Studio 350 Power Amplifier Module: Pt.1: by Leo Simpson & Peter Smith
Studio 350 Power Amplifier Module: Pt.1: by Leo Simpson & Peter Smith
Amplifier Modu
Want an audio power amplifier with some real grunt?
Want an audio power amplifier which is really quiet and
has very low distortion? Here is the one answer for both
desires. The Studio 350 is a rugged power amplifier
module capable of delivering 200 RMS watts into an
8-ohm load and 350 watts RMS into a 4-ohm load, at
very low distortion.
Pt.1: By LEO SIMPSON & PETER SMITH
O
UR first approach on design- voltage amplifier stage. The net result of the output stage (either the NPN or
ing this amp was to decide on is a rugged power amplifier with very the PNP transistors). For the 4Ω load,
the target power output, given low residual noise and distortion. the load line runs up to 17·5A on the
a likely supply rail. We decided to vertical axis, corresponding to the cur-
aim for 200 watts into an 8-ohm load. Load lines and power ratings rent delivered if the active device was
A few back-of-an-envelope calcula- So why did we end up using eight fully turned on (ie, 70V/4W = 17·5A).
tions showed that we would need 200W transistors in order to get just Similarly, for an 8Ω load, the load
supply rails of about ±70V or a total 200W into 8Ω and 350W into 4Ω? line runs up to 8·75A on the vertical
of 140V. It might seem like over-kill but it is axis (ie, 70V/8W = 8·75A). These load
Naturally, we would also want to not. To work out the dissipation in a lines show the instantaneous power
drive 4-ohms loads and with those transistor, you need to draw the load dissipation at any possible signal
same supply rails we would expect lines. These show power dissipation condition (including an output short
to obtain around 350 watts. But how in the active device (in this case, one circuit).
many output transistors and what type half of the output stage, consisting of Also shown on the diagram are two
would be required? As you can see four transistors). The vertical axis is hyperbolas. One represents the maxi-
from the photos and circuit, we have in Amps while the horizontal axis is mum safe power (for one second!)
used eight 250V 200W plastic power Volts. The various load lines for our dissipation of four parallel-connected
transistors: four MJL21193/4 comple- amplifier are shown in Fig.1. MJL21193/94 transistors. Depending
mentary pairs. These are teamed with For a start, we plotted the lines for on the instantaneous voltage across
the high-performance MJL15030/31 8-ohm and 4-ohm resistive loads and the transistors, this can be more than
complementary driver transistors. these are straight lines, showing all 900W for low voltages, reducing to
In addition, we have used some possible conditions. The two resis- 720W at 80V, and ultimately to just
high-voltage low-noise transistors tive lines start at the 70V mark on the 400W at 250V (not shown on the
in the input stage and highly linear horizontal axis, corresponding to the curve). This hyperbola represents
high-voltage video transistors in the supply voltage applied across one half the maximum dissipation the four
Such circuits can work quite well to If the fuses were increased in rating, The alternative approach is to mount
protect the output stage but in practice the amplifier could ostensibly drive a the output transistors vertically on a
their rapid switching action causes a 2Ω resistive load without damage, so single-sided or fan heatsink, in which
burst of high frequency oscillation to we think the 5A fuses should provide case the PC board could be trimmed
be superimposed on the output signal. adequate short circuit protection. Oh, to 240mm wide by 100mm deep. This
This means that not only do you get but we don’t recommend driving a latter approach takes up less chassis
horrible distortion but the amplitude 2Ω load! space. Both approaches will be de-
of the burst can be enough to overload scribed in the constructional details
and burn out tweeters if the overdrive Amplifier module to be presented next month.
situation persists. Two versions of this amplifier mod-
Therefore, while we regard load ule are possible, both using the same Performance
line protection as important for PA PC board pattern. The one presented As already noted, the Studio 350 de-
amplifiers (which can easily have their here employs a cast aluminium heat- livers up to 200W RMS into an 8-ohm
output leads shorted), it is not desir- sink with an integral shelf which is load and up to 350W into a 4-ohm load.
able for a hifi amplifier. If you do short convenient for mounting the power Music power figures are substantially
the outputs of this amplifier when it transistors. This heatsink is 300mm higher, around 240W into an 8-ohm load
is under full drive, there will be a big wide and the PC board itself is 240 and 480W into a 4-ohm load. These fig-
spark and hopefully the only thing × 136mm so the overall assembly is ures apply only for the suggested power
to be damaged will be the 5A fuses. quite large. supply, which we will come to later.
Fig.2: total harmonic distortion versus power at 1kHz into Fig.3: total harmonic distortion versus power at 1kHz into
an 8-ohm load (10Hz-22kHz measurement bandwidth). a 4-ohm load (10Hz-22kHz measurement bandwidth).
Fig.2 shows the total harmonic are a differential pair using Hitachi resistance of 0·1Ω and a DC output
distortion versus power at 1kHz into 2SA1084 low-noise transistors which offset from the amplifier of just 20mV,
an 8-ohm load while Fig.3 shows have a collector-emitter voltage rating the resulting current through the
distortion versus power at 1kHz into of 90V, necessary because we are using transformer will be 200mA! Not only
a 4-ohm load. As you can see, for 70V rails. Transistor Q1 and diodes will this magnetise the core and de-
an 8-ohm load, distortion is around D1 & D2 make up a constant current grade the transformer’s performance,
0·002% or less up to about 180W, ris- source running at about 1mA to set the it will also result in additional power
ing to around 0·03% or thereabouts current through the differential pair at dissipation of 14W in one half of the
at 200W. At low powers, below 0·5W, 0·5mA each. amplifier’s output stage. This is not
the distortion figure rises but that is Trimpot VR1 in the emitter circuit good! Hence, trimpot VR1 has been
due to residual noise, not distortion. to the differential pair is provided to included.
In reality, at low powers the distortion adjust the offset voltage and thereby Signals from Q2 & Q3 drive another
is well below 0·001%. trim the output DC voltage very close differential pair, Q4 & Q5, which have
Similarly, for a 4-ohm load, distor- to 0V (within a millivolt or so). This a “current mirror” as their collector
tion is around 0·0045% or less for pow- is largely academic if you are driving loads. The current mirror comprises
ers up to around 280W, rising to 0·1% normal 4-ohm or 8-ohm loudspeak- diode D3 and Q6, essentially a varia-
at around 350W. These figures were ers but is particularly desirable if you tion of a constant current load, which
taken with a measurement bandwidth intend driving electrostatic speakers ensures high linearity in Q5. Q4, Q5
of 22Hz to 22kHz. which usually have a high voltage and Q6 are BF469 and BF470 types
Fig.4 shows harmonic distortion step-up transformer with very low which are high-voltage (250V) video
versus frequency at 160W into an primary resistance. transistors, selected for their excellent
8-ohm load while Fig.5 shows distor- The same comment applies if the linearity and wide bandwidth (Ft is
tion versus frequency at 250W into a amplifier is used to drive 100V line 60MHz).
4-ohm load. Both these curves were transformers. Just to explain that, Q7 is a “Vbe-multiplier”, so-called
taken with a measurement bandwidth if you have a transformer primary because it multiplies the voltage
of 22Hz to 80kHz.
All of these distortion curves show Fig.6: this graph
a performance which is outstanding. shows the freq-
This amplifier is also extremely quiet: uency response at
1122dB unweighted (22Hz to 22kHz) 1W into 8Ω. It is
or 1125dB A-weighted. This is far just 1dB down at
quieter than any CD player! 15Hz and 60kHz
Fig.6 shows the frequency response and is virtually
at 1W into 8Ω. It is 1dB down at 15Hz flat between those
and 60kHz. frequencies.
in audio circuits; there’s no evidence Note that this capacitor can be ce- 6·8µH choke, a 6·8Ω wirewound resis-
of it in the case of this circuit. ramic or polystyrene but must have a tor and a 150nF 250V capacitor. This
The 330pF shunt capacitor and rating of at least 250V. This is because very well-proven filter network was
2·2kΩ resistor in series with the input the signal at this part of the circuit originally developed by Neville Thiele
signal constitute an RC low-pass filter, can be as high as 45V RMS (127V and published in the September 1975
rolling off the high frequencies above peak-to-peak). Other capacitor types issue of the Proceedings of the IREE.
200kHz. The 68pF capacitor between (such as monolithics) are definitely The filter has two benefits: ensuring
Q5’s base and collector rolls off the not recommended. stability of the amplifier with reactive
open loop gain to ensure stability with The output signal to the loudspeaker loads and as an attenuator of RF and
feedback applied. is fed via an RLC filter consisting of a mains-interference signals which are
Scope1: this waveform shows the excellent square wave Scope2: these waveforms show a 150W sinewave at 1kHz
response of the amplifier, taken at 1kHz and 102V p-p into and the resulting total harmonic distortion waveform (ie,
8Ω. This equates to a power output of about 300W RMS. noise and distortion) which is at about 0·0015%.
inevitably picked up by long loud- two banks of three 8000µF 75V capaci- involves laying the copper tracks so
speaker leads. tors to develop ±70V supply rails. The that the magnetic fields produced by
470nF capacitors are used to provide the asymmetric currents in the out-
Power supply high frequency bypassing, while the put stage are cancelled out, as far as
Fig.8 shows the power supply and as 15kΩ 1W resistors are used as “bleeders” possible. These asymmetric currents
you can see, we’ve “gone for broke” on across the electrolytic capacitors. (think of them as half-wave rectified
this one. It’s a vital part of the perform- output signals) and their resultant
ance package and unfortunately, with PC board topology magnetic fields induce unwanted
all those big electrolytic capacitors, is Finally, the PC board has been laid distortion signals into the input stage
likely to be more expensive than the out using distortion-cancelling topol- transistors Q2 and Q3.
amp module itself. The consolation is ogy. It also has “star” earthing whereby This approach is very worthwhile
that the same power supply could be all earth currents come back to a single and constructors will not have to
used for a stereo version with two am- point on the board. This careful sepa- worry about whether the perform-
plifier modules, provided the power ration of output, supply and bypass ance of their module is as good
transformer was uprated. currents avoids any interference with as the prototype featured here.
The 500VA transformer used has two the signal currents and the distortion As long as you follow closely the
50V windings which are connected that this could cause. wiring layout in the construction
together to form a centre tap. This trans- As far as the “distortion cancel- article next month, you can expect the
former drives a 35A bridge rectifier and ling” technique is concerned, this results to be very good indeed. EPE