Showing posts with label headphone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label headphone. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Hybrid Headphone Amplifier
Potentially, headphone listening can be technically superior since room reflections are eliminated and the intimate contact between transducer and ear mean that only tiny amounts of power are required. The small power requirement means that transducers can be operated at a small fraction of their full excursion capabilities thus reducing THD and other non-linear distortions. This design of a dedicated headphones amplifier is potentially controversial in that it has unity voltage gain and employs valves and transistors in the same design. Normal headphones have an impedance of 32R per channel. The usual standard line output of 775 mV to which all quality equipment aspires will generate a power of U2 / R = 0.7752 / 32 = 18 mW per channel across a headphone of this impedance.
An examination of available headphones at well known high street emporiums revealed that the sensitivity varied from 96 dB to 103db/mW! So, in practice the circuit will only require unity gain to reach deafening levels. As a unity gain design is required it is quite possible to employ a low distortion output stage. The obvious choice is an emitter follower. This has nearly unity gain combined with a large amount of local feedback. Unfortunately the output impedance of an emitter follower is dependent upon the source impedance. With a volume control, or even with different signal sources this will vary and could produce small but audible changes in sound quality.
To prevent this, the output stage is driven by a cathode follower,based around an ECC82 valve (US equivalent: 12AU7).
This device, as opposed to a transistor configuration, enables the output stage to be driven with a constant value, low impedance. In other words, the signal from the low impedance point is used to drive the high impedance of the output stage, a situation which promotes low overall THD. At the modest output powers required of the circuit, the only sensible choice is a Class A circuit. In this case the much vaunted single-ended output stage is employed and that comprises of T3 and constant current source T1-T2.
This device, as opposed to a transistor configuration, enables the output stage to be driven with a constant value, low impedance. In other words, the signal from the low impedance point is used to drive the high impedance of the output stage, a situation which promotes low overall THD. At the modest output powers required of the circuit, the only sensible choice is a Class A circuit. In this case the much vaunted single-ended output stage is employed and that comprises of T3 and constant current source T1-T2.
Hybrid Headphone Amplifier Circuit Diagram:
The constant current is set by the Vbe voltage of T1 applied across R5 With its value of 22R, the current is set at 27 mA. T3 is used in the emitter follower mode with high input impedance and low output impedance. Indeed the main problem of using a valve at low voltages is that it’s fairly difficult to get any real current drain. In order to prevent distortion the output stage shouldn’t be allowed to load the valve. This is down to the choice of output device. A BC517 is used for T3 because of its high current gain, 30,000 at 2 mA! Since we have a low impedance output stage, the load may be capacitively coupled via C4. Some purists may baulk at the idea of using an electrolytic for this job but he fact remains that distortion generated by capacitive coupling is at least two orders of magnitude lower than transformer coupling.
The rest of the circuitry is used to condition the various voltages used by the circuit. In order to obtain a linear output the valve grid needs to be biased at half the supply voltage. This is the function of the voltage divider R4 and R2. Input signals are coupled into the circuit via C1 and R1. R1, connected between the voltage divider and V1’s grid defines the input impedance of the circuit. C1 has sufficiently large a value to ensure response down to 2 Hz. Although the circuit does a good job of rejecting line noise on its own due to the high impedance of V1’s anode and T3’s collector current, it needs a little help to obtain a silent background in the absence of signal.
The ‘help’ is in the form of the capacitance multiplier circuit built around T5. Another BC517 is used here to avoid loading of the filter comprising R7 and C5. In principle the capacitance of C5 is multiplied by the gain of T5. In practice the smooth dc applied to T5’s base appears at low impedance at its emitter. An important added advantage is that the supply voltage is applied slowly on powering up. This is of course due to the time taken to fully charge C5 via R7. No trace of hum or ripple can be seen here on the ‘scope. C2 is used to ensure stability at RF. The DC supply is also used to run the valve heater. The ECC82 has an advantage here in that its heater can be connected for operate from 12.6 V. To run it T4 is used as a series pass element.
Base voltage is obtained from the emitter of T5. T4 has very low output impedance, about 160 mR and this helps to prevent extraneous signals being picked up from the heater wiring. Connecting the transistor base to C5 also lets the valve heater warm up gently. A couple of volts only are lost across T4 and although the device runs warm it doesn’t require a heat-sink.
Base voltage is obtained from the emitter of T5. T4 has very low output impedance, about 160 mR and this helps to prevent extraneous signals being picked up from the heater wiring. Connecting the transistor base to C5 also lets the valve heater warm up gently. A couple of volts only are lost across T4 and although the device runs warm it doesn’t require a heat-sink.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Modular Headphone Amplifier 140mW into 32 Ohm loads Ultra low Distortion
Those wanting private listening to their music program should add this Headphone Amplifier to the Modular Preamplifier chain. The circuit was kept as simple as possible compatibly with a High Quality performance. This goal was achieved by using two NE5532 Op-Amps in a circuit where IC1B is the "master" amplifier wired in the common non-inverting configuration already used in the Control Center Line amplifier. IC1A is the "slave" amplifier and is configured as a unity-gain buffer: parallel amplifiers increase output current capability of the circuit. Two Headphone outputs are provided by J3 and J4. The ac gain of the amplifier was kept deliberately low because this module is intended to be connected after the Control Center module, which provides the gain sufficient to drive the power amplifier.
If you intend to use this Headphone Amplifier as a stand-alone device, a higher ac gain could be necessary in order to cope with a CD player or Tuner output. This is accomplished by lowering the value of R1 to 1K5. In this way an ac gain of 9 is obtained, more than sufficient for the purpose. Contrary to the two 15V positive and negative regulator ICs used in other modules of this preamp, two 9V devices were employed instead. This because the NE5532 automatically limits its output voltage into very low loads as 32 Ohm in such a way that the output amplitude of the amplified signal remains the same, either the circuit is powered at ±9V or ±15V. The choice of a ±9V supply allows less power dissipation and better performance of the amplifier close to the clipping point.
The input socket of this amplifier must be connected to the Main Out socket of the Control Center Module. As this output is usually reserved to drive the power amplifier, a second socket (J2) wired in parallel to J1 is provided for this purpose. As with the other modules of this series, each electronic board can be fitted into a standard enclosure: Hammond extruded aluminum cases are well suited to host the boards of this preamp. In particular, the cases sized 16 x 10.3 x 5.3 cm or 22 x 10.3 x 5.3 cm have a very good look when stacked. See below an example of the possible arrangement of the front and rear panels of this module.
![Modular]()
Parts:
P1______________47K Log. Potentiometer (twin concentric-spindle dual gang for stereo)
R1_______________4K7 1/4W Resistor
R2______________12K 1/4W Resistor
R3,R4___________33R 1/4W Resistors
R5,R6____________4R7 1/4W Resistors
C1_______________1µF 63V Polyester Capacitor
C2,C5__________100nF 63V Polyester Capacitors
C3,C6___________22µF 25V Electrolytic Capacitors
C4,C7_________2200µF 25V Electrolytic Capacitors
IC1__________NE5532 Low noise Dual Op-amp
IC2___________78L09 9V 100mA Positive Regulator IC
IC3___________79L09 9V 100mA Negative Regulator IC
D1,D2________1N4002 200V 1A Diodes
J1,J2__________RCA audio input sockets
J3,J4__________6mm. or 3mm. Stereo Jack sockets
J5_____________Mini DC Power Socket
Notes:
Output power (1KHz sinewave):
32 Ohm: 140mW RMS
Sensitivity:
275mV input for 1V RMS output into 32 Ohm load (31mW)
584mV input for 2.12V RMS output into 32 Ohm load (140mW)
Frequency response @ 2V RMS:
Flat from 15Hz to 23KHz
Total harmonic distortion into 32 Ohm load @ 1KHz:
1V RMS and 2V RMS 0.0012%
Total harmonic distortion into 32 Ohm load @ 10KHz:
1V RMS and 2V RMS 0.0008%
If you intend to use this Headphone Amplifier as a stand-alone device, a higher ac gain could be necessary in order to cope with a CD player or Tuner output. This is accomplished by lowering the value of R1 to 1K5. In this way an ac gain of 9 is obtained, more than sufficient for the purpose. Contrary to the two 15V positive and negative regulator ICs used in other modules of this preamp, two 9V devices were employed instead. This because the NE5532 automatically limits its output voltage into very low loads as 32 Ohm in such a way that the output amplitude of the amplified signal remains the same, either the circuit is powered at ±9V or ±15V. The choice of a ±9V supply allows less power dissipation and better performance of the amplifier close to the clipping point.
The input socket of this amplifier must be connected to the Main Out socket of the Control Center Module. As this output is usually reserved to drive the power amplifier, a second socket (J2) wired in parallel to J1 is provided for this purpose. As with the other modules of this series, each electronic board can be fitted into a standard enclosure: Hammond extruded aluminum cases are well suited to host the boards of this preamp. In particular, the cases sized 16 x 10.3 x 5.3 cm or 22 x 10.3 x 5.3 cm have a very good look when stacked. See below an example of the possible arrangement of the front and rear panels of this module.
P1______________47K Log. Potentiometer (twin concentric-spindle dual gang for stereo)
R1_______________4K7 1/4W Resistor
R2______________12K 1/4W Resistor
R3,R4___________33R 1/4W Resistors
R5,R6____________4R7 1/4W Resistors
C1_______________1µF 63V Polyester Capacitor
C2,C5__________100nF 63V Polyester Capacitors
C3,C6___________22µF 25V Electrolytic Capacitors
C4,C7_________2200µF 25V Electrolytic Capacitors
IC1__________NE5532 Low noise Dual Op-amp
IC2___________78L09 9V 100mA Positive Regulator IC
IC3___________79L09 9V 100mA Negative Regulator IC
D1,D2________1N4002 200V 1A Diodes
J1,J2__________RCA audio input sockets
J3,J4__________6mm. or 3mm. Stereo Jack sockets
J5_____________Mini DC Power Socket
Notes:
- The circuit diagram shows the Left channel only and the power supply.
- Some parts are in common to both channels and must not be doubled. These parts are: P1 (if a twin concentric-spindle dual gang potentiometer is used), IC2, IC3, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, D1, D2, J3, J4 and J5.
- This module requires an external 15 - 18V ac (100mA minimum) Power Supply Adaptor.
Output power (1KHz sinewave):
32 Ohm: 140mW RMS
Sensitivity:
275mV input for 1V RMS output into 32 Ohm load (31mW)
584mV input for 2.12V RMS output into 32 Ohm load (140mW)
Frequency response @ 2V RMS:
Flat from 15Hz to 23KHz
Total harmonic distortion into 32 Ohm load @ 1KHz:
1V RMS and 2V RMS 0.0012%
Total harmonic distortion into 32 Ohm load @ 10KHz:
1V RMS and 2V RMS 0.0008%
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Portable headphone amplifier circuit
This is an easy built portable headphone amplifier schema. You can use this headphone amplifier to amplify your radio receiver, mp3/mp4 player, computer or dvd/cd player. You may connected the input channel directly to those devices.
R3 value was calculated for headphone impedance up to 300 Ohms. Using 600 Ohms loads or higher, change R3 value to 100K.
Take a note that above schema only show single channel.
Read More..
R1 _______________ 10K
R2 _______________ 100K
R3 _______________ 68K (see notes)
R4 _______________ 1K5
R5 _______________ 3K3
R6 _______________ 330R
R7 _______________ 4K7
R8 _______________ 2R2
C1 _______________ 1uF 63V
C2 _______________ 100uF 25V
C3 _______________ 470uF 25V
Q1 _______________ BC239C 25V 100mA NPN High-gain Low-noise Transistor
Q2 _______________ BC337 45V 800mA NPN Transistor
Q3 _______________ BC327 45V 800mA PNP Transistor
J1 _______________ Stereo 3mm. Jack socket
SW1 _______________ SPST Switch
B1 _______________ 3V Battery (2xAAA)
R3 value was calculated for headphone impedance up to 300 Ohms. Using 600 Ohms loads or higher, change R3 value to 100K.
Take a note that above schema only show single channel.
Monday, August 25, 2014
Stereo Headphone Amplifier
Stereo Headphone Amplifier circuit uses DC voltage source 9Volt. As the name suggests this headphone amplifier circuit has inpur stereo and output to power about 50mW at 32 Ohm load. The series of "Stereo Headphone Amplifier" It uses mini-amplifier IC NE5534. Because of this NE5534 IC didalamanya there are 2 pieces mini amplifier then simply use 1 piece of IC NE5534 to Stereo Amplifier aHeadphone this. Stereo Headphone Amplifier series has this capability and low distortion, low noise. Stereo Headphone Amplifier circuit has a strengthening of 3.5 with 3.6 Vpp at 32 Ohm load.
Read moreFriday, August 22, 2014
Headphone Amplifier circuit
This is a simple headphone amplifier. You can use any NPN transistor. You can drive this circuit with a 9V batery.
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