can you make LM3876 work in Class A ?

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I am about to embark on a Large LM3876 adventure with 8 Lm's for each channel......
It accured to me that you can make traditional opamps work in class A by connecting the output of the opamp to the supply via a resister.....so why should that not work with power opamps (like the LM38XX series) as well?
Has anybody tried this, or is there a reson why this can not be done?
 
I actually got the search engine on the page to work (I just read what it said insted of just trying to do it my way....ups!
This only produced one thread I could use (there might be something about class A lm's on page 43 or 218 or 9 of some threads which does not indicate so in there headline, but my life is just to short to sit and read all of the threads involving chipamps).
I will try the google search to see if it will do better (thanx for the tip).
 
"It accured to me that you can make traditional opamps work in class A by connecting the output of the opamp to the supply via a resister....."

That will work, but it generally works better (even with small signal opamps) to use an active current source instead of the resistors.

I would use an Aleph type CCS (see Pass board).

In theory you could hit 25% efficiency, so you will need a heatsink that will dissipate 200W to put out 50W/8R, and the Aleph CCS will allow for impedance dips below 8R.

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On second thought I would just build a Pass A40 or an Aleph. AudioXpress still sells the board for the A40 for about $6. The theoretical efficiency for the A40 is 50%.
 
Jonnravn said:
I am about to embark on a Large LM3876 adventure with 8 Lm's for each channel......
It accured to me that you can make traditional opamps work in class A by connecting the output of the opamp to the supply via a resister.....so why should that not work with power opamps (like the LM38XX series) as well?
Has anybody tried this, or is there a reson why this can not be done?


Yes, some did try it and it's called class-A biasing. You don't quite get into class A, because the chip will not allow you. Audio quality seemed to worsen, not improve.
 
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