Aikido -> BJT/EF possible?

[taj]

Don't laugh, I obviously have LOTS to learn about electronics.

Is this configuration do-able? I've just copy/pasted John Broskie's Aikido pre-amp onto one of Carlos M.'s EF output stages. (I'll call it a "bi-kido".) I don't understand the biasing of either very well, but I'd appreciate some feedback as to whether this is even possible, or what it would require to make it possible.

Speaking of feedback, I have no idea where/how to insert feedback into the aikido section. My assumption would be at the input of the top 6SN7 triode.

..Todd

PS: Yeah, I see the output coil vanished, no big deal for now.

[nigelwright7557]

bump.

[taj]

I'll try again: Is anyone willing to explain the why/how or why not of such a configuration? Thanks.

..Todd

[sajti]

I not recommend to build it. The ss part has problem with the biasing, so the output will go up to the +55V.

Sajti

[Bigun]

Yes, it doesn't look good, the Vbe multiplier is fed from the +55C rail only. You could provide a resistor from emitter of the Vbe multiplier to the negative rail and adjust it for zero output but it's not ideal - it'll drift around with temperature variations. Still, it's doable (I've seen it implemented somewhat like this on a Yaqin hybrid). This resistor plus the coupling capacitor between the tubes and SS section will form an RC filter which shouldn't be a problem if you ensure that the coupling capacitor is large enough. If you are prepared to be a bit fancier you could implement a dc-servo with a simple op-amp.

Other thing you need to watch for here is that the tubes will take time to wake up from cold and you could end up with some ill defined signals appearing at the output which you might now want. A muting relay on the input to the SS output section would be advisable, something simple that holds the input to the SS output stage to ground until things are warmed up - could even be done with a JFET in place of a relay.

The input has no rf filter or dc blocking capacitor - if you are sure of your signal source this may be OK, but many people choose to incorporate a high quality small value cap on the input to protect the amp from dc at the source and sometimes include a RC filter to exclude r.f. interference at the input.

[nigelwright7557]

Originally Posted by Bigun

Other thing you need to watch for here is that the tubes will take time to wake up from cold and you could end up with some ill defined signals appearing at the output which you might now want.

I found the same with a valve/MOSFET amp I designed.

The coupling capacitor stops the output going to a rail but as the valve warms up the dc voltage rises and this is reflected as a low dc waveform at the output. This moves the cone in and out a bit.

I just set the dc blocking capacitor between valve and MOSFET stages to be just big enough and that reduced the dc swinging a bit.

[nigelwright7557]

This thread has a better bias stage.

Tube/Mosfet 100W Hybrid Amplifier

[AKSA]

Todd,

Nice idea, it should work, though not as you have the SS section due to biasing issues.

Perhaps one of the easiest ways to bias it up is two complementary bootstraps. Using, say, four 3k3 resistors, two in series from the positive rail to the top of the Vbe multiplier, and two in series from the negative rail to the bottom of the Vbe multiplier, you can derive a biasing totem pole by fine adjusting one of the 3k3 resistors to zero the output of the SS stage.

You then string two 220uF electros from the output, one to the middle of the upper two 3k3 resistors, and the other to the middle of the lower two 3k3 resistors.

This works well, has very high input impedance, and very stable offset control since the biasing totem is symmetrical across both rails, so rail voltage changes will be accommodated very nicely.

I have built and tested this approach and it is stable, predictable, and inexpensive.

Cheers,

Hugh

[Bigun]

Originally Posted by taj

Speaking of feedback, I have no idea where/how to insert feedback into the aikido section. My assumption would be at the input of the top 6SN7 triode.

Try it without feedback first. You have to be careful with feedback here, you have an interstage capacitor and the feedback loop might also need one. This runs the risk of phase shifts at low frequencies since there's no dc-loop and the end result can be parasitic oscillations known as 'motorboating'

[taj]

Oh, thanks for all the input, Bigun, Nigel and Hugh.

I've added an input cap, Bigun, and what I think you're suggesting, Hugh. Let me know if I got it right.

Nigel, that other thread is miles beyond my comprehension. So is this one but I'm willing to tough it out and try to learn a few more things.

..Todd