Upgrades:
Few modifications can be
done. you can add (later,
after evaluation period of
generic design) J-FET
transistors on input. Simply
remove lower input transistors
(those who have emitter tied
to 47 Ohm resistor) and
replace npn BC 550C with
2SK170, and pnp BC 560C with
2SJ74. This is the best
upgrade, and you can
combine it with following:
replace 10K resistors tied to
bases of upper input BC¨s
with current source diodes
(anything from 1-4 mA works
fine, but measure voltage drop
on each of BC's, must be four
times 16-18 Volt.)
Output stage in class A:
most common
modification-everyone speaks
about class A. Friend of mine
even built and sold it
commercially, with my
approval, but without my
commercial interest. I am
proud on my electronic design,
specially when I see his
monster class A amps, with my
artwork ticking in them.Class
A always mean
big-heavy-expensive. OK-here
is what you need for full
class A (this is for output
stage only, rest of curcuitry
already run in purest class
A):
Double the output
transistors-this means BD
drivers connected to MJ as
they are, but now four this
Darlington pairs on each
channel. Each output
transistor must have his own
0.33Ohm/5Watt resistor
connected to emitter. Adjust
idle current at 0.63 A per
each output transistor
measuring a voltage drop on
each 0.33 Ohm resistor to 208
mV turning 2K2 trimer (turn it
slow and then wait
minute or two, keep an eye on
meter). Increase output stage
current in more then eight
small steps, because bipolars
tend to increase current as
they go hot. Keep this in mind
and re-check idle current
every ten minutes in first
hour, then every hour on first
few days.
Double the heatsinks.
Every output transistor must
have at least 1C/W heathsink.
If you decide to place
heathsinks as sides of case,
use two pieces, each for one
side (channel) 400 mm long,
200 mm high, with 40 mm fins,
and then place four output
transistors on "L"
aluminum profile 40x40x4
or 50x50x5 with best
insulators and lot of silicon
grease.
Small but
good modifications: you
can apply them on generic or
already upgraded design. First
one is to replace 5.6 Volt
Zener diodes with green 3 mm
LED (remove zeners, then place
LEDs with longer lead where
marked end of zeners was).
Then change 560 Ohm resistors
to 180 Ohm value (four of
them, two on each channel).
Second one is to replace lower
10 K resistors connected
between bases of upper input
BC (cascode) transistors
(those are two resistors
connected to each other on one
end). Remove them and
replace each with 15 Volt
Zener diode, or use one 30
Volt zener connected between
mentioned bases. you can
combine this with current
source diode modification, but
now you need two current
source diodes and one 30 V
zener for each channel
(instead of four curr. source
diodes).
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50W
amplifier components layout | 50W amplifier PCB
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