the circuit, and these use a well-known Baxan-

An easy to build 4 + 4 watt stereo dall configuration. Separate bass and treble con-
amplifier trols are provided, and with reference to 1kHz,
these provide about 12dB boost and cut at
By R.A.PENFOLD 10011z and 10kHz respectively. The input signal
-r msformance
stereo amplifier uses two high per -
integrated circuit audio amplifiers
is fed to the tone controls via VR1, which is
the volume control.
1
(one in each channel), and by considerably Operation of the tone controls is possible by
reducing the number of components required in virtue of the fact that the reactance of a capa-
the circuit when compared with a discrete com- citor varies with frequency, and in fact reduces
ponent amplifier, the use of i.c.s greatly as frequency increases, doubling the frequency
simplifies construction. This also helps to mini- causing the reactance to be halved.
mise the cost of the unit. The tone control networks use a passive cir-
The TBA800 i.c.s used are capable of a maxi- cuit, and therefore have no gain. Thus when
mum continuous output of 5 watts r.m.s., but in the controls are set to give bass or treble boost,
this application has been restricted to 4 watts the boost is relative to other frequencies, and
r.m.s. per channel. This provides more volume even at the boosted range of frequencies there
than one might imagine, and although not very are some losses in the networks.
high by modern standards, it is more than The input sensitivity of the integrated circuit
adequate for most domestic purposes. is significantly higher than the required input
The prototype amplifier has been mainly used sensitivity of the amplifier as a whole, and so
as a record player amplifier, and as such can its extra gain is used to compensate for these
be fed from either a crystal or ceramic cart- losses.
ridge, but not a magnetic type. However, the The output of the tone controls is taken from
input sensitivity and impedance (250mV. r.m.s. VR2 slider, and connected to the input of IC1
into 350 kilohms), are such that the unit can be at pin 8.
fed from most stereo tuners, tape decks, etc. With this type of circuit, minute voltage drops
Output quality is very good, and the amplifier in the power supply wiring can. cause an in-
is suitable for the reproduction of classical, as crease in the distortion level, or can even cause
well as pop music. The frequency response of the circuit to oscillate. In order to prevent this
the amplifier extends from about 40Hz to a supply decoupling capacitor must be connected
50kHz, and bass and treble, boost and cut tone physically close to the i.c., and this is the purpose
controls are incorporated in the design.
ESTIMATED COST*
THE CIRCUIT OF COMPONENTS
The circuit diagram of the amplifier showing including V.A.T.
one channel only is provided in Fig. 1. The tone
controls, volume control, and amplifier are £13.50
duplicated in the other channel, but the power excluding case
supply unit and balance control are of course *Based on prices prevailing at
common to both channels. time of going to press
The tone controls are situated at the input to
634 Everyday Electronics, December 1975
 TONE CONTROL LEFT CHANNEL AMPLIFIER POWER SUPPLY SECTION
4.-T cio
100pF
R7
271.1kf2 128V TO OTHER 0.52
CHANNEL 4
DI
IN4002 SET
MT20V
470pF 708k12 VR3 3
I Ma
03ASSI
'0, Cl 1

BA800
SKI 250V
MFF'TTI MANS

Cl2 ING002
250OpF

Sib

vOLLNE
2500pF
E
50,uF
C6
I TAT lOOpF 10 /56

1/1/0
R63912 VR gc12
T.D RIGHT HAND
CHANNEL
'BALANCE!

Fig. 1. The circuit diagram of the I.C. Stereo Amplifier.

of C10. Capacitor C5 smoothes the supply to the in the amplifier gains, speaker efficiencies, etc.,
pre -amplifier section of the i.c., and ensures a between the two channels. Control VR4 shunts
low mains hum level at the output, even when a low value resistance, R6, across R5 to increase
a very simple mains power supply unit is used. the decoupling effect on the feedback, and so
As the circuit uses quite a large amount of achieve an increase in the gain of that channel.
negative feedback, its frequency response This is rather unconventional, but works well in
would extend well into the r.f. spectrum with practice.
resulting instability, if precautions were not
taken to limit the response. It is the- purpose of
C7 and C9 to provide this roll off in the r.f. POWER SUPPLY
response. A simple unregulated power supply is used,
Capacitor C8 provides what is known as boot- which is all that these i.c.s require for satis-
strapping, which in this case consists of coupling factory operation. A centre tapped mains trans-
some of the output signal back to the input of former, T1, feeds a fullwave push-pull rectifier
the output stage, in order to provide a greater using D1 and D2. The rough d.c. output of these
- maximum voltage swing on positive half cycles. is smoothed to a continuous d.c. by C13, R7, and
This enables the i.c. to operate more efficiently C12. The on/off switch, Sl, should be a double
from the available supply voltage. The output pole type. A potential of about 28 to 30 volts is
signal is coupled to the loudspeaker via C11 and developed across the output under quiescent
provides d.c. blocking., conditions, but this drops to about 22 volts at
full output.
BALANCE CONTROL
Negative feedback is applied to pin 6 of the CHASSIS
i.c. via its internal circuitry. The gain is set to A ready made 230 x 180 x 50 mm 16 s.w.g.
the required level by decoupling the appropriate aluminium chassis was used, and drilling and
amount of feedback by connecting a decoupling cutting of this is shown in Fig. 2.
capacitor in series with a limiting resistor, Start by drilling the mounting holes for the
between pin 6 and the negative supply rail. This controls, T1, the loudspeaker sockets, and the
is the function of C6 and R5. The gain of the mains input cable. Then drill the mounting holes
i.c. is determined by the value of the resistor, for the input socket, which is a dual phono type.
the lower its value, the more feedback which is No dimensions are shown for these as they
decoupled, and the higher the gain. must be varied to suit the particular make of
The balance control, VR4, can be used to socket used. The large cut-out for the socket
boost the gahi of either channel by up to about can be made using a fretsaw.
5dB, in order to compensate for any inequalities The approximate position in which the 5 -way
Everyday Electronics, December 1975 635
 228
114
INPUT
SOCKETS
83 18 18
25
10 1-,K- C
C
22

B OUTPUT
SOCKETS
22

MAINS INPUT LEAD FT?.H. CHANNEL 1

AMPLIFIER

OA Ao

r (31 TAGSTRIP AL
1

1"/ SOLDERIT.H.
SOLDER TAG CHANNEL
I AMPLIFIER
175

A. 6BA oA Ao
4BA
L2J c 16 DIA

L I

ALL DIMENSIONS IN mm

VR4 VR2 VR3 VRI

S1

i
25
10- DIA.
_i_
1-30 42 42 r Ulf 42 42 1 30-* -I

Fig. 2. Details of the chassis.

Components ....
C8, 108 1001F 10V elect. (2 off)
Note: Component reference numbers prefixed by C9, 109 220pF polystyrene (2 off)
100 refer to right hand channel. C10, 110 100pF 40V elect. (2 off)
C11, 111 1000pF 16V elect. (2 off)
Resistors C12 2500pF 30V elect.
R1, 101 270k0 (2 off)
C13 2500pF 30V elect.
R2, 102 271(0 (2 off)
100k0. (2 off) C14 50pF 25V elect.
R3, 103
R4, 104 1 -5ME2 (2 off) Semiconductors
R5, 105 330. (2 off) D1, D2 1N4002 or similar 100V 1A silicon
R6, 106 390 (2 off) rectifier diodes (2 off)
R7 0.50 1 watt IC1, 101 TBA800 5 watt audio power ampli-
All -1-W carbon =10% unless stated otherwise fier integrated circuit (2 off)
Potentiometers Miscellaneous
VR1, 101 1MQ dual gang carbon log. (1 off) S1 mains on/off switch d.p.d.t.
VR2, 102 1 MD. dual gang carbon lin. (1 off) SKI, 101 phono sockets (2 off)
VR3, 103 IMO dual gang carbon lin. (1 off) SK2, 102 DIN 2 pin loudspeaker sockets
VR4 1 k0 carbon lin. (2 off)
T1 MT2OV mains/20-0-20V 750mA
Capacitors secondary (Osmabet)
C1, 101 470pF polystyrene (2 off)
4 7n F polystyrene (2 off)
Veroboard: 0.1 inch matrix 24 strips by 23
C2, 102 holes (2 off); aluminium chassis size 230 x
C3, 103 150pF polystyrene (2 off)
1 .5nF polystyrene (2 off)
180 x 50mm; 5 -way tagstrip; knobs (5 off);
C4,104 aluminium for heat radiators; screened wire;
C5, 105 100pF 25V elect. (2 off)
100,uF 10V elect. (2 off)
grommet; mains lead and plug; materials
C6, 106
C7, 107 2 -7nF polystyrene (2 off) for outer casing.

Everyday Electronics, December 1975

636
 .1 STEREO AMPLIFIER
AECCDEFGHIJKLMNOPORSt UVW WVUT SRQPONML KJIHGFEDCBA
1
000 000000 000 00000000000
2 0 () 0
3 0 0
4 0 o
5 O o
6 0 0
7 0 0
8 0 0
9 o e 0
tO 0 o
11 o
12 O 0
O o
Cie o
+28V o o
ON TAGSTRIP
16 o
INNER TO VR2 0 0
18 SLIDER,OUTER 0 0
TO VR1 o 0
TO R6 (ONVR4)
O 0
21 O O n 0
0
22 O
6BA CLEAR O 0 o
23 O
24 000010 00000 000000000000000000000
EARTHED ON SOLDER TAG Fig. 3 (above). The layout of the components on
BOLTED TO CHASSIS the Veroboard and the breaks to be made on the
underside. Two of these boards are needed.
SCREEN
LEAD) c,

TO INPUT
c' R106
TO A16 ON
SOCKET
4.% OTHER CHANNEL

C14

VR1 VR4
VOLUME BALANCE

Fig. 5 (left). Wiring up details for the tone

controls. Repeat for the other channel on
the ganged potentiometers.
SECONDARY PRIMARY
20- 0-20

SOLDER TAG

SI

BROWN
BLU-Et

MAINS
INPUT

Fig. 4 (right). Wiring up details of the GREEN/YELLOW

power supply section. 011 ON L.H.AMP
VR4 SLIDER -ec ,6111,C14.111111
011 ON R.H.AMP

Everyday Electronics, December 1975 637

tagstrip on which the power supply circuitry is and checked, they can be used as templates to
constructed, is mounted, is shown in Fig. 2, the mark the positions of the two 6BA mounting
exact position not being critical. holes they each require. The positions in which
Having completed the drilling, the various the amplifiers are mounted is shown in Fig. 2.
components can then be mounted. The hole for A solder tag is mounted on the bottom of the
the mains input lead must be fitted with a chassis just to the left of the amplifier panels,
rubber grommet for the protection of the cable. and these panels are earthed to this using a
The loudspeaker sockets are both 2 -pin DIN fairly heavy gauge lead.
sockets and these each require two 5mm long
6BA mounting bolts. The input socket is POWER SUPPLY WIRING
similarly mounted using four of these bolts. A wiring diagram of the power supply unit is
The transformer requires two 4BA 12mm long shown in Fig. 4. Note that a solder tag is
mounting bolts. mounted on each of the mounting bolts of the
Mount the 5 -way tagstrip so that it is spaced tagstrip. A proper three -pin mains plug (3A fuse)
slightly off the bottom of the chassis, by placing and cable must be used so that the chassis can be
a nut or several washers over each mounting earthed.
bolt, between the tagstrip and the chassis. This Tin with solder the tags of T1, Si, the tagstrip,
tagstrip, as well as the amplifier panels, and a and also the ends of the component leadouts,
solder tag to which these panels are earthed, before connecting up the components, and then
are all mounted using countersunk bolts. construction should be quite simple. The leads
in the power supply wiring must use wires having
AMPLIFIER PANELS a fairly substantial gauge.
The wiring of the amplifier is divided into TONE CONTROL WIRING
three sections, the amplifier panels, the power The tone control wiring is shown in Fig. 5,
supply unit, and the controls. The amplifiers and is shown for one channel only. This is a
are constructed first, and are each built on very simple point to point wiring system, and
0.1inch matrix Veroboard having 24 copper
strips by 23 holes. should not prove too difficult provided the tags
Start by cutting a couple of panels of the of the potentiometers are well tinned; also
correct size. Then cut the copper strips at the tin the ends of the component leads once they
points indicated in Fig. 3. Then drill the two have been cut to length. All leads should be
6BA mounting holes in each panel using a No. 31 kept as short as possible, and screened leads
twist drill. must be used where indicated, so that there is
The i.c.s are intended to be used on specially a minimum of stray pick-up.
prepared printed circuit boards, and have heat Wire the front sections of the dual potentio-
tabs which are meant to be soldered to an area meters first, and these can be wired in the left
of copper laminate on the p.c.b. which then acts hand channel. Finally, connect the leads to the
as a heat sink. component panels, and then mount these boards
This obviously is not possible when using Vero - on the chassis. They are mounted in the same
board, and so instead the tabs of the i.c.s are way as the tagstrip, with the addition of a
connected to aluminium heat radiators. layer of insulation tape spread over the chassis
Bend the tabs flat using a pair of pliers, and under the panels, to make absolutely sure that
then very carefully drill the ends of the tabs to none of the underside wiring of the panels
accept 8BA bolts. Then about 5mm of the end touches the chassis.
of each tab is bent up at right angles. Four TESTING
pieces of 18 to 22 s.w.g. aluminium, each
measuring 65mm by 35mm, are then cut out, Before switching the unit on, check all wiring,
and drilled to accept 8BA bolts. The holes are paying special attentiott-to, the mains input
drilled centrally along one of the long edges wiring and that of the i.c., -aS mistakes here could
of each piece, 4mm up from the edge. One piece prove expensive or even dangerous. When it
of aluminium is then bolted to each of the tabs has been ensured that this is all correct the unit
of the i.c.s, using a short 8BA bolt. can be placed in its case.
Next mount and solder the i.c.s in position, Then connect an input from a record deck
and the other amplifier components, according or other equipment, and also connect a pair of
to the layout shown in Fig. 3. Ensure that the speakers. The speakers should be contained in
i.c.s are connected correctly, as it would be proper enclosures, have an impedance of 15
difficult to remove one from its panel once ohms each, and be capable of handling at least
soldered. Pin 1 is clearly marked on the cases 5 watts r.m.s. The speaker leads must of course
of the i.c.s. Note that five short link wires are be terminated in 2 way DIN plugs. The unit can
required for each panel, and that these use then be turned on, and the tone controls, etc.
insulated wire. checked to ascertain that the entire system is
When both amplifiers have been completed operating properly.
638 Everyday Electronics, December 1975