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6 Simple Class AHomemade

Amplifier Circuits Explained
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Last Updated on May 5, 2022 by Swagatam free circuit help 24/7

The post discusses a 6 simple, cheap class A power amplifier circuits which can be used for any
small scale audio amplifier application.

By: Dhrubajyoti Biswas

1) Zero Negative Feedback Amplifier

This following data will detail how to build an amplifier having zero negative feedback which implies
building a zero component amplifier. The amplifier will be single-ended and Class A.

To begin with, let us first lay down the circuit design of the proposed amplifier, as given under:

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How to Build the Circuit

To build the circuit we need: A MOSFET (https://www.homemade-circuits.com/mosfet-enhancement-
type/), some capacitors and resistors and a sturdy power supply which has to be properly filtered
using large filter capacitors. The amplifier we are building is built by incorporating the device
2SK1058 N-Channel MOSFET from Hitachi. The pin diagram is shown below:

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(https://www.homemade-circuits.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/fet-1.png)

The capacitors that we used in this experiment is that of Sprague. This is used to couple the input
and on the output a large electrolytic along with polyester bypass capacitor of 10µF. To manage the
load, we used four non-inductive wire wound resistors of 10W.

However, to achieve total resistance of 15 ohms, the resistors are wired (https://www.homemade-
circuits.com/use-resistors-design-circuits/) on a series of two, which makes 30 ohms and furthermore
setting up the sets in parallel. Please note, the device would be hot and susceptible to burning during
idle mode, hence caution is utmost important.

Class-A (https://www.homemade-circuits.com/understanding-amplifier-circuits/) can never be an ideal

option for a high efficiency amplifier design, but as we are applying the idea in this setup, we had to
use more than 20 Watts power to generate a modest 4.8 Watts audio (https://www.homemade-
circuits.com/usb-5v-amplifier-circuit-for-pc/). The heat-sink used for the mosfet was of 0.784 °C/W.

Power Supply
The power supply used for this single MOSFET class A power amplifier (https://www.homemade-
circuits.com/60w-100w-150w-250w-power-amplifier/) circuit is 18VAC and 160VA EI transformer
attached to a bridge rectifier of 25 amp to generate DC power of 24 Volts.

To filter and smooth (https://www.homemade-circuits.com/calculating-filter-capacitor-for/) the power

we used 10000µF capacitors and Hammond make 10mH choke of 5 amp over pi filter setting [Cap -

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2) Easiest Class A Amplifier

The IRF511 (Q1) is wired like a most simple class-A audio-amplifier circuit, as shown in the figure
below. Having zero gate bias employed, Q1 acts similar to a switch which is in the switched off state.
In this condition no current moves from the load resistor, R2. Essentially, the voltage across Q1 and
the load resistor have to be the same for the working of class-A amplifiers.

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A 100K potentiometer (R3) along with a 1M fixed (R1) constitute a straightforward adjustable gate-
bias circuit. If we put a a voltmeter across the Q1 drain and the ground of the circuit, and we fine-tune
R3 to get a meter reading of half the power supply voltage.

Practically any resistor could be utilized in place of R2 provided that the maximum current and power
ratings of the FET aren't surpassed. A resistor value of between 22 and 100 ohms can be a decent
selection for testing. If high current supply is used, make sure to use an appropriate heat sink for the
FET.

3) Class A Amplifier using BJTs

In the above paragraphs we learned how to build a class A amplifier using MOSFET, now we will

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When power output, harmonic, distortion, frequency response are not considered critical for an
amplifier, for example in small radios receivers, applying a class 'A' amplifier becomes a favorable
choice. The circuit shown below makes use of just 3 transistors, is able to amplify with an output
transformer, and provides an output power between 100 -200mW. It operates using a battery supply
as low as 4.5V.

RV1 works like a volume control and hooks up with the amplifier stage by means of C1. The below
discussed three stages are directly connected. The base bias of Q1 is implemented by resistors R2
and R5. Resistor R1 and transistor Q1 behave like a bias potential divider for Q2 base and likewise
resistor R3 and transistor Q2 perform the bias base for the transistor Q3.

Resistor R2 and resistor R5 additionally work like a section of an overall negative feedback loop
enhancing the frequency response of this BJT class A amplifier circuit, and also minimizing its

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experimentation. (The lowest possible value of R6 should not be below 22k).

4) Class A Power Amplifier Circuit

The key benefit of a class A amplifiers is that is works without any crossover distortion. Alongside this
significant advantage we find a big disadvantage of forever hot heatsinks and large wattage power
supplies.

The circuit displayed above consists of a number of good features and is capable of providing a 5W
of genuine class A audio into an 8 Ohm load. Q1 and Q2, in conjunction with the connected parts,
work like a top-notch voltage amplifier with all round ac and dc feedback fed from the Q2 collector by
means of R6 to the Q1 emitter.

The output stage genuinely includes Q6 and Q7 configured like an emitter follower Darlington pair.
These transistors are driven by IC1, which is a 741 op amp. These BJTs can be also seen

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Quiescent current is provided by The constant current source formed by the transistors Q3, Q4, Q5,
R9 and R10 determine the quiscent current of the circuit. The utilization of a constant current source
in this class A amplifier design appropriately isolates the output stage from supply line fluctuations
and ripple.

Using the indicated part values, the circuit gets a a bandwidth between 10Hz - 30KHz -3db, with a
distortion much lower than 0.1% just before clipping. The circuit also offers an input impedance of
1.5M and a sensitivity of 180mV for the complete output power.

Transistors Q4 to Q7 should be attached to an appropriate heatsink, which may have a dimension of

5" by 4" and should be finned type. These heatsinks should be installed vertically and positioned in
such a way that it gets exposed to adequate air flow.

5) Another Good Class Amplifier Circuit

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The problem with class A amplifier circuits is their reduced efficiency in comparison to class B stages.
With this particular layout, and applying a 44 V power supply the quiescent current is going to be
around 960 mA.

An output power of around 15 W is going to be supplied directly into an 8 Ohm loudspeaker.

Harmonic distortion can be expected to be lower than 0.1%.

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impedance it will probably be 3n3. This class A amplifier provides a great feature of being short circuit
proof; if you find a short it is going to consume roughly 1.6 A.

The potentiometer P10 is employed for implementing the offset control to the the no-signal output
voltage at the intersection of the parts R18/R19 (around 21 V).

Every single output transistor (T6 and T7) must be mounted over a large heat sink, the thermal
resistance must not be lower than 3.3°C/W; driver transistors T4 and T5 will necessitate a clip type
heatsink.

6) 5 Watt Class A Amplifier Circuit

This class A amplifier circuit produces 5 watts rms into an 8 ohm load, however it needs a supply of
22 to 24 volts at 1 amp. This results in a maximum efficiency of around 19%, which is lower than
1/3 of the efficiency of typical Class B configurations.

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produced by Q3, Q4, and R7, and it is a constant current source. The latter fixes the circuit's output
current to slightly below 1 amp.

The constant current generator load has a higher efficiency and linearity compared to an
ordinary load resistor. At DC, R3 provides nearly 100 percent negative feedback to the amplifier,
resulting in unity voltage gain. R1 and R2 bias the input to ¹⁄� the supply voltage, which likewise
biases the output to the desired level of ¹⁄� the supply voltage.

At audio frequencies, R5 and C3 eliminates some of the feedback, allowing the circuit a maximum
output sensitivity of around 380 mV rms. C1 and C5 enable DC blocking at the input and output,
correspondingly, while C2 and C4 help with stability. Q4 and Q5 need to be placed atop a large
heatsink.

Smallest Two Transistor Design

This simple two transistor class A amplifier circuit works by using Tr1 as a common emitter driver
stage configured to directly operate Tr2; the common source output stage. R1 to R3 are positioned to
bias the circuit to ensure that we have a quiescent current of approximately 25mA by means of LS1
and Tr2. The input signal modifies this current both side of the quiescent value, allowing the required
operation of the loudspeaker LSI.

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The output current swings through 0 to around 50mA at the peak output, and the typical current
consumption as a result stays consistent at 25mA, and does not increase at higher output levels such
as the case of a class B amplifier. The output power from this circuit is barely around 23mW RMS,
nevertheless it is sufficient for several applications (tiny radios, intercoms, etc.).
The circuit provides fairly decent audio quality; the major constraint on the audio quality being the
distortion levels, and restricted frequency response from the tiny high impedance loudspeaker
employed. An input signal of merely around 80mV RMS is necessary to be able to generate a
optimum output, however this value could be modified, to some extent, by adjusting the value of R5.

Alterations in the value of R5 leads to an inversely proportional variation in the input sensitivity of the
circuit. A low impedance loudspeaker is not recommended in this circuit, since that might cause a
high current to move via Tr2 and the loudspeaker, most likely leading to the break down of one of
these or both.

Improving the above Design

The above circuit has a minor flaw due to the presence of a lingering current in the loudspeaker,
causing the cone to never move back and forth around its usual resting position, but to constantly be

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I am an electronic engineer (dipIETE ), hobbyist, inventor, schematic/PCB designer,

manufacturer. I am also the founder of the website: https://www.homemade-circuits.com/,
where I love sharing my innovative circuit ideas and tutorials.
If you have any circuit related query, you may interact through comments, I'll be most happy
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25 COMMENTS Newest 

Nestor Garcia  11 days ago

Buenos dias, quisiera saber si el circuito que usa el transistor TRF540 se puede
alimentar con 12V y que otro se puede usar por el TRF540 y por el BC179…..
Reply

Author

Swagatam  11 days ago

 Reply to Nestor Garcia

Hi, 12V can be used for that design

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About “Smallest Two Transistor Design”.

Could you tell me how to adjust the volume of sound in this circuit?
Reply

Author

Swagatam  1 year ago

 Reply to Jorge

Hi Jorge, you can do it by connecting a 1K pot at the input of the circuit.

One outer pin of the pot go to the signal input, the other outer pin will go to
the ground line, and the center pin will go to the C3 capacitor.
Reply

Kemi Akpan  1 year ago

Please what are the characteristics of the mosfet used here

Reply

Author

Swagatam  1 year ago

 Reply to Kemi Akpan

Please check the datasheet of the IC, you will find all the characteristics of
the device in its datasheet.
Reply

Genadij  2 years ago

Hello Mr Swagatam !
Why do we need 160W transformer for 20W power consuption?
Why does Negative Feedback through 33uF improves the sound?
I am not electronics engineer.
Thank you!

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 Reply to Genadij

Mr Genadij, sorry,The above circuit was contributed by another so I have

not yet read it, so unable to provide you the required information
Reply

pedro berrocal  2 years ago

se pueden poner 2 mosfet en paralelo?

Reply

Author

Swagatam  2 years ago

 Reply to pedro berrocal

yes you can put two MOSFETs in parallel

Reply

Andy  3 years ago

Hi sir. How much is the output power of this ckt?

Reply

Author

Swagatam  3 years ago

 Reply to Andy

It is around 5 watts, but consumption will be 20 watts

Reply

francis  5 years ago

Hello Sir I have a Hybrid audio amplifier B2200 which got burnt one channel,the
cause of the problem I don’t know but I found the mains fuse bridged probably by
the user.I tested the components on the pcb and found several transistors ,fuses

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-0.151vdc. Now am stuck don’t know where to start. I know… Read more »
Reply

Author

Swagatam  5 years ago

 Reply to francis

Hi Francis, sorry, it will be impossible to find the fault since the design
looks too sophisticated and have many complex stages…so
troubleshooting might require a thorough practical investigation
Reply

youraj badgujar  5 years ago

i need your help,

i want to make circuit to drive bike horn 12v 3A. (musical like mocc horn).
a portable mp3 player with 3 watt output is used for input .
any transistor mosfet circuit can be use ful please
Reply

Author

Swagatam  5 years ago

 Reply to youraj badgujar

use a 12V 7AH battery, and switch the horn though a 3 amp ON/OFf
switch
Reply

Sujit Chatterjee  6 years ago

I need a power amplifier circuit which works upto 500KHz square wave. Will you
suggest any circuit for that.
Reply

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6 Simple Class A Amplifier Circuits Explained | Homemade Circuit Projects https://www.homemade-circuits.com/single-mosfet-class-power-amplifier/

"BTL power amplifier circuit"

you will be able to find many good options

Reply

ajith patteri  6 years ago

hi sir.I'm trying this project.I did not understand the input method.please help me.
Reply

Author

Swagatam  6 years ago

 Reply to ajith patteri

Hi Ajith,

the input will be your music input which needs to be amplified, for example
from a mobile phone's headphone socket, DVD player's earphone socket
or from an ipod etc….
Reply

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