Meridian 103 clone

Member
Joined 2006
Paid Member
After sucessfully building two very different power amps sporting lateral mosfets on the OPS I feel much more confident to use the same OPS with other front ends.

Used to the sound of my old meridian 103 I would like to clone it and use laterals on the output.

Allready started the simulation and got stuck with too low gain.... So I decided to post my work here hoping to gather enough interest and so start developing this new project.
 

Attachments

  • 103 schematic.jpg
    103 schematic.jpg
    202.4 KB · Views: 1,184
  • Meridian 103 exicon power amp EVO5.asc
    Meridian 103 exicon power amp EVO5.asc
    11.7 KB · Views: 215
  • MYamp.txt
    MYamp.txt
    58.4 KB · Views: 200
I do have one working original 103.... What I want is to replicate it with a different OPS.

The 103 is one of the sweetest amps I had the oportunity to listen to so maybe I can have the same results with a DIY build.
 
....Wonder why this sch does not get your attention....Need to decide what are the best bjt to use in the IPS and on the vas....
The front end of the 103 schematic is similar to many CFA type designs shown here. Member Lazy Cat's variations on his VSSA amplifier design are good examples of the topology and show suitable available parts choices. Most variations on it already have a Lateral Mosfet output stage matched correctly to the front end anyway and builders seem to agree that even the basic "First One" is a great sounding simple amp in its own right. Lazy Cat's own preferred version has been built, tested in audiophile comparisons and boards sold commercially in SMD format too.
 
Ifo about CFA:

Originally Posted by Bob Cordell View Post
Hi Richard,

I think we need to be careful to distinguish current-mode analog signal processing from current feedback amplifiers. In a CFA the signal feedback can be considered a current, but that is all there need be in the current domain. Put another way, in a CFA the error amplifier reacts ideally to a difference (error) of currents, while in a VFA the error amplifier reacts to a difference (error) in voltages. The impedance that the feedback network sees at the error amplifier is largely what differentiates the two. The CFA feedback network sees a low impedance ideally, while the VFA feedback network sees a high impedance ideally.

It is important to realize that the voltage at the feedback node of a CFA is not necessarily zero; it is often equal to the input voltage to the amplifier, as in a non-inverting CFA. But you can also view the CFA feedback network as operating as a voltage divider that seeks to produce a voltage that is the same as the input voltage for a non-inverting CFA. If it does not produce the same open-circuit voltage, then an error current will flow. There can be many ways to look at this. Sort of like how given source and network has Thevenin and Norton equivalents. In fact, I seem to recall CFAs as being described as Norton amplifiers. I could be wrong about that, however.

I think that the classic RIAA preamp, wherein the RIAA feedback network connects to the emitter of the input transistor, is in fact a CFA.

I hope that my assertion that the CFA can be viewed in more than one way has not confused matters.

A better example of current-mode analog signal processing is the cascomp input stage, where the signal current from an input LTP is summed with an error correction current at the emitters of a cascode.

Cheers,
Bob
 
Hi Bob. Not too sure about the resistor values you have changed at the input stage.

From what i understand, this being an inverting nfb amp, places the input pair bases at virtual ground. Looking at the original circuit the input impedance is then 11k and there is a T-network in the feedback loop, only the value of the resistor in series with C1 is not shown. Your modified values do raise the closed loop gain but also reduce the input impedance excessively.
 
Today I managed some free time for this.

I believe I am getting good results now...
 

Attachments