Hi there!
I'm just about to start designing my own (HiFi) Power Amplifier (July 2002). The reason is that I just finished building my second amp, following other people's descriptions on the web. From that, I've learned a lot, but not as much as I would have liked. There are still some mysteries around certain stages of an amplifier, so I decided to try designing it myself. That way I really do have to learn how to do it.
The amplifier will most likely be class A/B, since I believe I'll learn more from building such than anything else. Well, I believe I'll learn the most if i DO make a decision and start learning about the different parts. On this page I hope to document as much as possible.
I'm not yet sure for what audience this webpage is for.
This far I've covered:
I will divide my efforts in the following parts:
This project covers a power amplifier for audio use. Since it is more of a "learning" project, hence the importance of the project is for me learning how to design an amplifier rather than producing a high class power amp. The following sections cover my progress.
Nelson Pass is not an advocate for dual differential input stages, though he (and Dr. Thagard) used it in the A75 amplifier [I1]. I'll go for a single differential amplifier stage in my design. Mainly because I don't have the skill to see the difference. We'll see later if I dare to walk my own path. In a couple of weeks I'll decide if I want to go with the IRF9620 FET's in my input stage or if I'm to go with BJT's.
Rod Elliott argues that an ouput stage using a complementary pair type of configuration is far better than the "darlington" type[1]. Professor Marshall Leach disagrees [2], stating that his SPICE simulations of a vast majority of output stage topologies are in favor for the complementary darlington connection (common collector amplifier). For now I'll go for the common collector configuration, mainly because I've built a Leach Amp in the past. It worked, which for now is enough to convince me to use it again. I might change my mind later, but I need to come to a decision.
No pictures yet.
Since one of my goals is to help other people getting started as well, I'll just go ahead and list my references and links on the web.
Links in no particular order:
Links referenced to in the text above