Adding a volume control (pot)to this circuit

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hey guys i was just wondering if soemone could help me add a volume control to this circuit?


LM4950-circuits.jpg


thank you for the help!

cheers
 
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Add the volume pot on the input of the amplifier.
volumepot.gif


A 10 kOhm pot should be perfect. Make sure you use a pot with audio taper (logarithmic pot). You may need an op-amp buffer between the volume pot and the power amp as the input impedance of the amp is about 20 kOhm, which will load the volume pot quite a bit.

~Tom
 
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Add the volume pot on the input of the amplifier.
volumepot.gif


A 10 kOhm pot should be perfect. Make sure you use a pot with audio taper (logarithmic pot). You may need an op-amp buffer between the volume pot and the power amp as the input impedance of the amp is about 20 kOhm, which will load the volume pot quite a bit.

~Tom

thank you for your reply and help! very much appreciate it! would it be possibly to show me the steps/equation for solving Zin?

cheers
 
Your vol pot needs a Buffer if it can't drive the cable and the input of the Receiver.

If the cable is 50mm long then a 10k vol pot can probably drive the this combination if the Receiver has an input impedance of >25k and does not have an enormous RF attenuation capacitor.

A Buffer has to handle AC signals.
That usually means it needs a Dual Polarity Power Supply.

You can use a single polarity supply if the input to the Buffer and the output from the Buffer are AC coupled.

A Buffer can be as simple as a single transistor used as an emitter/source follower, or you can use an opamp that performs well when set to unity gain.
 
Hi,

A buffer is not needed, generally. Also note the typical value
of RFa is not 20K, it is much higher, and sets amplifier gain.

RFa could be varied for the volume control, as the device is
unity gain stable. Probably need 200K to 470K audio taper.

rgds, sreten.
 
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I presume we're looking at a part operating from only +5V or somesuch, a gain of -1 seems sufficient for that - especially since we're getting 6 dB extra from the BTL arrangement, so it really is -2 in total.

A 10k volume pot with nothing else should work splendidly. With a low-impedance source output connected, its output impedance never goes beyond 2.5 kOhms, so the effect of the 20k input impedance is going to be fairly negligible.
 
with no buffer the tone of the stuff might change with volume.
in most cases the change in tone can not even be recognised, in other cases it is welcome.

the geek solution is:
Buffer -> volume pot -> buffer -> amplifier.
it lets the source see a high impedance,
and isolates any effects of the volume pot besides what you want from the poweramp.

if you ask me, just add the pot and that's it.
 
Hi,

Read the datasheet, the right / simplest answer is obvious.
Clue : I'm not wrong, and most are making mis-assumptions.

rgds, sreten.

Real numbers depend on the supply voltage and nominal
maximum input level, its all described in the datasheet.
Except for making RFa variable as a volume control.
Technically varying RFa is the most superior approach.
 
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Hi,

Read the datasheet, the right / simplest answer is obvious.
Clue : I'm not wrong, and most are making mis-assumptions.

rgds, sreten.

Real numbers depend on the supply voltage and nominal
maximum input level, its all described in the datasheet.
Except for making RFa variable as a volume control.
Technically varying RFa is the most superior approach.

If i were to add a volume control as RFa, what value of pot (and type) would be needed?
 
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thank you for your reply and help! very much appreciate it! would it be possibly to show me the steps/equation for solving Zin?

Pin 1 of the chip amp is virtual ground. Hence, the input impedance at the "AUDIO INPUT" connector in the circuit in Post #1 is: Zin(s) = Rin + 1/(sCin), where s is complex frequency. At DC this becomes Zin = Rin.

An op-amp text such as Franco will be helpful to figure out the terms...

~Tom
 
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thank for the help guys!

can i use a 741 general op amp as the buffer (unity gain)

Unity-Gain-Buffer.png

The 741 is not a good choice for audio due to it's rather severe slew limitations. I suggest something like the NE5532 if you're Old Skool, LME49710 if you want modern performance, or OPA134 if you're contemporary modern with an Old Skool bent... :)

~Tom
 
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Jumping in, maybe the circuit posted below will be of interest. It's mostly a shameless rip from D. Self. Also the pot suggested by tomchr hooked to a buffer.

The advantage of a buffer is very high input impedance, and very low output impedance. This results in absolute separation between circuit stages preceding and following the buffer, preventing interaction between different components.

CIRCUIT NOTES:

Rvol is, of course, the volume control. Together with R2 it sets the circuit input impedance (Zin). Zin is the parallel value of Rvol and R2 (Rvol || R2), here about 25k.

R1 and C1 together form a low-pass filter that shunts ultrasonic frequencies to ground. This takes a bit of load off the op amp (because it doesn't have to amplify those frequencies), and helps prevent oscillation.

C2 and R2 together form a high-pass filter, which here rolls off frequencies below about 20Hz. R2 also sets Zin as previously noted.

R3 is a "just in case" resistor that can help prevent oscillation under some conditions.

R4 is commonly included in circuits, it prevents problems with capacitance in the output line.

Building Notes: Keep components as close together as your skill level reasonably allows, but no need to obsess. Importantly, keep audio signal conductors away from power supply conductors. Do not allow the audio signal to mix with power supply voltages except at circuit ground.

RadioShack's 25.2 volt, 450ma transformer #2264950 goes for $8, at this writing on sale for $6. Also convenient is RadioShack's perfboard #2266451. For other components I've had good results using this eBay seller: 1 4W 5, Ceramic Disc Capacitors items in Thai Shine store on eBay! Disclosure: I have no association with any of these people except to send them money sometimes.
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Hi,

Its a cheap chip, 3W stereo into 4 ohms or 6W BTL into 8 ohms.
Your all massively overcomplicating something essentially simple.
That it is unity gain stable basically tells you it is not really hifi,
but also tells you there is a very simple classic solution, that
is the same as an active shunt feedback volume control.

rgds, sreten.

http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/lm4950.pdf
 
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