What should clipping look like? (AKA reading sine waves)

Troncones · 28th June 2011, 02:25 PM

All of the SE amp projects I’m playing with produce a sine wave that looks like this at clip. These are typically 3 to 5 watt amps so I make an effort to get all out of them I can. It looks to me like if I could get it to be more concentric I could get just a little more power.

I have tried different plate voltages, quiescent points and NFB values with the same results. Is this as good as it gets? (Scale: 2V/Div)

DF96 · 28th June 2011, 02:36 PM

"Concentric"? Maybe you mean symmetric? SE amps are likely to clip asymmetrically. If you want symmetric clipping then you need push-pull.

As the top and bottom peaks have different shapes it probably means that they result from different mechanisms. Most likely is onset of grid current at one end, and valve cutoff at the other end. To maximise power output you need the correct load impedance, but real loudspeakers vary so much that in reality this will not get you very far.

Troncones · 28th June 2011, 08:06 PM

Yes symmetric was the word I was looking for this morning.

Yes I have noticed that PP amps clip more symmetricly.

Thanks for you input.

28th June 2011, 08:06 PM	#3
Troncones diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Orange County, California.	Yes symmetric was the word I was looking for this morning. Yes I have noticed that PP amps clip more symmetricly. Thanks for you input. __________________ The Myth: A hand full of Tubes, Caps, Resistors and Iron and you have an Amp. The Reality: You have self induced Dementia. Newbie.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Recovery from clipping, soft clipping	hahfran	Solid State	49	23rd February 2010 01:03 AM
tuning forks for pure sine waves?	cuibono	Everything Else	13	17th September 2008 04:39 PM
Sine Wave Generator with bulbs (Sine-lightenment)	Rodeodave	Everything Else	6	21st July 2008 12:19 PM
sine waves on nos dac	regal	Digital Source	5	11th March 2007 09:38 PM
Sine and square waves percieved pitch, why?	baggystevo82	Everything Else	33	11th March 2005 04:18 AM

New To Site?	Need Help?
Register to Participate Search Privacy Statement Contact Us	Frequently Asked Questions Did you forget your password? Mark Forums Read

28th June 2011, 02:36 PM	#2
DF96 diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2007	"Concentric"? Maybe you mean symmetric? SE amps are likely to clip asymmetrically. If you want symmetric clipping then you need push-pull. As the top and bottom peaks have different shapes it probably means that they result from different mechanisms. Most likely is onset of grid current at one end, and valve cutoff at the other end. To maximise power output you need the correct load impedance, but real loudspeakers vary so much that in reality this will not get you very far.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)