Week 8 Audio Power Amplifier Design and Construction Project

Operational amplifiers are mainly used for low current applications. An op-amp can produce about 500 mW which is enough to power headphones. More output current is needed to drive a loudspeaker as used in a guitar practice amplifier or car radio, so the Op-Amp needs to feed into a power amplifier. Power Amplifier Terminology Power Supply: The power supply takes the 240 Volt AC power from the power outlet and converts it into a lower DC voltage. Conversion from AC to DC is necessary because the semiconductor devices (transistors, FETs, MOSFETs, etc.) used inside the equipment require this type of voltage. (By the way, FET stands for Field Effect Transistor, and MOSFET stands for Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor). Power supplies usually involve a transformer, large value capacitors and rectifier diodes. A 12V DC lead acid battery is a simple power supply with enough current output to drive an amplifier. Here is the mathematics P= V2 / r = 13.82 / 4 = 47W. So at most you are dealing with about 50W per 4 ohm speaker. In reality heat will be generated in the power supply, circuitry and speaker leaving about 30% ie 15W of sound. More info at http://sound.westhost.com/efficiency.htm and www.standrews.ac.uk/~jcgl/Scots_Guide/audio/ Input stage: The input stage (also called the "front end") receives and prepares the input signals for power amplification by the output stage. The input stage includes input level controls and tone controls. Output stage: The output stage converts the weak input signal into a much more powerful "replica" which is capable of delivering a high current to a speaker. This portion of the amplifier typically uses a number of "power transistors" (or MOSFETs) and is also responsible for generating the most heat in the unit. The output stage of an amplifier interfaces (connects) to the speakers. The speakers work by converting the current into a magnetic force field. This electromagnetic field repels and attracts the permanent magnet in the speaker hence moving the air. Amplifier Block Design: When designing an amplifier or amplifier system a diagram of the building blocks is used to simplify the process. Input pre-amp amplifier (loudspeaker) output
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Power supply

Input connections: Several types of plugs are available for devices which plug into amplifiers. In the case of microphones and guitars the 6.5 mm phone or jack plug is the most common. The name comes from their historical use in manual telephone exchanges. A smaller 3.5mm version is used for iPods etc. On better quality microphones an XLR or cannon plug is often used. The extra pin is used for stopping any noise that may jump(be induced) on the wire (balancing). RCA (Radio Corporation of America) or phono or CINCH/AV, plugs are also used.
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Week 8 Audio Power Amplifier Design and Construction Project

mono jack or phone plug

male XLR plug

RCA plug

So if you are using several types of plug then several types of input connection sockets will be needed. In your project consider using 6.5 mm and 3.5 mm sockets.

circuit symbol for input socket one terminal is called the sleeve (ground), the other, the tip (signal)

Input controls: These include volume and tone controls (pots) and switches. The switch may be incorporated in the socket so that when the plug is inserted the switch operates. Output connections: Again several types are available for connecting the speaker. Since the speakers are not usually plugged and unplugged regularly screw type or push-in types are ideally used. The most common termination types are spring clips, binding posts, banana plugs, and spade lugs.

bare wire spring clip

circuit symbol for loudspeaker

see http://www.bus.ucf.edu/cwhite/theater/ConnectorGlossary.htm#Speaker: Pre-Amplifier Design Volume control and tone control circuits are part of the pre-amp. Most of these features can be achieved using Op-Amps.

Tone Control using op-amp A 100k linear taper pot is used for the treble cut/boost whilst a 50k linear taper pot is used for the bass cut/boost. This design is based on the work of Peter Baxandall. If a log taper pot is used then
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Week 8 Audio Power Amplifier Design and Construction Project

resistor/capacitors values need to be adjusted. More info www.duncanamps.com/technical/baxandall.html ,
http://amps.zugster.net/articles/tone-stacks/ and http://sound.westhost.com/dwopa2.htm

A TL071 or similar op-amp would give low noise characteristics.

. Power Amplifier Design The power amplifier usually needs a fixed gain to limit distortion. Using a TDA 2003 integrated circuit solves many design problems. More info www.st-andrews.ac.uk/%7Ewww_pa/Scots_Guide/intro/electron.htm

Max. 18V Sample amplifier stage circuit:

http://www.ortodoxism.ro/datasheets/SGSThomsonMicroelectronics/mXutuqt.pdf
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Week 8 Audio Power Amplifier Design and Construction Project

http://www.ortodoxism.ro/datasheets/stmicroelectronics/1449.pdf

Use 47 ohm for Rx. Dont forget holes on PCB to mount heatsink. Heatsink: Ensure that a heatsink is bolted to your TDA2003. Use a silicon heatsink washer or thermal compound if available between the two surfaces. Bridging: See www.rocketroberts.com/techart/amp.htm for an explanation. PCB layout, construction, Testing: Include a copy of your design and test measurements in your project report. Your report can be a web blog or word processed document. You can blog your project at www.newtown.tased.edu.au/asp/pblog/ Sample layout www.generalguitargadgets.com/pdf/ggg_ca_practice_amp.pdf Assessment:
Criterion 2 Criterion 3 Criterion 4 Criterion 7 Criterion 9 Criterion 10 Recall and apply information. Plan, construct and apply circuits. Communicate ideas and information. Solve problems. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of concepts. Use mathematical ideas and techniques.

Design:
This contains all the evidence of how you designed your project. It should contain: any circuits from which you obtained ideas including references; comparisons of different circuits and reasons why you chose a particular circuit; evidence of your own ideas for designs or alterations; notes justifying why alterations or additions were made to circuits; all mathematical calculations used in your design; and detailed explanation of the purposes and functions of circuits used in your design. This chapter could also contain any other information which influenced your design.
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Week 8 Audio Power Amplifier Design and Construction Project

Evaluation:
This includes: the method of testing your project; test equipment you used to test it; why you used a particular test procedure; analysis of graphs and charts obtained by testing your project; discussion of your results; an evaluation of whether the constructed design worked as intended; an evaluation of the suitability of the project to its intended application; what improvements you could make to your design.

Web log (blog) should contain:

systematic record keeping and recording of ideas; references to original ideas, sketches, circuit diagrams and preliminary notes on the design and construction of the project; a plan for a construction schedule; regular short accounts of what work has been conducted each period;

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