = Vrms Irms        =>          Vrms = P / Irms

 

The rms value is given by the maximum of 2  Vrms  = 38 / 2,18 = 17,4Vrms, Vpeak = 24,6Volt, Vp-p = 49,2Volt. That is to say, every cathode with respect to earth should have 24.6 volt ripple. This value is extremely important if there are not Vg-Ik features with anode trend changes (which are particularly difficult to derive from the programs and are reliable). These graphs for PL do not exist. Using the cathode ripple in Va-Ik. Because of the vVa device, it is altered by the cathode ripple. For each time, Va(t) = Vs-Vk(t) is valid. Where Vs is the supply voltage.

The polarization point is 170V, 0.2A, -30V. The output load is the resistance of 8Ω parallel to the resistance of 360Ω, ie approximately 8Ω. This slope as load line is too small -1 / Rk = -1 / 8 = -0.125. The load line is y = 8x + 168.4 and is shifted to the beginning of the axes at (168.4, 0). By calculating the polar points, the dynamic characteristics of the rp, mu, gm can be calculated indirectly by the gain ratio and the ripple voltage required.

 Rp = 190-126.6 / 0.35 = 181
 Mu = 4.35
 Gm = mu / rp = 4.35 / 181 = 0.024 = 24mA / V

 
From the relationship for the downfall gain

Av = (mu/mu+1)  (Rk / (Rk + (rp/mu+1))


We calculate the maximum value of the grid voltage required to derive this descent voltage (Av = 0.155).

Knowing the Vp we require at the output and having calculated the gain of this stage, we can find very simply from the relation Αv = Vp / Vg, where Vg is the peak voltage of the signal in the pen, the voltage Vg. This is also the trend of rippling the rise of the second stage. The gain of the second stage can be calculated either by first calculating the gain of the input stage (once the maximum input value is known) or by selecting a reasonable profit value.


Results

The results are then shown on the whole reinforcement device, starting from the entry stage.

Table 1 summarizes the results of the key features of the entry and driving stages. The overall gain of both stages, as an important feature, is Av = 110. The boosting capacity of the stages is much greater, but as mentioned above the low selection option was forced to provide the voltage at the inlet of the output stage without showing Problems.

 

 

Entry

driving stage

Rise resistance

56K

56K

Anode Voltage 1

178V

250V

anode voltage 2

168V

250V

Anode current 1

2.39A

2.68A

Anode current 2

2.57A

2.68A

Cathode resistance

100Ω

3.8K

Voltage gain

20

5.5

Gain rate

60

16

 

Table 1 Key features of driving and driving stages
 


Table 2 shows the main features of the output stage as selected in the final topology.

 

 

Output stage

Internal impedance (ra)

270Ω

Output impedance (theoretically)

27Ω

Output resistance (practically)

27.5Ω

Gain Factor (mu)

5

Voltage Gain (no load)

0.6

Voltage Gain (with load)

0.136

Coefficient transconductance gm mA/V

20

 

Table 2 Key characteristics of the exit stage

 

As is proven and practically the value of the output resistance is unacceptable. The requirement to apply negative feedback is now necessary for the best possible performance of the amplifier. This is confirmed by the measurements presented in Table 5 concerning the occurrence of harmonics in the output. It should be borne in mind that in the case of a class A amplifier, the effect of harmonics higher than the third can be ignored. 

In Push-Pull amplifiers the third is the main one. In AB amplifiers the higher harmonics grow more and the unnecessary up to the 13th are noticeable and up to the 25th can be appreciated.

The perceived harmonic distortion from the ear is 0.7% in music and 0.9% in speech, in a frequency range of 15000 cycles and with a pendulum as an exit lamp. At 3750 cycles these values ​​are respectively 1.1% and 1.5%. The tolerable deformation at these frequencies is for 15KHz 1.35% for music and 1.9% for speech, while 3.75K is 5.6% and 8.8% respectively. 
 

The effects of the amplifier are very optimistic in terms of distortion. Feedback is also considered necessary to reduce the deformation of the fittings, which is essentially a form in which linear deformation occurs (as expected). A good element displayed by the amplifier was the frequency range 25Hz-65KHz.

The study of the deformation using square wave showed no apparent disturbance, and no other form of deformation occurred until the voltage amplification stages.

 

Improvements

From a practical point of view, the transformer must be redesigned and include windings for the second channel. Besides, the current windings for the current sources and the high voltages of the circuit breaker and its thread are no longer used. Transformer wiring can go on one side. With a careful design of the power supply and no stabilization at the output, which turned out to be unnecessary, for both channels only half the board would be needed. Careful design means correct calculation of the required trends.

As in the case of the output where the voltage we need for correct polarization of the output is 50 volts less, thus helping to reduce the size of the transformer. Also, due to the AC coupling of stages, the 400V voltage in the second stage is not required. Both initial stages can be fed with the same trend. Correct selection of components as in case of voltage stabilizers (higher current resistance requirement). All of the above helps to reduce the size of the transformer, amplifier, and cost.

Also a correct arrangement of the components in the chassis can yield a lot of gains from the thermal point of view, disconnection of the wiring to avoid problems and doubts about a possible omission or a short circuit but also a chassis of the same size to install a whole stereo amplifier.

 Designs for the two amplifier are the necessary moves to improve its performance and minimize deformation phenomena. First, lowering the feed voltages of the five-pole anode outputs. So that the amplifier can work in more linear areas. As a result, the output resistance is reduced as well as the rate of harmonic deformation decreases. Secondly, apply feedback with all the good she brings with her. Also, to achieve greater power output, output lamps can function as pendants as they are built.

In general, improvements to devices can be made on the basis of each manufacturer's requirements from the device. These can be based on size, performance, sound quality, or appearance, cost and much more.

 





Leave Comment

characters left:

New Circuits

.

 


Popular Circuits

1Hz Timebase For Readout And Counter Applications
3 band equalizer circuit
Prevent tampering in energy meters
Vacuum Tube Synthesizers
13 GHz Frequency Counter Prescaler
555 audio oscillator circuit diagram of a radio-frequency drive
Low Cost integrator CC4069



Top