DIY Front End 2022

Hi Don,

Gerber files sent.

The DIY FE 2022 draws very little current, just a bit over 10mA per channel. If I was using it as a front end built into an amplifier i would have powered it with the amplifier's power supply, with a local RC filter for additional power supply filtration. However I built it as a stand alone preamp. Since the DIY FE 2022 draws such little current it would not have made sense to power it with an amplifier power supply that is capable of providing many Amperes of current.

It was also an excuse to play with KiCad. 🤓

Also note that for the 62VDC output of my power supply build, the power transformer secondary of the transformer that I used, the Triad VPT 48-520 secondary measured 57VAC under load, and the unregulated rectified voltage was 75VDC. So it is misleading that 48VAC transformer secondary is enough for a final regulated 62VDC.
 

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By the way, 48V wall plug-in smps power supplies are available:

If I were to build this preamp again, this is the power supply I would use. The SMPS I used caused a high pitch squeal (it made hum sound good), which Nelson diagnosed correctly as a ground loop. I had to isolate the case of the SMPS and disconnect the ground from the IEC to the SMPS. I ended up with the SMPS case isolated using vinyl standoffs and then coating the metal enclosure under the SMPS for safety.

A wall wort or brick would have been so easy.....
 
I lost my notes(I threw them in the trash by mistake). The tone circuit adds like 0.01 distortion-ish. I thought it would be worse-ish. I have better OpAmps too-ish.
Most likely blasphemy to many but I think this is how my FE boards are going down.
With a relay selector and a million dollar volume pot I bought from Poland and some boring linear power supplies from yesteryear.
 
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I wouldn't completely discount SMPSs to use with the FE. I've been using a med-quality SMPS with Mark's filter on both the FE1 and FE2s and have not experienced any ill-effects (i.e.: hum/loops/high pitched anything).
I run my FE and my ACA both off of a single Meanwell LRS-150-24 SMPS and they are totally quiet. The FE does have an SMPS filter on it but the ACA does not. The power supply is not mounted inside either chassis it just sits on the shelf behind everything and it never gets hot at all. It's a great little supply and they are only 16.99 on Amazon.
 
The standard values give 10x gain or 20dB. Additional 6dB would be 26db or 20x.

I do not know how the circuit would behave at 20x. Since this is DIY, you could change R3 and R4 and measure the performance. Or simulate it in LTSpice, although successful simulation does not guarantee success in real life. 🤓

Another factor is output voltage. The maximum output voltage is limited by power supply voltage and maximum power dissipation of the transistors.
 
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It will use a 55 volts power supply.

I am losing lots of gain using FIR filters (Acourate) so it is not as if it would be having to output more than it was.

I wish I was as good with LTSpice as you are, Mr. Mah! Add to that your measuring ability. Your circuit explorations ... You are a reference.

I am using a 20X version now.