DIY Front End 2022

I think LTSpice results may give good ideas of differences between circuits. But they many not show correct absolute values. I have had LTSpice results that were much higher and much lower than real life measurements.

My build power supply is +62V, and the measured distortion was not half of Nelson's measured distortion.
 
Yeah, we are in agreement, i think these are the weak and strong spots of spice simulations, high precision, but low absolute accuracy.
I thought so too that the amount by which THD drops with increased voltage is unrealistic, it has been elsewhere in the thread that it occurs but not by this much, so again accuracy issue.
For completeness, attached simulation if anyone wants to play with Pa's updated design from #686. Thanks to EUVL for template.
 

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My sympathies. I depend a lot on the assistance of the knowledgeable and friendly members of this community to fill in many of the blanks. At the same time I am trying to emphasize simple and cheap so as to make these projects accessible.

Many of the kits are "essential's" but there are also "completion kits" or at least a bill of materials.

Still, these are not Heathkits.

I recommend Jim Tieman's excellent build guides, and anyone here will usually get some answers if they ask questions.

Thanks for all the constructive replies! I am also often quite surprised by how helpful people are - in hifi and other sub-communities.

@Nelson Pass - thanks for the sympathies. It was truly meant as constructive feedback - I checked out Jim Tieman - they look like solid guides! Thanks! Wished we have a Burning Amp Camp in Denmark! p.s. had to google "Heathkits" 😅🎶

@Markjohnson Absolutely, I can walk away. But I heard so much great about Nelson (admiration and respect) that I get a bit stubborn and also, without critique nothing gets better.

@william2001 Thanks for trying to explain the different parts, I built the Akitika Power Amp kit but I had little idea what I was doing, other than soldering resistors, as stated in the manual. IPS+VAS+OS - I certainly want to understand those different concepts better and how they can be applied in different scenarios, much appreciated. I did revisit a few high school electronics concepts. I got an M.Sc. in economics and I am OK in math and statistics and picking up new stuff.

@myleftear Yeah, I think it was more the frustration of not being able to even figure out what was meant by "Front End" - is this a preamp, a power amp, or a preamp with gain, etc? Also, English is not my first language, so when you get into electronics or any other sub-topic, sometimes it is harder to understand.

@ianbo Thanks for the encouragement - I was a bit hard, and I agree with your assessment there, however, It was a critique of the PDF paper and specifically its ability to lure in a new DIY like myself with the label "simple" - he might have meant a simple design. Anyway, It was not a critique of Mr. Pass - I actually praised his strong brand in the community in the post.

For comments on my personal character, intelligence - I assume you wrote it for fun and joking to lure me more into the community and test persistence 🙌👏💕

Happy Saturday!
/OJ
 
The model for J113 in Spice itself is way out, not even close.

Toshiba models are more reliable.

How big is the error for Toshiba transistors (measured real devices vs SPICE simulation)? 0.001% ?? 0.01% ?? 0.1% ??

Do you expect a simulation of a 5-transistor circuit's "distortion", to have greater accuracy than the simulation of the individual semiconductors?
 
If you would bother to take a look at the UDNeSS thread, you would see how good Spice simulations could agree with measurements.

I know analogue IC companies who only use simulations before they spend any money to make reticles for lithography.
Of course they have better tools, but it also depends on how you use those tools.


Cheers,
Patrick
 
"R13 is a low value degeneration resistor for Q5. In actual testing with the KSA992 I did
get a bit lower distortion with a 10 ohm value....."
Can this trick be applied to the Stasis FE? I need someone smarter than me to smack me on the head with a learnin' stick.. Can it be done? Would it help? What to do with all the VAS current limit stuff on the Stasis..R12,R13,R14,Q8? Can both "features" live in harmony?