JLH 10 Watt class A amplifier

The 2SD1047 is for the moment, the best transistor that I had with the JLH. I tested the 2N3055, MJ15003, 2SC3519.

I saw the PCB uses 2N3906/2SD669/2SD1047. The output transistor must be in synergy with the other transistor, especially with such a fast D1047 (20MHz). So when you compared those transistors (1047/3055/15003/359), did you use D669 for all? Any bias adjustment?
 
I saw the PCB uses 2N3906/2SD669/2SD1047. The output transistor must be in synergy with the other transistor, especially with such a fast D1047 (20MHz). So when you compared those transistors (1047/3055/15003/359), did you use D669 for all? Any bias adjustment?


Yes, 2sd669 and 2n 3904 are very good transistor for this amp. I made a final bias adjustement with R2 = 910 ohm with 1047. Bias current is 1.2 A (the best sound) at V = 33v. 15 w power output in 8 ohms.
R5 is fixed on this kit, i made some additional holes in the pcb an put a 150k precision trimmer instead the 100k resistor to adjust V/2.

What is important also and what is not on the original plan is to add a resistance of 0.47 ohm between V + and the collector of the transistor TR2. The sound becomes more articulated and less tightened.

I forgot : TR3 and TR4 should not be too fast if not there will be oscillation problems which arrive quickly with this assembly because input and output are in phase.
 
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I use 20,000uF on the output. With electrolytics you want large values, to push the corner frequency out of the audio range - minimizes distortion by ensuring negligible a.c. across the cap.

How long does it take for the offset to settle with that 20,000uF output cap?
about 5 to 10 times the RC time constant.

For a 8r0 dummy load (with the speaker switched out) that would be around 5*0.02F*8r0 = 0.8s to 10*0.02F88r0 = 1.6s

You could switch the speaker in after ~2seconds.
 
20000 uF , it seems to me much. A large capacitor take some time to charge and discharge, with big value, the sound become lax. how did you make the decoupling ?
one requires that the coupling capacitor passes the audio signal.

If one wants to pass the 20Hz to 20kHz audio band then one usually looks for F-3dB turn over frequencies around a decade away from the required passband, i.e. 2Hz to 200kHz.

8ohms and 20mF has an F-3dB of ~1Hz.
That allows this output capacitor to be a comfortable octave outside the input filter which is the passband limiter.
The input filter is the 4u7F into 100k||100k||base input impedance of the first 3906. Maybe 40k & 4.7uF giving F-3dB ~0.85Hz.

OOPs, the input filter is set so low that the output filter is now acting as the extreme LF filter and that will create a AC voltage drop across the coupling capacitor and maybe introduce avoidable distortion. It is too small for the 4u7F at the input.

Can someone estimate the input impedance of the first transistor? Maybe it's a lot lower than 200kohms.
 
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Then 100k||150k||660k gives your 55kohms.

That 660kohms seems very high for the transistors input impedance. But maybe that is a good value for this circuit and whatever hFE that the 3906 has.

I am surprised you have to offset the input so far from 50% of Vcc
150 as part of (100+150) is 60% !!!!

Ah ! there's another 39k in there.
the DC at the input is 150/(150+100+39) = 51.9% of Vcc
But the 39k is decoupled at AC, so does not affect the AC input impedance
 
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The trimmer is not set at 150 but about somewhere between 120 and 130 k. 3906 hfe is about 300 if I remember correctly.
I was also surprised to have to increase the resistance, it was the first time in ten jlh I mounted.
But this is not a problem for the proper functioning of the amp, I am very happy with it !
 
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Hello,
I am thinking of building the 1969 version of the amp, and I have nice 20V AC transformers available. And I'm thinking what kind of PSU to build basic or regulated. If it's regulated then the voltage provided will be lower.
So I am thinking now what difference in power into 8ohms will there be comparing 24V and 28V power supply voltages?
 
Neglecting the device voltage drops, the maximum power is proportional to the square of the voltage.
The ratio is (28x28) /(24x24) = 1.36. So the higher voltage will give around a third more power, or 2.7dB.

Well, I understand Ohms law, but I am confused with this amplifier. It is titled as a 10 W amplifier. 10 W into 8 ohm is ~9 V 1.125A. 9Vrms has ~12.5 V peaks. To achieve that output I need ~12.5*2=25V power rail. So 25V PSU is needed for 10W. Is there any sense in my thoughts?
 
Hi
You can just get 30V unregulated from your 20V transformers, but there may be some ripple on the power supply lines. So you should be able to get 10W, but hum reduction may need some careful filtering. Ideally I would suggest a 30V transformer, rectified=50V, then the series pass transistors in a regulator would drop 20V.
Do your 20V transformers have a centre tap. You might put 20V+10V together, but they would need to be able to provide the current needed for both channels in stereo.