Building an ultimate low power class A amplifier – my way

A little progress, finally. Ordering a couple new toroids from Antek, then I need to pick a chassis...

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Build is basically done!

I first used the amp at 250mv across r17 as written here:

0.8 A 160 - 170 mV
1 A 250 - 270 mV
1.2 A 340 – 360 mV

Later I tried cranking up the bias current to see how it would sound, but one of the channels wont flow more than 254mv across r17, while the other will go above. Any ideas what could be causing this, or where I should look around to diagnose?

It's a wild sounding amp. I've never gotten so much detail out of music.
 
Nice and simple amp.

I was curious how Microcap matches other simulation programs...
Also to see if it results in unrealistic low THD values, what it obviously does not.
...and how different amps compare to my own stuff in simulation.

I had to increase the 2.7k to get the desired 1A bias. Maybe some bad model.

What is the diode for?

THD: 1Wp -121dB, 10Wp -110dB

Different opamps did not change anything.

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Nice and simple amp.
Thanks. And it sounds very nice too. 🙂

I was curious how Microcap matches other simulation programs...
Also to see if it results in unrealistic low THD values, what it obviously does not.
...and how different amps compare to my own stuff in simulation.
Regarding simulation, LTSpice was calculating only 6 dB lower distortion than measured. Your numbers are almost the same as I got with LTSpice.

I had to increase the 2.7k to get the desired 1A bias. Maybe some bad model.
It is likely J113 model issue. R11 shouldn’t affect bias. Try with R11 = 2K7 and reduce R10/RV1.

What is the diode for?
Diode is used to account for 0.6 V higher Vgs of P MOSFET, compared to N part.

Different opamps did not change anything.
True, not much at 1 kHz distortion, but they would for slew rate and overall stability, especially with capacitive loads.
 
Output stage alone was tested and listened to in the first development phase. It works very well and higher supply voltages can be used. Distortion is low and harmonics profile is monotonic. However, damping factor is in the low range (didn’t actually measure for the OS alone).
So, yes, output stage can be used with other frontends.
 
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tombo56, I couldn't have expected a better reply. It is just what I need. I use FostexFE168Sigma speakers in ML-TQWT enclosures. They need amps with higher output impedances. And I love to listen to amps and preamps with zero NFB because of their natural sound and the way the sound envelope grows when the music hits crescendos. Thank you very much.
 
I scoured my local area for a brick and mortar store that had an M3 tap set on hand... so... Bezos' bookstore will deliver tomorrow.

PSU in the chassis... layout pretty much final and "inspired" by the origin build.

PSU retested in the chassis with the dim bulb / variable transformer and all other safety nets removed. All good.

Pretty lights...

Drill and tap 4 holes tomorrow or Sunday... and if all goes to plan... music!

For those that like pics...

Right now, the R21s have ~2V5 drop unloaded (22V0 prior set to 19V5 after). I'll adjust as necessary when I add an amp-sized load. Hopefully they'll drop into that sweet spot of ~1V5 drop.


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