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Modulus-86: Composite amplifier achieving <0.0004 % THD+N.

You may want to look into Norton and Thevenin equivalents. There's no theoretical difference between current drive (Norton) and voltage drive (Thevenin) for the same load impedance.

If you're into current drive, I also suggest looking at Bob Pease's application note, "A Comprehensive Study of the Howland Current Pump". Howland current pumps, such as the MyRef, are notorious for instability and need precisely matched components to ensure stability.

~Tom
 
Good 1k Current Source Amp?

If you're into current drive, I also suggest looking at Bob Pease's application note, "A Comprehensive Study of the Howland Current Pump". Howland current pumps, such as the MyRef, are notorious for instability and need precisely matched components to ensure stability.
The main reason I'm following this thread is cos I want a simple (eg based on 3886) current source which is at least 1k over the audio range and still allows most of the 3886's power to be used.

I need a SPICE model which accurately sims the evil stuff happening if you don't have a Zobel on the output and the 'real life' to cures for this.

I can do this in 'real life' but not without the complexity of Mills & Hawkesford. 😡
 
You may want to look into Norton and Thevenin equivalents. There's no theoretical difference between current drive (Norton) and voltage drive (Thevenin) for the same load impedance.

If you're into current drive, I also suggest looking at Bob Pease's application note, "A Comprehensive Study of the Howland Current Pump". Howland current pumps, such as the MyRef, are notorious for instability and need precisely matched components to ensure stability.

~Tom
It seems like classroom material using constant resistance. If you use constant resistance you will get the same result. But if you use driver type varying impedance, you will get different results. This reminds me when I rejected application of a MS in controls. I just looked at his thesis and asked him "why do you use a constant gain to represent a sensor?" the response was "that's what all the books use!" Disqualified.

Yes, I have studied the Howland Current Pumps while playing around with the MyRef. It did not seems to satisfy my needs... anyway, I have something that seems to be working better than pure voltage. Below is a simple sim.

The main reason I'm following this thread is cos I want a simple (eg based on 3886) current source which is at least 1k over the audio range and still allows most of the 3886's power to be used.

I need a SPICE model which accurately sims the evil stuff happening if you don't have a Zobel on the output and the 'real life' to cures for this.

I can do this in 'real life' but not without the complexity of Mills & Hawkesford. 😡
I think trying to get a perfect working spice model is not possible. When I asked about the LM3886 spice model, TI recommended I use the LM3876 model.
 

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Why to use Zobel network anyway? 🙂
There is more elegant way with one small value resistor at AMP output!
Enormous number of amplifiers use Zobel network in order to get few percent more power at output (of course also for stability) but with resistor and some mid range power amplifiers (<100W), loses at resistor is in a range of few Watts at maximum power and in general do not make any difference but gives you more predictive and stable FB loop control and much easier to implement, simple pick some stock values resistor instead winding custom inductor!
PS hint: BatoMM amplifier!
PS2: BatoMM is stable with capacitive load up to incredible 8uF due such approach! Don't try such large capacity load with yours amplifier if they don't have such implementation, you will kill you amp in a few second!

More readings in Douglas Self's book, find section "The Output Inductor Value"
https://books.google.rs/books?id=TL...age&q=amplifier without zobel network&f=false

Also watch this nice educadinal video from Analog Devices:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHIninAg4Is
 
@kgrlee
At a moment I don't have it as it is very hard to make "real" model (not impossible) which will include all parasitics in it and which are highly dependent on practical implementation.
Try basic schematic if you are interested in general overview …
 
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I think Douglas Self's book provides some interesting information. From a listening point of view, I have always found that having Zobel in the high frequency region to result in smoother music reducing fatiguing sound which is not hear when listening to live performance without amplification. I have also experienced tweeters which have a flat impedance like a resistor, which according to his book actually not the best load? But these are probable some variables to consider.
 
Why to use Zobel network anyway? 🙂
There is more elegant way with one small value resistor at AMP output!
Enormous number of amplifiers use Zobel network in order to get few percent more power at output (of course also for stability) but with resistor and some mid range power amplifiers (<100W), loses at resistor is in a range of few Watts at maximum power and in general do not make any difference but gives you more predictive and stable FB loop control and much easier to implement, simple pick some stock values resistor instead winding custom inductor!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHIninAg4Is

Just to clear things up, the inductor is a Thiele network, not a Zobel. Which do you actually mean and what are you putting them in for?
 
Try basic schematic if you are interested in general overview …
Have you got a "basic schematic" of BatomanMM in LTspice?

Thanks for your advice jackinnj. I've searched for network analysers on eBay but they are a bit out of this beach bum's budget 😡

It's for a test instrument which is why the 1k needs to be maintained up to 20kHz at high power.
 
Try using the SPICE Model which uses solder, and grab a network analyzer.

+1

The LM3886 model on the TI website is actually pretty decent. It's not perfect and it does have some rather obvious flaws (such as the lack of modeling anything related to the power supply), but it gets you pretty close. It helps if you include layout parasitics and the parasitics of the passive components.

In the end, there's no substitute for reality, though. A HP 3577A with an injection transformer and a couple of oscilloscope probes are invaluable.

~Tom
 
The LM3886 model on the TI website is actually pretty decent. It's not perfect and it does have some rather obvious flaws (such as the lack of modeling anything related to the power supply), but it gets you pretty close. It helps if you include layout parasitics and the parasitics of the passive components.
Do you know if it models what happens if you remove the Zobels and the other stuff you explore at lm3886-effect-compensation-network-cc-rf2-cf?

Good 'real life' stuff on your part, BTW 🙂

And can you use it in LTspice?
_________________

Thanks for the links jcx. Is this your recommendation for a cheap scope? A quick glance suggests it hasn't got a trigger function.

This beach bum really needs to get a scope if he is to keep up his pretence of being a guru on the net 🙂

I miss having a nice Tektronix as in my previous life but that was last Millenium 🙁
 
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Do you know if it models what happens if you remove the Zobels and the other stuff you explore at lm3886-effect-compensation-network-cc-rf2-cf?

The AC behavior is modeled well if you include the parasitics of the passives around the LM3886. The clipping behavior is not well modeled. Specifically, I suspect there's a saturation clamp within the LM3886 which tends to oscillate a bit. You see this in real life, but only occasionally in simulation.

~Tom
 
the last link is EEVblog video of the capabilities (if you can stand the annoying accent) - but while it just gets high enough to give OK stability measurement for the LM3886 it really doesn't go high enough for a MOSFET PA since you really want to see at least a few octaves beyond the loop gain intercept frequency

Rigol has cheap new 'scopes - good value for the $
 
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