4/30/2016 ESP Projects Pages ­ DIY Audio and Electronics

The Audio Pages

Elliott Sound Products Audio Project Pages

Numerical Index of Projects

Page Last Updated ­ January 2016

Main Index
Projects Index
Projects Sorted By Category
Pricelist

Projects 1­9 10­19 20­29 30­39 40­49 50­59 60­69 70­79 80­89 90­99 100­109
110­119 120­129 130­139 140­149 150­159 160­

No. Project Description PCB

A Better Volume
01 A volume control using a linear pot that is much better than most log pots
Control
Simple High
02 Quality Hi­Fi As it says ­ simple, high quality preamp. Has all the facilities normally expected
Preamp
60W / 8 Ohm
03 (Updated) My old faithful power amp design. ­ See Project 3A PCB
Power Amplifier
Dual Power
04 A power supply that is adaptable for most power amps
Supply
Preamplifier Uses External AC Adapter. Safe and effective, low noise and no hum! (PCB replaced
05
Power Supply by P05A)
Preamplifier
05A All the features of the P05, but much more versatile. Includes 'Loss of AC' detector.
Power Supply
Preamplifier
05C All the features of the original P05A plus an improved muting circuit. PCB
Power Supply
Phono (RIAA)
06 Very high quality moving magnet phono preamp ­ few circuits will better this one. PCB
Preamp
07 Discrete Op­Amp Class­A Output. Intended as an experimental device ­ works extremely well
2­Way Electronic
08 Conventional 3rd order electronic crossover
Crossover
24dB/Octave 2/3­ Linkwitz­Riley alignment. This is the optimum choice for any active sysyem ­ Rev­B
09 PCB
Way Xover boards
9a A Reader's Xover This is well worth reading if you can't decide on biamping
20 Watt Class­A
10 True Class­A power amp for low power systems or tri­amping
Power amp
Pink Noise
11 For loudspeaker and room acoustics testing
Generator
Current
12 An updated version of a very old 60W / 8 Ohm design
Feedback Amp
12a El­Cheapo This is the real El­Cheapo, presented in more or less original form
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Low Noise
13 Simple unbalanced design, suitable for microphones ­ very low noise
Preamplifier
Power Amp
14 A conventional adapter for bridging power amplifiers PCB
Bridge Adapter
Capacitance
15 Extremely low ripple supply with less power dissipation than a regulator
Multiplier Supply
Audio
16 For Testing Amplifiers (etc) ­ An analogue design, 3mV to 30V with dB scale
Millivoltmeter
17 A­Weighting filter For noise measurements. Ideal for use with the AC Millivoltmeter above
Simple Surround
18 A line­level version of the "Hafler matrix" decoder
Sound Decoder
Single Chip 50W
19 Using the National Semiconductor LM3876 Power IC. PCB
Power Amplifier
Simplest Ever
20 Use this simple method, and avoid external circuits
Bridge Adapter
Stereo Width
21 2 to choose from. Expand or contract the stereo sound stage
Controllers
Simple Audio
22 For use with the millivoltmeter, for testing amps and speakers
Oscillator
Power Amp
23 A fast and accurate indicator to show an amp is clipping
Clipping Indicator
Hi­Fi Headphone
24 Contributed by a reader, this is a very nice circuit
Amplifier
Phono Preamps
25 Various circuits for moving coil and moving magnet pickups
For All
Digital delay Retained for information only ­ The Mitsubishi delay IC is no longer
26 Digital Delay
available
26A Digital Delay Unit Digital delay using PT2399 ­ Note: PCB (with IC) available now PCB
100 Watt Guitar
27 The new and improved version of the original Project 27 guitar amp (now 27b). PCB
Amp (Mk II)
100 Watt Guitar
27b The original of the unit above. Retained for posterity, and has speaker box details
Amplifier
Parametric / Sub­
28 A simplified version, which performs surprisingly well
Woofer Equaliser
29 Tremolo Unit A versatile guitar effect. This is a simple circuit that gives very good results
Stage and
30 Able to be built in modular form, allowing as many (or few) channels as desired.
Recording Mixer
Full Featured
31 Just the thing to check the transistors for any project
Transistor Tester
Car Audio
32 Preamp + Especially for car audio installations, can be used for any single supply system
Artificial Earth
Loudspeaker
33 Protection and Protect speakers from turn­on and turn­off transients and amplifier faults PCB
Muting
Guitar Spring
34 A high performance spring reverb unit for guitar amps
Reverb Unit
Direct Injection
35 An essential companion for the mixer for stage or recording work
(DI) Box
Death Of Zen An ultra simple, high performance Class­A power amp. Revision­A boards now
36 PCB
(DoZ) shipping
Death of Zen
37 "Minimalist" preamp, designed to suit the DoZ (or any other) power amplifier PCB
Preamp
Death of Zen
37A Updated "minimalist" preamp, designed to suit the DoZ (or any other) power amplifier PCB
Preamp
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Signal Detecting
38 Auto Power­On For equipment to be turned on with the main amp. Detects signal and applies power.
Unit
39 Soft Start Circuit Designed for (large) toroidal transformers, limit the inrush current to a sensible value. PCB
60­100W Hi­Fi
3A 100W into 4 or 8 ohms. Has excellent performance, and is easy to build. PCB
Power Amp
Load Sensing
40 Apply power to the system by turning on one item. Superseded by Project 79.
Auto Switch
Opamp Design +
41 Quickly assemble an opamp circuit for testing. Very easy and intuitive to use
Test Board
Thermo­Fan For
42 Use a 12V computer fan to cool your amp. Uses diode temperature sensor
Amp Cooling
Ultra Simple Split
43 When you need a +/­ supply, and only have a DC adapter
DC Supply
Dual +/­25V Lab
44 Up to 800mA (typical) output current at +/­25V.
Supply
Simple Bass
45 Guitar An ultra simple compressor, ideally suited for bass guitar.
Compressor
Thermal
46 Shutdown/ Add this circuit to either turn the amp off or activate a cooling fan if it overheats
Protection
Vox AC30
47 This project has been withdrawn at the author's request
Simulator
Sub Woofer
48 Designed to operate a sub­woofer driver below its resonant frequency.
Processor
Sub Woofer
48A Processor (Rev­ New version of the sub­woofer driver has far greater flexibility. PCB
A)
Guitar Vibrato
49 A reasonably simple circuit, with results similar to the Vox AC30 guitar amp
Unit
50 Mic Circuit Tester Small oscillator to check mic & line circuits during sound setup
Balanced Line
51 Use these to eliminate hum for long signal leads
Drivers
Distortion
52 A simple distortion meter you can use with an oscilloscope or millivoltmeter
Analyser
Output Power
53 Just the thing if you want to limit amplifier power to something "sensible"
Limiter
Low Power FM
54 Useful to retransmit the hi­fi to another FM receiver nearby, or as a wireless mic
Transmitter
PPM and VU
55 A versatile and useful VU meter circuit, can also operate as a Peak Program Meter
Meter
Variable Modify the output impedance of an amplifier with these simple ideas (Updated 05 Apr
56
Impedance 12)
SIM ­ The Simple
57 The smallest variation in amplifier performance is shown with this simple circuit
Version
Tone Burst
Based on work done by Siegfried Linkwitz (reproduced with his permission). See
58 Speaker
Project 143 for a conventional Tone Burst generator
Measurement Set
Self Oscillating
59 Allows you to make a power amp oscillate at a defined frequency for testing
Amplifier
60 LED VU Meter Standard LED VU meter, includes simple rectifier circuit for full wave detection PCB
55W Hi­Fi Power
61 A design from a fellow Australian. (Full details unavailable)
Amplifier

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62 LX­800 Lighting Light is always needed for theatre and live music, and this is just the ticket
Controller
Multiple
63 Feedback This is the basis of an expandable equaliser and analyser or vocoder
Bandpass Filter
Instrument
64 Designed especially as a guitar / bass equaliser, this unit is expandable
Graphic Equaliser
65 Strobe Light Designed as a companion to the LX800, can also be used by itself
Low Noise
66 Balanced Mic A discrete front end makes this balanced microphone preamp very quiet PCB
Preamp
Fast Audio Peak
67 This peak limiter is simple and very effective. Uses discrete FET gain control
Limiter

300W Subwoofer
68 This amp is designed especially for subwoofers PCB
Amplifier
Switchmode Car
69 Low power +/­12V supply for car preamps and equalisers (etc)
Power Supply
DoZ Headphone
70 The DoZ is ideally suited to headphone use. Revision­A boards now shipping PCB
Amplifier
Linkwitz
71 The Linkwitz Transform circuit ­ an equaliser to provide extended bass response PCB
Transform Circuit
20W/Ch Stereo
72 Based on the versatile LM1875 from National Semiconductor PCB
IC amplifier
Hi­Fi PC Sound
73 You have never heard your MP3 collection, CD or games sound so good PCB
System
74 Simple RF Probe Indispensable for any RF work. Uses just 4 passive components
Constant Q
75 Constant Q design. Can be made using as many or as few sections as needed.
Graphic Equaliser
Opamp Based
76 This is a contributed project, and has some interest as a learning exercise
Power Amplifier
13.8V Power
77 A supply for testing and working on car amplifiers ­ up to about 500 Amps!
Supply / Charger
3­Way 12dB/
78 Octave Contributed project, simple 12dB/ Octave crossover network.
Crossover
Current Sense
79 Auto Power A current sensing switch turns on multiple devices from one master
Switch
Reverse RIAA
80 Test phono preamps for correct equalisation, or convert unused phono inputs.
Equaliser
12dB/Octave 2­
81 Linkwitz­Riley alignment and phase coherent (uses the P09 Rev­B PCB) PCB
Way Xover
Loudspeaker Test
82 Quickly and accurately determine the optimal impedance correction network
Box
MOSFET
83 Follower Power Another contributed project that may be of great interest
Amplifier
Subwoofer
84 This is a constant Q design, eight 1/3 octave bands covering 20Hz to 100Hz. PCB
Graphic Equaliser
Simple S/PDIF
85 Quite possibly the simplest possible S/PDIF receiver and DAC you will ever find
DAC
Miniature Audio
86 The Miniosc ­ low distortion battery powered audio oscillator PCB
Oscillator
Balanced
Transmitter /
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87 Receiver Updated and upmarket versions of the Project 51 balanced circuits PCB

High Quality
88 An audiophile quality preamp, with full switching and programmable gain PCB
Audio Preamp
Switchmode
89 Power Amp A high power (350W typical) car power amplifier supply
Supply
Dimmer Control
90 Convert old dimmer units using a 0 to ­10V control signal
Polarity changer
78 RPM and
91 RIAA Phono Multi Standard 78 RPM and RIAA Phono Equaliser handles all "standards" PCB
Equaliser
Guitar and Bass
92 A simple, low distortion limiter for musical instruments
Sustain
Recording and
93 Measurement A simple selection of projects for making your own microphones PCB
Microphone
Universal
94 A small and versatile mixer and preamp, suitable for many uses. PCB
Preamp/ Mixer
Universal
94A Alternative wiring for the versatile mixer/ preamp, suitable for many uses. PCB
Preamp/ Mixer
Low Power ­Ve
95 Low power ­ve supply for car audio preamps and crossovers
Supply
48V Phantom
96 Low noise 48V regulator and phantom mic supply circuits. PCB
Supply
97 Hi­Fi Preamp Another preamp, but this one has tone controls, and all pots are PCB mounted PCB
98 Battery Charger Automatic Charger for Battery Operated Hi­Fi Preamps
Subsonic/
99 A 36dB/octave 17 Hz high pass filter to remove ultra low frequencies (Rev­B PCB) PCB
Rumble Filter
Headphone
100 A simple adaptor to provide a headphone output to an existing power amplifier
Adaptor
MOSFET Power
101 200W MOSFET Hi­Fi Power amplifier PCB
Amp
Simple Pre­ Use this to adapt P05 to a power amp supply for your preamp ­ added 'enhanced'
102
Regulator version (2012)
Subwoofer Phase
103 A standard phase control for use with subwoofers.
Control
Preamp/
104 Crossover Muting Muting circuit suitable for all line­level applications.
Circuit
105 N/A
106 hFE Tester An hFE tester with switched collector currents for the Device Under Test
Polarity Reversal
107 Switch the absolute polarity (180° phase shift) of signals with this simple circuit
Switch
Switchmode
108 This contributed circuit can help prevent failure of your switching power supply.
PSU Protection
Portable Another contributed circuit, this is a complete portable headphone amp that features
109
Headphone Amp crossfeed.
IR Remote Volume and mute are provided by this simple but functional circuit. Suitable for all
110 PCB
Control preamps.
PIC Speaker
111 This doesn't replace P33, but it is possibly the ultimate speaker protection.
Protection
Dummy Head
112 Recording Surprise yourself with one of the most realistic recording processes known. PCB
Microphone
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Hi­Fi Headphone
113 Yet another headphone amplifier, but this one has PCBs available PCB
Amp
PWM Power Based on the ColdAmp BP4078 400W module, Class­D is here. Definitely worth
114 PCB
Amplifier looking at!
GainClone
115 Complete GainClone amplifier, including full chassis details (2 part article) PCB
Amplifier
PWM Subwoofer
116 Using a ColdAmp BP4078 module, this article has complete construction details PCB
Amplifier
1.5kW Power
117 Just the thing for those for whom no amount of power is enough
Amplifier
PC Power
118 Simplest ever PC switching unit ­ turn on peripherals with the PC
Switch
Signature
119 A component signature analyser that allows in­circuit parts tests
Analyser
Crowbar Speaker
120 The final answer to speaker protection. Comes with many cautions and warnings!
Protection
Reading
121 Use your DC voltmeter or frequency counter to measure crossover coils.
Inductance
Ultra­Simple Mic
122 A single low cost IC and tiny PCB make a great utility microphone preamp. PCB
Preamp
18dB/Octave
123 A selection of 18dB/octave (3rd order) crossover filters.
Crossover
124 Dummy Load High power dummy load for amplifier testing.
125 4W­LRX 4­Way Linkwitz Riley Crossover PCB
126 PWM Dimmer PWM LED Dimmer/ Motor Speed Controller. PCB
TDA7293
127 Dual power amplifier, using the TDA7293 power opamp IC. PCB
Amplifier
128 VU Meter Bridge Build a pair of VU meters to monitor your recording or PA level. PCB
129 Matrix Mixer Now you can build a matrix mixer to suit your exact requirements. (04 Apr 10) PCB
Inverse A­
130 Undo the rolloff caused by the A­Weighting filter (24 May 10)
Weighting
Light Activated Little to do with audio, but a useful project that can be adapted to other uses (20 Jul
131
Switch 10)
132 Air Bearing More of a proliferation of ideas and techniques than a "real" project, the vinyl lovers
Tonearm should look at this (20 Jul 10)
PA­PC Audio Interfaces from the headphone output of a PC to PA mic input, and PA speaker line to
133
Interfaces PC recorder (16 Feb 11)
4mA Current Common for professional measurement microphones, but not well known outside the
134
Loop Microphone noise measurement field. (04 Mar 11)
Phase More of an experimental circuit than anything else, it should help anyone trying to
135
Correlation Meter build a phase meter. (24 Mar 11)
Hardware Based A real­time audio analyser ­ contributed project, based on the multiple feedback
136
RTA bandpass filter described in Project 63. (20 May 11)
Powered Box Complete Preamp, crossover & power amps, designed for powered PA speakers,
137 PCB
Amplifier Leslie cabinets, 'party' systems, etc. Set of 3 PCBs. (29 July 12)
Mains Under/
Some equipment is vulnerable to under or over­voltage. Use this protection unit to
138 Over Voltage
prevent damage (11 August 12)
Protection
Mains Current A versatile, safe & accurate way to measure (and view with a 'scope) the current
139
Monitor drawn by mains powered equipment (01 October 12)
Simple Current Much like P139 (versatile & safe), but a much simpler way to measure the current
139a
Monitor drawn by mains equipment (29 October 12)
True RMS The only way to measure non­sinusoidal waveforms is true RMS or errors can be
140
Adaptor significant. Use this adaptor to get true RMS readings (09 Dec 12)
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141 VCA Based If you need a multiple channel preamp with a single volume control for all, this might PCB
Preamplifier be just what you're looking for. Ideal for home theatre! (02 Jan 13)
142 Simple High Need higher than allowable input voltage or the need for more current than IC
Current Regulator regulators can provide. This basic design will be more than acceptable for many
tasks. (Apr 2013)
143 Tone Burst Sometimes no other piece of test gear will allow you to run the tests you need. Check
Generator/ Gate amplifier overload recovery, perform non destructive high power speaker tests, plus
many more. (Apr 2013)
144 Mains Power If you need to turn on/off mains equipment in a preset sequence, this project will be
Sequencer just what you are looking for. Suitable for large PA systems, recording studios,
lighting, etc. (May 2013)
145 Silent Guitar How to use Vactrol® or DIY optocouplers to switch signals in guitar amplifiers. No
Effects Switching contact bounce or clicks, just virtually silent switching without any noises. (Jul 2013)
146 Overload/ Overload indicator for mixers, preamps or power amps. Simple opamp comparator
Clipping Indicator circuit gives fast response. (Nov 2013)
147 BJT Muting A little known technique that doesn't look like it could ever work ­ using bipolar
Switch transistors. (Dec 2013)
148 State Variable Perfect for loudspeaker system development, or can be used as part of a biamped or
PCB
Crossover triamped system. 12dB/octave continuously variable filters. (Aug 2014)
149 Musical
Guitar, Bass or Keyboard Equaliser. A greatly improved version of Project 64. (Aug
Instrument
2014)
Graphic EQ

Wien Bridge A functional building block that can be used in mixers, preamps, guitar and bass
150 amps, etc. (Sep 2014)
based equaliser
High Voltage DC If you want to experiment with valve ('tube') circuits, you need a power supply for the
151
Supply B+ and DC for the heaters. (Oct 2014)
152­ Bass Guitar First part of a project with the circuits for what might be one of the world's best DIY
1 Amplifier (Part 1)
bass amps. (Mar 2015)
152­ Bass Guitar Part Two of the bass amp project describes the compressor, soft­clip and crossovers,
2 Amplifier (Part 2)
and discusses power amp needs. (Mar 2015)
'Isolator' EQ is very common amongst the DJ fraternity, but they can be rather
Frequency
153 expensive. Now you can build your own, and with all the features you need (Nov
'Isolator' EQ
2014)
PC Oscilloscope PC sound card oscilloscopes can be handy, but you need this circuit to make sure
154
Interface that it doesn't get blown up if you connect it to more than a few volts (Apr 2015)
Variable High These circuits are common in mixing consoles, but you might find them useful
155 And Low Pass elsewhere as well. The frequency ranges can be adjusted to suit your needs (Apr
Filters 2015)
Many home theatre receivers (aka audio­visual receivers or 'AVRs') have a 12V trigger
12V Trigger
156 output, and the circuits shown can be used to switch on equipment when the trigger
Switches
voltage is present (Apr 2015)
3­Wire Trailing­ You can't buy these easily, so the only option is to build it yourself. This is the first
157
Edge Dimmer (and only) fully tested and working design you'll find anywhere. (June 2015)
Every so often, you find that you need to listen to or measure signals that are well
Low­Noise Test
158 below the noise floor of your bench amp or 'scope. With 20, 40 & 60dB of gain, this is PCB
Preamplifier
what you need. (August 2015)
3­Wire Leading­ You can't buy these easily either, so again the only option is to build it yourself. This
159
Edge Dimmer is also the first (and only) fully tested and working design you'll find anywhere.
LM386, LM380 &
Sometimes, you only need a small amplifier to use as a signal tracer, or as a
160 LM384 Power
workshop monitor amp. Nothing special, but useful. (Oct 2015)
Amplifiers
High Impedance This is a combination of a project and an article, so is listed as both. When you need
161
Input Stages an input impedance of up to 1GΩ, this shows you how to get it. (Nov 2015)
Voltage A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) isn't something you need every day, and you
162 Controlled may never have thought that you need one. You'd probably be right, but some things
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Oscillator are just too interesting to ignore. (Jan 2016)

163 Coming Soon
A version of this project was shown in the troubleshooting pages, but it's now a
164 Signal Tracer project in its own right. The unit presented here is simple, cheap, and runs from a 9V
battery. (Jan 2016)
165 Valve Tester for If you service valve (tube) amplifiers, you need to be able to test output valves under
Service Techs the conditions used in the amp being fixed. Note that it is not a 'general purpose
tester. (Feb 2016)
ABX ABX Comparator Full ABX testing unit, without microcontrollers or a PC
X A­B Switch Box Can you really hear the difference between amps or cables?

Note Carefully
Although I am happy to provide assistance to prospective builders, I cannot (and will not) be drawn into
prolonged e­mail exchanges if the project does not work as expected. I can say with complete confidence
that all projects presented will work if properly constructed according to the published design. This is not to
say that no help will be available ­ I will always help where I can.

It is inevitable that in some cases (due to component tolerances, for example), a project may require a
different value resistor, capacitor (or whatever) to correct for an unexpected variation. Since I cannot
control or predict the quality of components sourced by readers, nor the standard of workmanship in
assembly, it is not possible to allow for every contingency.

Please do not attempt the construction of any project which you do not fully understand, or if you do not
feel completely confident that you can build the project without further assistance. Do not expect me to be
able to diagnose an obscure fault remotely, and especially if the project has been modified in any way
whatsoever.

Under no circumstances should any reader construct any mains operated equipment
unless absolutely sure of his/her abilities in this area. The author takes no responsibility
for any injury or death resulting from, whether directly or indirectly, the reader's inability
to appreciate the hazards of household mains voltages or other voltages as may be
present within the circuitry of a project. Please read the disclaimer now if you have not
done so already. Also read the warning on the main projects page. This is important!

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Copyright Notice. All projects described herein, including but not limited to all text and diagrams, are the
intellectual property of Rod Elliott unless otherwise stated, and are Copyright © 1999 ­ 2015 (see article for
copyright details). Reproduction or re­publication by any means whatsoever, whether electronic, mechanical or
electro­mechanical, is strictly prohibited under International Copyright laws. The author / editor (Rod Elliott) grants
the reader the right to use this information for personal use only, and further allows that one (1) copy may be made
for reference while constructing the project. Commercial use in whole or in part is prohibited without express
written authorisation from Rod Elliott and the owner of the copyright in the case of submitted articles.

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