Driver transistors for 2SC5200&1943

[ttan98]

I notice that the Toshiba 2SC5200&1943 are very popular o/p transistors and sound good as well.

I have bought 2 pairs to try and I realise I need the driver transistors as well.

After some initial search here I found that 2 types of drivers that are very popular in driving these o/p transistors. They are the TIP41 and 42 OR BD149 and 140. I notice Destroyer uses them.

My question is is there any advantage(s) of 1 set over the other.

Any comments welcomed.

Thanks.

[Zero Cool]

I see these driven with 2SC2238 / 2SA968 often.

[lineup]

Originally posted by Zero Cool
I see these driven with 2SC2238 / 2SA968 often.

Those are good lowpower transistors.
I suppose they are almost same as 2SC2240 / 2SA970 TO-92, lownoise.

For driving output stage 2SC5200 & 2SA1943 or other devices,
I would often want TO-126 or even TO-220.
How much power such drivers need to cope with
if very much a descision from case to case.

Current x Supply Voltage = Power & Heat.

I would think of using TO-126:
BD139 / BD140 .. the good and old couple. Proven in AUDIO.

And some of the best TO-220 there is!:
MJE15030 / MJE15031 ( MJE15028 / MJE15029, too )
======================================

As often, what we should use, is very dependent on the actual circuit.
Higher Output power and Supply voltage = 'Stronger drivers'.

Better if having a margin upwards.
When transistors get too hot for their rating, they will not work well,
even if they do not actually BURN OUT

Regards

[lineup]

Originally posted by ttan98

I notice that the Toshiba 2SC5200&1943 are very popular o/p transistors and sound good as well.

I have bought 2 pairs to try and I realise I need the driver transistors as well.

Pavel 'PMA' Macura version of SymaSym as I recall it, uses 2SC5200 & 2SA1943.

PMA:
'I have to add that my output devices are Toshiba 2SC5200/2SA1943, ... '

http://web.telecom.cz/macura/symasym.html

You may have a look at what he and SymaSym-MikeB use for drivers.
PMA are among the best we have regarding DIY Amplifier designs


Lineup

[ttan98]

Thanks Lineup,

I was told by AKSA which also uses 2SC5200 and 1943 combo as o/p transistors that he uses, 2SC4793 and 2SA1837 as drivers and he claims that they are very good.

[linuxguru]

I'll second the recommendation of the Toshiba a1837/c4793, and also add the Toshiba a1930/c5171 pair to the list. However, the first pair has an advantage that it also has a reasonably good unencumbered spice model.

[jacco vermeulen]

Originally posted by ttan98
TIP41 and 42 OR BD139 and 140.

Not much choice if that's about all what is available.

BD139/140 are great if they are the original parts, what's for sale in the stores nowadays are totally different animals.
2SA968/2SC2238 are obsolete, "current" Toshiba numbers are much better, might as well ad A1306/C3298 to the list.
All ramblings that have been chewed to death many times before on this dork parade.

As for MJE1503* drivers, if i had the ambition to assemble a mega-power output stage i'd pick any hunk of a ringemitter before cheapskating with OnSemi drivers. Only a fool would skip a pre-driver stage on a sick +250W BJT amp, therefore the high capacitance of the driver is not an issue.

[Nordic]

I guess it all depends on voltage requirement as well as in circuit dissipation...

BD139/140 work just fine if a little trouble is taken to match a few sets, and even without... cheap, easy to find so easy maintenance .

TIP42/41 can handle higher dissipation

and for higher powered amps Toshiba 2sa1837/2sc4793 which come in nice insulated packages...

[Shaun]

Following the thread with interest.

Originally posted by jacco vermeulen
As for MJE1503* drivers, if i had the ambition to assemble a mega-power output stage i'd pick any hunk of a ringemitter before cheapskating with OnSemi drivers. Only a fool would skip a pre-driver stage on a sick +250W BJT amp, therefore the high capacitance of the driver is not an issue.

Jacco, would you care to break this down for me? Are the OnSemi devices deficient?

[jacco vermeulen]

Of course not, just that for real high power amps with high-fT output devices there are driver devices which are better, stronger,....and much more expensive.
Not my ideas, there have been a number of commercial power amps with fast Japanese output devices with such driver stages.

Suppose you were thinking of assembling a 500W/8 power amp with 12 pairs of A1943/C5200, then you'd be better off with exotic drivers and they'd be worth the extra cost.
At the cost level of the MJEs, OnSemi TO220s are really cool.

(I is driver dissipation phobic, no insulated package drivers on high power amps. A1306/C3298 are fully encapsulated items too )

As for BD139/BD140, different ball game : datasheet
How many would you like to see ? =>