A New EC-Composite LM3886 Amp

This Error-Correction/Composite Combo amp is based on Mr Evil "Unnamed feedback method explored" and Nickolay Shvydky "My ZD-50 ultralow distortion chipamp"

Output power at +/-29.5V: 8 ohms clip at 42W, 4 ohm clip at 65W. It is very stable in both EC and Comp mode. Ans it behaves very well after clipping.

I could only measure its THD+N very roughly using Focusrite Solo 3rd, which has a minimal line-out and line-in THD+N of 0.002%.

U1 is OPA1655 and U2 is OPA828. For error-correction(EC) mode, RV1 was set at 330ohm. For composite (Comp) mode, RV1 was set at 680 ohms.
 

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At beginning of the design and testing, there were oscillation all over the place. It also was met with oscillation after clipping.

From left to right: 3.5Mhz 500mV oscillation, clipping at output 18.75Vrms, oscillation after clipping, oscillation after reduced input signal, oscillation with no input signal.

But thru few days intensive testing and adjustment of the compensation capacitors, it has been finally successful.
 

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EC mode low gain 5.8X. Since Focusrite Solo can only have 2.4Vrms output, so high output power was not measured. It was done by put a 49.9K resistor parallel to 21.2+21.2K resistors in FB loop (in both brunches).
 

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PCB layout

Top: GND, Output
Inner 1: signal
Inner 2: negative -30V/-15V
Bottom: +30V/15V
 

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I am waiting for the power supply case, and doing some mechanical work on the amp case.

I will listen Modulus-86 10th Edition and my EC amp later on.

A parallel LM3886 EC-Comp amp is in design phase. It is being finalized and will be published soon. It can be configured into EC or Comp amp by 2 jumpers. And it can also be configured to an inverter or non-inverter amp by another jumper as well.
 

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I was always interested in Penasa's Evo with double current pump so I'm looking forward to your parallel solution.
Focusrite is quite decent for it's money, I think that EMU 1212m or Lynx L22 will be a bit better but need PCI or EMU 0404 for USB. You are on tough position 'cause both ZD-50 and Modulus have very low distortion figures and test machines that good cost an arm and a leg.
 
I hope I'm not throwing down the gauntlet by saying this, but I wonder how this will compare to a similar product by Neurochrome?

He says that his amp will not oscillate even with a 2.2 uF cap in parallel with the load.

I have 4 of his amps and they are excellent.

Of course, I am always excited to see newcomers and their take on a similar problem. Will this be a commercial product for sale or a diy thing? Can we expect to buy some boards one day soon or is it simply a personal project?

https://audioxpress.com/article/r-d-stories-the-neurochrome-story
 
Clipping clipping behavior: PW +/-29.5V, 8Ohm resistor, 1Khz sine wave.
1. setup
2. 5Vrms output
3. 18Vrms output, clean clipping
4. reducing input back to 5Vrms output
5. hard but clean 20Vrms clipping
 

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capacitance load and clipping behavior at small capacitor load: PW +/-29.5V, 8Ohm resistor//0.47uF capacitor, 1Khz sine wave.
1. setup
2. 5Vrms output
3. setup
4. 16Vrms output
5. 18.5Vrms output, looks like with a small capacitor, clipping at higher output voltage
6. 19Vrms output, the amp clips and lost stability.

But by reducing the input, the amp becomes stable again.
 

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capacitance load and clipping behavior with large capacitor: PW +/-29.5V, 8Ohm resistor//2.2uF capacitor, 1Khz sine wave.
1. setup
2. 5Vrms output
3. 10Vrms output
4. 18Vrms output
5. 19Vrms output, it starts clipping but stable
6. 20Vrms output, the amp clips but stable
 

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