Kent Jensen`s DIY Do It Yourself electronics projects

What's new: A new 100W amp that's really good, and a 150W version based on the 100W amp that will deliver more power of same high quality. For these amps I've laid out PCB files(protel 2.1), schematics, partslists and the postscript layout files. Bandwidth is 1.55MHz, and slewrate is 80V/us!

ALSO: A really high-tech 10 Watt single-ended class A amplifier for those of you loving the WARM sound....this amp needs extensive cooling. It incorporates current feedback (global feedback) in order to provide high slewrate and bandwidth. The output also uses a technique more known from valve amps: The White-follower ouput stage. This ensures low output impedance and a more linear drive circuit. This amp is ideal for horn tweeters, and especially for large mid horns, as it has superb control in the bass region. You will find schematics, partslist and PCB file for this amplifier aswell. AND A single-ended no-feedback current-mode preamplifier made for the ALPS "blue velvet" motorized pot. The preamp has quite unique qualities, as listed below!

My E-mail adress, if you want to contact me is as follows: Kent.Jensen@Q-Free.com

*.ps files below are "Postscript" (a printer filetype). They can be viewed or printed from "GhostView"/"GhostScript", which are free, and can be downloaded from the net.

*.pcb files are Protel Design ver. 2.5, and this program is not free.



8Watt RMS Class A amplifier 20W peak.

This amplifier, which was originally designed by J. Hiraga, is an exellent amplifier for driving your tweeters, or as a horn amplifier. If used with speakers of conventional sensitivity, an active crossover should be used It is equipped with DC-servo, double cascode input stage, and CFP output stage.A suitable transformer is 2x9V 300VA and approx. 2x30000uF of decoupling capacitors *HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!*

10Watt RMS Class A Single-ended amplifier 20W peak.

This amplifier is capable of high slewrate and bandwidth. A low output impedance is ensured by high feedback ratio, and also by the White-follower outputstage. This raises the current in the constant current source when a load is drawing current from the output. This also makes the emitter-follower more linear. The amp is supposed to run on a quiecent current of 1A, but due to the white-follower it draws about 2A peak when driven to max in an 8Ohm load. Building the amp requires some extensive soldering skills, due to the component density of the printboard. Because of it's excellent control in the bass region it may be used as a fullrange amplifier, but requires a loudspeaker of high sensitivity (DON'T run this on your LS3A speakers!). Best use of the amp would however be in horn tweeters and low mid horns especially, where it will produce outstanding dynamics aswell as musicality. Voltage gain is about 18 times.

Postscript file for the printboard layout

Schematics for the 8W Class A amp

Partslist for the 8W Class A amp

PCB file for redisigning the 8W Class A amp

Another version of the amplifier, with slightly altered feedback loop, that gives about 4 times gain. Especially well-suited for high sensitivity speakers:

Postscript file for the 4x gain printboard layout

PCB file on the 4x gain version

Single-ended no-feedback current-mode preamplifier.

A single-ended preamp with no global feedback, with low distorsion, good bandwidth and slewrate, and capable of producing an output swing close to each rail. The preamp is originally designed for the ALPS "blue velvet" motorized potentiometer. What puts this preamp apart from others, is the fact that the pot isn't used as a standard voltage divider, but it is used as a variable resistance, and is playing an active part in the voltage-amplifying stage. This means that with the volume all the way down, you also short out the noise generated by the voltage amplifying stage. Another advantage is that the preamp can handle very large voltage swings at the input before clipping (20 V p-p). Maximum gain is ten times (20dB) which should be sufficient for the most demanding applications, and max. output swing is 24V p-p (on a +/- 15V powersupply). For this preamp it is cruicial to use a regulated pw. supply, and you MUST also use a 4,7uF high-quality polypropylene decoupling capacitor at the input (no fitted at the printboard, because of their large size and different footprint). The preamp is fitted with a DC-servo to ensure zero offset at the output.

The postscript printboard layout file.

The PCB file for making alterations to the preamp (Protel Design)

100W/8ohm amplifier, simple and compact

A really good amp with an outstanding bandwidth of 1.55MHz and slewrate of 80V/us. The amplifier will produce about 200W into a 4 ohm load. Standard circuit design makes for high stability. For this amp I've laid out the following files: postscript printboard layout, schmatics, partlist, and even the original PCB file for anyone of you that might want to make alterations without having to re-route the whole amp. Simple is often better!

Postscript file of the printboard layout

Schematics for the 100 W amp

Partslist for the 100 W amp

PCB file for redesigning the 100 W amp

150Watt / 8ohm amplifier, simple and compact

This amp is in basic the same as the 100W amp above. Output transistors have been changed to a type that can handle more power without degrading the design of the 100W amp. Also there has been added a separate powersupply for the input stages. This will increase power output for a given supply voltage significantly. A good tip is to use this version even if you're building the 100W amp, as it has a separate powersupply for the input stages. You can just run the two powersupply inputs in parallel, and build a separate powersupply for the input stage in the future to acheive a higher power output. In any case the supply voltage for the input should be min. 5 Volts higher than for the output to acheive any real power increase. Run into a 4 ohm load the 150W amp will produce about 300Watts of continous output power. A really excellent amplifier! Files included: Postscript file for printboard layout, schematics, partslist and PCB file, same as for the 100W amp.

Printboard layout file

Schematics for the 150 W amp

Partslist for the 150 W amp

PCB file for redesigning the 150 W amp

90W/8ohm, 170W/4ohm amplifier. REV 1.6

Sounds nice. Cascode gain stage, improved complimentary feedback IGBT output and vxb-multiplier. DC-servo. Only the output transistors are to be mounted on a heatsink. Suitable transformator is 2X35VAC 500VA. The rectified DC-voltage should not exceed +-48V DC. Suitable quiecent current is from approx. 150mA and upwards (depending on the size of the heatsink). For further details E-mail me: kentj@omegav.ntnu.no

100Watt bass amplifier

Especially suited for powering subwoofers as it has superb control in the bass region. Simply the best bass-amplifier I have ever heard! Simple to build, with extensive descriptions. Suitable transformer is 2X35V 500VA *EXCELLENT!*

50W/8 ohms amplifier, CHEAP.

Per request from some of the people who have visited this page, I have designed an amplifier that should be quite cheap to build, while it still is high quallity, and quite high power. I tested the amp in a 4 ohm load and it produced some 90W continous RMS output on a +/- 30V supply, which I guess many would find satisfactory. The design is quite compact, which should make the amp perfect for say small active speakers. Supply voltage may range from +/-12V to +/- 45V, but I would recommend +/-30-35V (2x24Vac transformer).


90W/8 ohm amplifier, same as above (also CHEAP)

, but added output transistors for increased powerhandling. This amp should run on a +/-45V supply to obtain 90W in 8 ohms (33V AC trafo). The amp should be able to deliver about 160W into a 4 ohm load.

15Watt Very simple little surround and center channel amp.

Based on a 5532 op amp, and a complimentary feedback output stage, it provides high fidelity at a bargain price. The amplifier can also be used in small integrated amp projects, and will probably provide more musicality than many commersial small integrated amps. Intended powersupply is +-20V DC, but +-25V also works well.

Headphones amplifier

Push-pull class A headphones amplifier with approx. 3x gain. The amp is designed to run from a line level preamp output. high bandwidth, and capable of delivering 1A output current and 12.5V amplitude voltage swing on a +/- 15V supply, would make this suitable to run even the most demanding headsets.

+6dB to +20dB/25 Hz variable bass boost

Designed for boosting low frequencies on an open-baffle loudspeaker with a roll-off of some 6dB/okt. from 150Hz. The circuit provides a variable boost of 6dB to 20dB with a center frequency of 25 Hz. The magnitude of bass boost will determine the upper corner frequency (the frequency where the circuit no longer will provide any boost). The slope is 6db/okt. Supply voltage ranges from +-8V to +-18V. Active component is an NE 5532 op-amp.

+/- 15V regulated powersupply made especially for the single ended preamplifier listed above.

Simple, +-15V regulated supply with LM 7815/LM 7915 regulators, nice for preamplifiers and other applications. Transformer should be 2X18V AC 50VA or greater. For an improvement you can add a discrete regulator to the output of this one for better HF-regulation, but this is strictly not neccesary.

Discrete regulated supply.

Designed for producing +/-10V, but this can be altered simply by altering the zener diodes voltages. The transistors need cooling according to how much power they will deliver. Use this powersupply for circuits that having low powersupply rejection, as it has a good HF-supression. I've used it in my preamp, which uses discrete buffers with low psr ratio. Conbine this regulator card with a pair of LM 78XX /LM 79XX regulators (the powersupply described above), and you will have one of the quietest powersupplies available.

The author will not take responsibility for any damage or injury relating to the listed projects

Soon to come: An amplifier that can provide 400 Watts continous into 8 ohms, and between 1000-1500 Watts into 2 ohms (bridged) -A true monster!