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Engineering Brief

A Simple Reliable Power Amplifier with Minimal Component Count

Authors: Vanderkooy, John

AES Convention 130 · Paper 13 · May 2011

Abstract

We study an audio power amplifier that has three essential active components: two power MOSFETS and one operational amplifier. Such an amplifier will be reliable because MOSFETS have good safe-operating area properties, and there are no small semiconductors that require high voltage ratings. The topology is that of an op-amp directly driving a grounded-source complementary class-B MOSFET output stage. The center-tapped power supply for such an amplifier is floating, so each channel must have a separate supply, and there must be a small ±15-volt supply for the op-amp as well. We discuss the design and study the amplifier with simulations and an experimental prototype. It achieves good performance.

Details

Published in
AES Convention 130
AES Convention
130
Paper number
13
Publication date
May 6, 2011
Session subject
Engineering Tools and Methods
Affiliation
University of Waterloo (See document for exact affiliation information.)
Type
Engineering Brief