Hello from Brooklyn

[creamcorn]

Im originally from Texas , and came to New York to play bass , and also just for the thrill of it. One of the main differences between playing in New York , and playing in Texas is that there's less Bands with vans. Most places that I play at , (if Im lucky) at-least provide a speaker cabinet, but few provide a head. I cant afford to always take a cab or car service , so "all tube" tube amps are not practical. I have an amp , that I really enjoy playing. Its 300 watts at 4 ohms , and 13 pounds. I've been reading good reviews about new amps that are about six pounds , and 500 watts.

I've assembled a few IC guitar amps , and want the challenge now of making my own light weight bass amp with a tube pre amp. and solid state power amp. My theoretical knowledge is limited. Know any good books?



Thank you, CC

[Cal Weldon]

Hi CC and welcome to the forums.

[creamcorn]

Thank you Cal.

I see that your into speakers. Do you design them?
Im in the Power amp portion of self educating myself. Im reading the High Power Audio Amplifier Construction Manual, by G. Randy Slone. Its exciting to gradually understand what its explaining page by page. I ordered it expecting learn about musical instrument amps, but its mostly about auditorium amplifiers.

Im having trouble understanding negative feedback .In what area of the forum should I search for explanations. I know what it looks like in the circuits in my book, I just cant figure out how it makes the amplification more linear. I looked all over the internet, and all I know so far is that it is beneficial, and that the idea was conceived of on a Ferryboat.

Thanks again CC

[Cal Weldon]

Hi CC<
Yes I design speakers but I'm from another planet when it comes to my thinking so I lay low in that department. I do like to collect some big Altec stuff though. I reoutfitted some boxes and have more than enough to tick off the neighbours.

[planet10]

Welcome to the forum... if you want a light amp to haul around, you should consider a Class D amplifier...

dave

[creamcorn]

Thank you Planet 10 . I have just recently read about class d in my book.

Is it within the reach of a super beginner to start making class d amps?

Does a class d and switch mode power supply go hand in hand , or are they two separate , but related sections. The amp I mentioned as six pounds and 500 watts is a Mark Bass, and it uses a SMPS. Im definitely into learning about SMPS.

The book Im reading was published in 1999. It mentions class d as having promise, but needing more time to iron out kinks. So, I imagine this extra time has passed. I have been checking out the class d forum and will continue to try to fully understand what's going on. Any tips?

Thank you again, CC

[jackinnj]

International Rectifier has a nice application note on Class D amplifiers -- http://www.irf.com/technical-info/appnotes/an-1071.pdf

They also have a few canned designs -- this all comes about as a result of their work in SMPS -- you basically modulate the error pin of a PWM controller with the audio signal, feed it to a gate driver of some beefy HexFETs, then filter out the nasty bits.

That's the easy description of how to make puff pastry...the proof is in the tasting.

[planet10]

Originally posted by creamcorn
Is it within the reach of a super beginner to start making class d amps?

In your case it probably best to consider getting a pre-built Class D module & a suitable SMPS and just assembling them into your own chassis.

There are quite a few vendors. Most of my interest is in 5-15w amps so i'm not up on who makes big ones.

dave

[creamcorn]

Thank you all so much !!

Im excited to have more to read about.

Are there smps modules?

off to work, Thanks CC