Mute circuit for LM1876

Hi everyone,

I am hoping to implement one of the solutions presented on this thread :




I have entered the first circuit into EasyEDA (standard Windows install version 5.4.46) because I have all the parts already.

In the second photo from the thread we see the simulation working as desired, with 3.6V for one second and then dropping, however, in my EasyEDA, the simulation does not turn on the LED and the voltage at output is 0.6V.

Can anyone see the problem? What must I add to for it work?
I tried adding a 1M resistor in parallel with C1, and then the LED does light up and we have 1.86V on the output, but it never drops.

Thank you for any help.

EJ
 

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I have recently been working at TI amp in the TPA31XX range. They also use a logic low MUTE function. I have implemented, simulated, and tested on a PCB the following mute circuit that seems to work.

My design was a based on a 24V supply (not the 25V you show) and I was driving for around 2s to reach a 2V logic level. You can play with the resistors and capacitor values to get to where you want for your 1.5V. This design shows about 2.5 seconds to reach 1.5V at 25V supply. This one wont help with power off, but making a circuit to do both would be much more involved.

I simulated this originally in TINA-TI (free), but the curve here is from CircuitLab as I'm at work and don't have TINA handy. I find TINA, despite it's super clunky interface, to be super fast and reliable. Give PSPICE for TI a pass. Somewhat nicer interface, but slower than two weeks full of Christmases and is difficult to use.

I also have recently design and simulated an audio signal detect circuit using a LM393 comparator that will unmute only when an audio signal > 100mV is detected and remute after 5s of no audio. It also does power on pop control, but ONLY if you don't have active audio when you power it on. Let me know if you want me to share that one as well.


clunky to actually use.
Screenshot 2025-05-20 131200.png
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I actually like the circuit you linked. I’d need to calculate the power loss for the zener regulator to see how much I like it.

I’m wondering if the EasyEDA simulator is working correctly. The original poster used TINA-TI which is free via TI. Try simulating in that program. The only item you MAY have to add is the 5V zener diode, but there’s lots of examples online of how to add the spice models to TINA. I’ll see if I can make it this evening as I like this circuit as well.
 
I didn't have time to model this up last night, but I did some calculations and I think that 30K resistor is too large. For a collector current of 25mA, you'll need more base current to turn on the BJT. Lower that resistor to 16kohm and see what happens in your EasyEDA simulation. Again, it'll depend on how accurately the simulator is modeling the BJT, but my review of the datasheet (and a refresher on my BJT basics from 20+ years ago in school) show you need more Ib.