I lowered R104 to 600 ohms and kept the bias at 40mA for symmetrical clipping. This has the effect of lowering the gain too. I connected resistors of around 50k to 100k at the input, which will form a voltage divider when combined with the 50k input impedance of BOZ. End result? To my tin ears, it sounded wonderful. Try this......
Hi JH. I use the BOZ to drive the Leach amp. The Leach amp needs about 2V to drive it to full power. The lowest source output level that I have is my cassette deck with an output of about 400mV. Therefore, I need a maximum gain of 5, which is less than the usual 8 as designed by Nelson. At the same time, I also noticed the unsymmetrical clipping at the higher gain. Nelson also stated that the output will clip at around 15V, with distortion rising at increasing output levels prior to clipping. At a gain of 8 with a CD's output of 2V will theoretically give an output if 16V, way into clipping.
So, I read quite a few posts here on the BOZ and one of the ways suggested was to reduce R104. I did this and it solved both the high gain and unsymmetrical clipping problems. So, I decided to stick with this.... But given the time, I would like to try out your method.... Thanks.
So, I read quite a few posts here on the BOZ and one of the ways suggested was to reduce R104. I did this and it solved both the high gain and unsymmetrical clipping problems. So, I decided to stick with this.... But given the time, I would like to try out your method.... Thanks.
Now that I've slept a bit, it's clearer 
Here's some final comments on my Bride of Zen project. I hope that it will be useful to some of you.
I tried all suggestions mentioned in this thread (Thanks guys for your help) and I'm finally using those settings :
bias current @ 28mA (measuring 28VDC through R104 & R204)
Anywhere between 26mA & 30mA was fine.
As suggested, I lowered R104 & R204 (those 3Watts resistors) from 1k ohms to 600 & 820 ohms (again both settings are fine). This lowered slightly the gain but I don't care much.
Adding 22k & 100k resistors in serie with the input was working fine but I removed them since the sound was ok without them. Maybe I'll add them back later if I need them.
The biggest and dumbest error I made is that I was using LINEAR potentiometer instead of Logarithmic. I couldn't turn the potentiometer past 1/50 turn without blowing up my speakers.
I lost a lot of time on this one thinking that my gain was way too high.
By the way I found this thread which covers the same issues as this one
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=95&highlight=zen+bride
I tried all suggestions mentioned in this thread (Thanks guys for your help) and I'm finally using those settings :
bias current @ 28mA (measuring 28VDC through R104 & R204)
Anywhere between 26mA & 30mA was fine.
As suggested, I lowered R104 & R204 (those 3Watts resistors) from 1k ohms to 600 & 820 ohms (again both settings are fine). This lowered slightly the gain but I don't care much.
Adding 22k & 100k resistors in serie with the input was working fine but I removed them since the sound was ok without them. Maybe I'll add them back later if I need them.
The biggest and dumbest error I made is that I was using LINEAR potentiometer instead of Logarithmic. I couldn't turn the potentiometer past 1/50 turn without blowing up my speakers.
I lost a lot of time on this one thinking that my gain was way too high.
By the way I found this thread which covers the same issues as this one
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=95&highlight=zen+bride
Elkaid said:
You could change the linear potentiometer to the logarithmic by adding just one resistor.
Refer to Pt.1 of http://sound.westhost.com/project01.htm.
JH
Looking at the link below there are two parts labeled C105 and C205, respectively. They're sitting right on LIN and RIN.
BOZ Layout Pic
No such parts appear in this site's component list. I gather this is a typo of some sort and that C104 and C204 go there instead?
BOZ article.
Being in the signal path, should these and C103 / C203 be poly film type caps?
Thx for any help...
BOZ Layout Pic
No such parts appear in this site's component list. I gather this is a typo of some sort and that C104 and C204 go there instead?
BOZ article.
Being in the signal path, should these and C103 / C203 be poly film type caps?
Thx for any help...
javven said:
Hi
You´re right: C104 and C204
You may use:
Poly film caps: Solen, Audyn Cap, Dayton; $$
Film and foil: Infinicap, Auricap, Hovland $$$$
Paper in oil (PIO) or in beewax: Jensen, Jupiter $$$$$$$
Electrolytic Bipolar: Black Gate N $
It´s a versatile project and I love it.
Check at Passdiy.com>Gallery>Bride of Zen for a lot of pictorial builder´s articles
Enjoy
JC
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