John Curl's Blowtorch preamplifier

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AM demodulation.

Hi Glen,

It was just a quick and dirty test. A bit too dirty btw, because the HF signal was erroneously also connected to one of the supply rails (hardly visible) :sad:
So I have to do the tests all over again.
Whether your method will produce more meaningful results, depends (of course) on what you are looking for, IM vs AM.
If time allows, I will also do it your way.
BTW, any idea which HF amplitudes are representative for worst case conditions in real life?

Cheers,
Edmond
 
Re: Re: AM demodulation.

G.Kleinschmidt said:




Hi Edmond

If I could propose a more meaningful test as a particular amplifier design may be good in terms if immunity to the demodulation of AM signals, but its linearity can be significantly degraded by an RF signal that the listener may not even be aware of.

The typical non-inverting opamp topology used in most power amps can have a second Rf resistor added, connected to the inverting input and fed from an RF signal generator.
Standard steady state audio signal THD tests can then be performed with zero and progressively increased levels of RF carrier injected, with the degradation in linearity noted against the RF carrier level.

Amplifiers with input stages that maintain a high voltage gain out to high frequencies (>500kHz) generally perform poorly when tested with RF carriers in the AM broadcast frequency range. The input stage amplified RF signal readily overloads the second stage (typically the VAS)

Amplifiers that are predominantly compensated by rolling off the input stage gain generally perform better. Folded cascode amplifiers fit into this category and are generally also very good performers in this regard, especially so as there isn’t a second stage that contributes voltage gain to overload.
Miller compensated amplifiers fall into this category to a degree, as the VAS and LTP gain is rolled off in unison.

Cheers,
Glen


Hi Glen,

These are good observations and suggestions, especially the points you make about the susceptibility of the VAS to RFI conveyed to it by a wideband input stage.

In referring to amplifiers in which the input stage is rolled off as being more immune, I'm wondering if the topology I use (miller input compensation? - where the Miller cap is returned to the input differential pair) falls into that category as being more immune.

Cheers,
Bob
 
Re: Re: Re: AM demodulation.

Bob Cordell said:
Hi Glen,
[snip]
In referring to amplifiers in which the input stage is rolled off as being more immune, I'm wondering if the topology I use (miller input compensation? - where the Miller cap is returned to the input differential pair) falls into that category as being more immune.

Cheers,
Bob

Hi Bob,

That is my next step to investigate. :D
(I'm also using such compensation now)

Cheers,
Edmond.
 
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Joined 2006
Edmond

I hope you place your findings here, i am very interested in the results. Ive used that arrangement since i can remeber, i have no idea about its rf immunity effects but there are many other benefits including reactive loads and most importantly sonic|subjective benefits. Found this out when i was kid starting building kit amps and thanks to John linsey Hood. One does not always get the best distortion results but the sonics is in my opinion more important.

John i thought of mentioning this type of compensation, am not sure what the right term for it is around here, phase lead???, regarding lowering higher order harmonics on the ad797. Ive always used this type of compensation scheme on amplifiers and using this type of compensation with experimetal amp based on the ad797 topology with very interesting results. Did not mention it for fear of being lamblasted and asked many questions which i dont have all the answers for, i dont have 30,40 years of experience designing audio.

Alex
 
Re: Re: Re: AM demodulation.

Bob Cordell said:



Hi Glen,

These are good observations and suggestions, especially the points you make about the susceptibility of the VAS to RFI conveyed to it by a wideband input stage.

In referring to amplifiers in which the input stage is rolled off as being more immune, I'm wondering if the topology I use (miller input compensation? - where the Miller cap is returned to the input differential pair) falls into that category as being more immune.

Cheers,
Bob

So, getting back on topic, what about the RF susceptibility of an
open loop (locally degenerated) circuit such as Blowtorch style, as
compared to circuits with GFB?

From everything that has been said so far, it all appears to point
to the fact that they are potentially better.

- IP stage usually has more degeneration than closed loop designs.
- Each following stage has lower gain, if any.
- There can be multiple RF attenuation points through the circuit
without affecting stability, phase margin etc.

T
 
OK Fellow Blowtorchers :D

Slight (still relevant) diversion, back to transformers briefly, since they
are very good RF blockers if done with ES shields.

Has anyone thought of using a zero field transformer at the
IP of a power or (high level) pre amp. These have far lower distortion
than conventional transformers but I believe still all the advantages.

T
 
I have used ZF xfomer inputs, and one of their strong points is RFI and galvanic isolation. There are issues though, ie one needs to use a I/V circuit behind them, with a negative impedance to cancel the copper resistance, or alternatively use ultra low secondary winding resistance. The neg impedance or plain I/V can be done with opamps (straightforward approach) but with discrete I/V circuits as well. One point is that one usually needs a cap coupled I/V input, otherwise LF/DC noisegain skyrockets with the associated problems.

- Klaus
 

GK

Disabled Account
Joined 2006
Re: Re: Re: AM demodulation.

Bob Cordell said:
In referring to amplifiers in which the input stage is rolled off as being more immune, I'm wondering if the topology I use (miller input compensation? - where the Miller cap is returned to the input differential pair) falls into that category as being more immune.

Cheers,
Bob


Dunno for sure. Waiting for Edmonds next post..........
Maybe in the nfb thread though........ before somebody gets hissy :angel:

Cheers,
Glen
 
Yes, these are the nude Vishay S102 resistors from www.texascomponents.com
The ones I have used and use are called TX2352.

There are SMD versions of the bulk metal foil resistors. Actually, there are many types.
Texas Components has a few of them, and Vishay has all of them.
I have not tried them yet.
Jonathan Carr spoke highly of them.

There is now another nude bulk metal foil resistor which has another geometry of the foil. This resistor is called the TX2575.

Now, even Vishay has seen the potential and released a nude version called the VAR. Same as the TX2575 as far as I can see.
I have a few of these new TX2575s but have not had a chance to test them yet.

They are said to be fragile but I have not destroyed even a single one of them during the past 5 years.
I do not pick up SMD resistors that I drop on the floor, but I do pick up the TX2352s that I drop on the floor.



Sigurd


john curl said:
Are these the so called 'naked Vishay resistors'? If so, isn't there a cheaper alternative in surface mount that sounds almost as good?
 
RFI

homemodder said:
Edmond

I hope you place your findings here, i am very interested in the results. Ive used that arrangement since i can remeber, i have no idea about its rf immunity effects but there are many other benefits including reactive loads and most importantly sonic|subjective benefits. Found this out when i was kid starting building kit amps and thanks to John linsey Hood. One does not always get the best distortion results but the sonics is in my opinion more important.
[snip]

Alex

Glen said:
Dunno for sure. Waiting for Edmonds next post..........
Maybe in the nfb thread though........ before somebody gets hissy

Cheers,
Glen

Hi Alex & Glen,

Before I'm doing that, I like to get some input from experts in this field. (Pavel?). The problem is that I haven't a clear picture of which HF frequency (or range of frequencies) I should use, which amplitude, where to inject the signal into the DUT? Then, what should be measured or simulated (AM, IM?) and how.

If I investigate someone else's design, Bob's front-end for example, and I do it the wrong way, much change that my erroneous results, wrongly 'discredits' his amp. Then he gets 'hissy'. Therefore, I need more information how to do it.

Cheers,
Edmond.
 

GK

Disabled Account
Joined 2006
Re: RFI

Edmond Stuart said:




Hi Alex & Glen,

Before I'm doing that, I like to get some input from experts in this field. (Pavel?). The problem is that I haven't a clear picture of which HF frequency (or range of frequencies) I should use, which amplitude, where to inject the signal into the DUT? Then, what should be measured or simulated (AM, IM?) and how.

If I investigate someone else's design, Bob's front-end for example, and I do it the wrong way, much change that my erroneous results, wrongly 'discredits' his amp. Then he gets 'hissy'. Therefore, I need more information how to do it.

Cheers,
Edmond.


Hi Edmond.

For a start, just mix (sum) the RF carrier in with the audio input signal.
Do 0.1MHz to >100MHz in 1,2,5 steps from 100uV to >100mV also in 1,2,5 steps.
Mix this with a 1kHz sinewave input signal of an amplitude that produces, say 1/4 of full power output.

Just measure the 1kHz THD. No stage within the amplifier can do a good job linearly of passing a 1kHz signal (or any audio frequency signal for that matter) if it is being heavily or over driven with a RF signal, so this will immediately show when the amplifier is under stress.

Have fun :D
Glen


PS, maybe continue this discussion in the Negative Feedback thread? ;)
 
RFI

dimitri said:

Hi Dimitri,

As a matter of fact, I did read some of that stuff, but as far as I can see, these directives give me no clue how to simulate the effects of RFI on amplifiers, in particular ultra high-end amps. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Cheers,
Edmond.
 
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