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Home HPS 1.0 was nothing more than an incarnation of Dennis Colin "LP 797 Ultra-Low Distortion
Schematics Phono Preamp" published in AudioExpress. The original article is available here (scroll down
the list and watch the two important corrections). I liked the idea of distributed active RIAA
Measurements correction and also the concept of using negative feedback to linearize the input stage.

Conclusions Here's the board level schematic of the HPS 1.0 signal chain

Now, the original Collin design has a few significant flaws (openly admitted by the author in
the same article), one of them being the very poor PSRR in the input stage. To avoid hum
and other noise artifacts to enter the signal chain, this design calls for a solid power supply,
much better than the original. So I decided to add a Jung regulator on the same board. The
plan was to feed HPS 1.0 from a 24V wall wart, so some extra circuitry is required to split the
power supply. I decided for a TLE2426 rail splitter. This little circuit works great and it's ideal
for balanced rails current; any imbalance flows straight through the virtual ground created by
this circuit, so I would advise to be careful in your applications. The HPS 1.0 currents are
already imbalanced by the input stage JFETs, dragging current from the positive supply only.
The TLE2426 gets a little hot, but nothing to worry about. However, further extending the
same concept to more paralleled JFETs may create some serious power dissipation issues.

Here's the HPS 1.0 power supply board level schematic

The entire construction fits (and the PCB is designed accordingly) in a standard extruded
aluminum case like this. You can get such a case from your distributor of choice (Digikey,
Farnell, Mouser, they all carry the Hammond products).

You can download the PCB Gerbers here. Here's a picture of the assembled board.

And a picture of HPS 1.0 in action.

There's not much to tell about construction; just use good quality components (polypropylene
caps, metal film resistors) and low noise opamps (AD797 or LT1115, LT1128, LME49710,
OPA211 on a SMD adaptor) and the good results are guaranteed. The relays are DIP case
12V models. It is a good idea to mute the preamps before powering up/down or switching the
gain to avoid a large thump into the speakers.

For this build, the dynamic range (aka the headroom) is around 22dB at 1KHz, for the max
gain of 64dB and +/-17V supplies. This is not bad, but has a certain audible as you'll find later
on this page.

As you will find in the Measurement sections, the equivalent input noise of this construction is
about 0.9nV/rtHz. This is very good for a MM cartridge (the NAD PP3 preamp has 8nV/rtHz for
the MM input) but not that great for MC. The hiss is clearly audible, on the 64dB gain setting,
even in not very sensitive speakers. Therefore, even if it has the required gain, I cannot
recommend this construction for low output MC cartridges; you may want to look at the HPS
2.0 below for that.

Although the Jung regulator helps in reducing the hum and noise artifacts injection in the input
stage, some residuals (captured from the supply input wiring and the ambient, the case is
aluminum) are still slightly audible; again, refer to HPS 2.0 for a low output MC cartridge.

HPS 2.0 was designed and implemented having in view the above issues. Some important
differences to the original Dennis Colin design are implemented:

- HPS 2.0 uses 4 2SK170 low noise JFETs in the input stage. The equivalent input noise of the
input stage is inversely proportional to the square of the number of paralleled input devices; it
is therefore expected, theoretically, HPS 2.0 to have half the noise of a single 2SK170 input
stage (1-1.2nV/rtHz) plus the contribution of the source resistor (10ohm, 0.4nV/rtHz).

- To increase the PSRR, the input stage was cascoded.

- To further improve the hum and noise injection in the input stage, a local power supply was
added.

1 of 3 02/12/2018 10:42
Low Noise Design Schematics http://www.synaesthesia.ca/LNschematics.html

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thousands
the to bipolar
dissipation
ampaddcase that
and devices of
overload
of dollars
although
not the
use and current
situation,
on
anallansuch?
open input
these sources bias
but
The
loop also
constructionscancelling
(another
response
design a 9ohm and
method
4W)
feedback
to this
There
are
passive and
"plug that
question
is you
RIAA a allowed
resistor,
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solutionisawhen
play"
correction less
disconcerting
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avoid
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that x10 50nA
3.1.
they can 18W
head
all workof ofamp
easily the DCreach
dissipation,
straight current
gain
above. isthis
out through
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selected.
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number heats the
any upcartridge
filter
at the
adjustment
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is nominal high (sorequired)
tostillthenopoint
pass
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filter,
level?they inMain
where
with arethe a cutoff
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Here
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reason are
(thermal)
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issome the in Various
noise Rbb'
the
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dynamic 10-15Hz power
ismeasurements
affected.
range. In domain. supply Ioptions
particular did:
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want poses
the ultimate some from technicalthe classic
performance challanges,ofJung HPSregulators since
3.1 you while we
and
AnTocertainly
have local
inverting
beat to be the wantpower
very servo,
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careful buffers
greatly
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attenuate
around thewe an 4.1),
have
construction any
OPA827 tocomponents
to local
abandon JFET
details, high input
the
in performance
underColin
particular opamp (say) theis15
architecture; shunt
Hz, we
taking
wiring. not regulators
care need
only tothe
of issetting (TMC
minimize
10the the
compensated
The impact
opamp
ohm
MC/MM obvious
source atcartridges
common 20Hz, to mode
solution
resistor optimize
where output tothe
the
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eating RIAA
pull
up
level step so
the isspec
the response)
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entire
usually ends.
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out is4.2.
of acancelled.
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the The
Ashunt
has HPS
order
0.5mV 4.x
MCseries
high
regulators.
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cartridge had playing
filter.
The
Johnson a voltage
OPA552 noise a
equivalent
opamp
by
Anditself)
record has
a picture
will and noise
enough
though withof
going the
outputdownwell
PSRR whole under
would
0.05mV tosetup, 0.3nV/rtHz,
berequire
atfed during
100Hz straight much andwhile
the from
larger
listening
no less the
the RIAA equivalent
LM317/LM337
tests.
than caps
5mV Left, in
atthe theinput
20KHz. PGPpower
input current
amp,
Reason supply.
stage, noise
middle forUnder
but also
this was
top is
Ifmeasured
The
these youRIAA
directly
left,
the most
HPS under
circumstances,
recall common
paralleling
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correction HPS 5pA/rtHz,
moresolution
1.0
usedtopthe on
than right
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iscut
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ofSallen
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page,
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vinyl. isidealnot2nd
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linked order
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together) demanding
cell,
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aHPS built
issue
60dB around
Feedback
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gain MC is the
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a
atalmosthigh
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or1KHz,not, voltage
in between (having
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poor
the
the PSRR.
input
RIAA opamp,
a to
low
independent
Any
stage
amp impedances).
conserve
CD noise
player,becomes
gain the
coming
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will todynamic
be the Also
from
unstable.
bottom
80dB inputthe range.
the distortions
at(in signal/overload
powerblack)
100Hz Assuming
supply
HPS
and went 3.1,
only significantly
a
gets 18Hz
condition.
right
40dBamplified 3dB
VPI at TT. down
Thecorner
at the
20KHz. compared
current frequency,
output.
As you sources to
Evensee, HPS
such an
weand3.1.
agot cell
extremelythefrom will
shunt attenuate
quiet
the
12dB supply
regulators
power
beginning at 9Hz acan 40dB but
be unfortunately
will designed
still
dynamic haverange for itmuch
something affects
requirement. lower
like the820Hz to 10response
current, that is,noise;
nV/rtHz by150mA. almost under 1dB,
The which
input
these stage is clearly
circumstances, takesaudible.
DIYers
Lowering
about
even
HPS with
3.1 across
100mA, the
a local
addreeses the
corner
so there's world
allfrequency
RC complained
a 50mA
filter,
these willmargin
achieving
issues about
unfortunately
and severalnot
flowing
is0.3nV/rtHz
perhaps things:
the isprovide
through best first,
impossible theenough
RIAA the
power
preamp lack
(at ofever
attenuation
MOSFETs,
least silkbecausescreens
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large
Gerber
the most
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electrolitic
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Now, add files ofavailable
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measured
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manageable.
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actually Answer
for athe second
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running was
program LM317/LM337
low always
order myfilter
inenough
itself, that
system:and can't
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some provide
able use
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reserve silkscreens
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supply
forgroup
200mA
noise
vinyl the"pops" purpose
delay
current
voltage, (that ofrequired
usually
recovery keeping
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withby
(you the a the
don't PCB
to Holman's
much prototyping
OPA552,
want lower thework under
output
"pops" costs low.
overload
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published to clipWhile by the AES, I do
conditions,
Therefore,
amp the have
and audibility the
butthesilkscreen
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design
the clipping
threashold). series and
should
soldermask
regulators
provide
- 0.35nV/rtHz
recovery some the
impact files,average
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PSRR. input and on
This
noise them
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dissipation
is
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point BOMs)
istotominimal.
2SK170BL/2SJ74BL achieve
which to
thediscourage
by
dynamic using JFETs a"blind
range simple
straight ofcopies".
aRC from
RIAA I
cell
am
R12/C412.
the
amp expecting
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order be from
referring
matchinghuge.
filter theis prospective
or
Tubesboth sorting
required. opamp
are was builders
excellent; inputs
done;however
Fortunately, (inaa prototype
certain
AC)
the Sallen-Keytowethe level with
are ofsorted
positive
talkingskills
cell power solid
has andan
parts understanding
supply
state showed
extra here. rail, measured
degree theofof
Therefore, the
power freedom,
schematics,
The
supply
noise
there's
allowing shunt noise
downa trade allowing
regulators
addingto is0.28nV/rtHz)
now
between anouther toused
appearingcorrectly
the RC indynamicthe
on place
cell HPS
the the
opamp
atrange the4.2parts would
(aka
input, commonon the
certainly
"headroom")
and boards.
mode,deserve
providing and That's
being athe 3rd never
a
thereforeseparate
practical
order a huge rejected trouble
discussion,
passthrough
considerations
high for Filter
filter.
an
which
the
for unicate
opamp
building
realisability I'll bring build.
CMRR.
such up aThough,
criteria inThe
SS awon'tseparate
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amp. Iallow
know page,
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cascading least
timePSRR one thiscase
permitting. is
3rddown of
order a to
Although DIYer better
cell in that
they than
certaintook
are the
relatively
-50dB. time simple,
configurations, to create sobuilt his
the extra
own
around
-order
0.001% silkscreen
a high
comes total to design
speed
distortion
the price - congratulations!
opamp of and
20Hz-20KHz flexibility, a power but MOSFET, for our purpose there are it works a fewgreat. fine points Assuming about. a 16 First, Hz corner
the
Now,
Of frequency
frequency, we don't
course, itthe compensation:
really
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attenuate want toby I decided
build
translates
18dB at for
another in
8Hza the
complex
while TMCkeeping
maximum (Transient
Jungoutput regulator
the 20Hz Miller
swing Compensation,
toimpact feed
before the head Edmond
at clipping,
under amp. which
0.2-0.3dB. Also And
Secondly,
Stuart's
using
-the0.002%
translates groupa trademark)
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shunt
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a ismaximum compensation
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20mS. input enough,
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provides
interesting a significantly,
regulator relatively
to note has that to from
flat it isHPS
phase
deliver not up1.0
response to to700mA,
enough HPS ofto
4.2.
the
therefore
consider So did
control running
the the
loop; headroomperformance
this
verygreatly hot. at We but,
aenhances would
single ultimately,thetotransient
like
frequency. use how The a pairmuchresponse
headroom of complexity
inexpensive ofmay isLM317/LM337
the significantly really required
regulator. The vary unity without
monolithic
with loop the
affecting
gain
regulators.
-Here's
+/-0.1dB
frequency is the the
about key
That's
RIAA
(because
filter 3MHz performance
all the
matching
schematic. and
different RIAAtheIt metrics
isphasestages
stages
build as (noise,
margin
(built
maya separate dynamic
have is over
around range,
opamps
different
unit, 80having distortions,
degrees, with
frequency it's own high for power etc...)?
a 200mohm
PSRR,
responses) and therefore
supply output
being
(to providenot the
electrolytic.
critical
clipping
maximum whendoesn't it comes
flexibility) necessary and to noise, occur anyway)
allows in the output
swithcing need.thestage. However,
signal This
pathis avia LM317
in particular
the NEC regulator signalhas
important relays. a
when noise Due theofto the
Third,
several
head
-separate
better ampthe hundred
than fixed
concept
power -130dB gain
nV/rtHz.
supplyiscross of it60dB.
used, Even
talk
can as be itProspective
with
will
easily bea 50dB eventually
integrated builders
PSRR discussed
with areanis
this lookingstill
already below.toafter high
existing aforvariablean overall
RIAA gain0.3nV/rtHz
preamp. MC/MM
phono regulators
Shunt
design stage,
target.orTherefore, atrequire
least aaswitchable the pretty power ugly gain,
supplytrade to accomodate
between
noise hasstability toMM be or and high
filtered noise. output
out. While AMC cartridges
the stability
standard emitter as
well.
requires
follower
To
- +/- put22V a power
power
some HFnumbers compensation,
buffer supplies, (a.k.a.
in the the noise
capacitance
picture,
allowing aconsider
32dB requirements
multiplier) the HPS
dynamic does are a pretty
3.1
range/headroom. imposing
amp. good Thevery job,
outputThe low
however
preampvaluesthere's
swings at for
clips +/-20V the
atone
resistors
thing
20mVthat
peak and
input, initthethe forfeedback
can't a filter
gain gain is of out: loop.
60dB. 60dB Take
theTherefore,
emitter
@1KHz a look follower at the
the maximum schematic
Rbb. To allowedavoid below: that input contribution,
level before we clippingneed some is
Meet
sort
20mV ofthe local
peak. HPS feedback 5.x series.
20mV/0.5mV loop, =Itowill obtain
40, include
or a significant
32dB. hereThisonly islower the HPS HPS3.1 5.1, the
equivalent headroom. latestThis
Rbb. and Ofismost easily
course, advanced
achieved
what is
implementation.
byassumed
- 50uV usingoutput ain Sziklay
thisharmonicveryconfiguration
simple noise calculation for the
(mostly is60Hz emitter
that the andfollower.
max 20dB output Byisincluding
less +/-20V
3rd harmonic peak the at power
atall180Hz), devicethe
frequencies. in a
current
A greatfeedback
equivalent deal of 5nV of loop, design
harmonic it'seffort Rbb noise is
was effectively
voltageput inatproviding cancelled.
input. It's now
such a feature,the low as power it will device be eventually(which can
be
HPS a low
described 5.1 noise uses below. device)
the sameAs that aconcept dictates
rule, of flat
providingthe gain equivalent ahead combination Rbb since
amp of the ofHPSemiteer
high 3.1.gain follower.
However, and The thepower
high head dynamic buffer
amp
schematic
was
range/headroom
- Zero greatlycaps build around
simplified.
in the is signal
increasinglythis
In path aconceptsense, difficult,
(except (and
thefor andwith
circlethethe the closed;
optional parasitic
product the
cap ofelements
architecture
such,
at themultiplied preampincluded) is output).by isthe
back shown
toS/N, the below.
Less simple
can
than be It
is
Colins
considered
10mV only offset the Q2
design, as beforeRbb
but
a good with(a figure
the low
aoutput
few noise ofvery merit
cap device)
important
(the (orequivalent thatimprovements.
metric) contributes
forofRIAA 1uV amps. to theoffset,
input powergain supply at DC noise.
is 80dB. Divided by
the head amp PSRR, this contribution is negligible.
Now,
- Dualback mono to the architecture,distortions, I would certainly
completely separateagree signalthat paths, providing power0.01% supplies distortions
and mains for a
0.5mV
transformers. input by using an open loop design is very easy. Not so easy for 20mV, unless some
sort of degeneration is used (or a multi-tanh scheme for bipolars). Degeneration always adds
noise,
The HPS while 3.1 multi-tanh
architectureisisvery built difficult
around the to apply headamp in discreteconcept. designs The low (which noise input are stage currently is
unavoidable
now a pre-preamp for designs with a with flat frequencyunder 1nV/rtHz response, noise). set at As a again rule,of as 32dB, soonthat asfeeds the input the
approaches
distributed RIAA the thermal active stages voltage(built kT/q=26mV, around low the distortions
noise opamps). start increasing After muchexponentially. considerationIt Iis
certainly
decided that a challenge such a to design a 0.01%
construction shoulddistortion not include openany loopMC/MM gain stage, gain for all frequencies
switching and that(say a
20Hz-50KHz)
gain of 60dB and is allinput one levels wouldfrom need, 0.5mV eventofor 20mV the or lowest more.MC If you cartridgesconsiderlike thatthe some Ortophon. designs
are
60dBreusing gain would the same feed the input standard stage200mV for MMoutput cartridges to a preamp (with one for aorder 0.2mVofinput. magnitude Anyways, larger if
outputs,
more gain thereforeis required, a 200mV it is maximum not a big input) deal to thisrecalculate
becomes practically the passive impossible.
networks around the
opamp stages.
Therefore, the concept of head amp and the idea (actually not really new) to close a feedback
loop
I already around the low noise
mentioned that input one can stage, hardly are helping add more to linearize
than four theparallel input stage JFETs forto a wide the Colin range
of inputs.
architecture without risking to get a nice and expensive 100MHz and up oscillator. Adding
gate resistors would stop the oscillations, but would also add to the noise. So a new
architecture
Now, what's is the required;
price oftake using a looka head at the amp? headamp There's a pretty hefty price to pay, which comes
schematic.
exactly from the same dynamic range department. By its nature, a head amp has a constant
gain
Four across 2SK170BL/2SK74BL the entire audio each frequencies
are paralleled range. in The a symetrical headampconfiguration. gain can't be Each made branch to high, is
because
cascodeditbywould Q3/Q4 have (great thecare same was gain taken at here 20KHz, to avoid whereany thenoise inputinjection is 20dBfrom higher. the cascode True, the
fixed supply,
following RIAA a low stages noise will LM329, have -20dB extra decoupled gain at 20KHz, for a very but low there's corner the frequency).
risk that clipping A folded will
cascode
occur in stage the head follows amp, and before the current the output is converted stage clips. to anOTOH, outputthe voltage headby amp a high could voltage,not be
JFET input,
smaller than OPA552 20dB, because opamp.otherwise It is interesting the RIAA to stages remarknoise that couldn't in such be a configuration
neglected, and it the
is
essentially
head amp setting the noise the current S/N requirement that wouldwould affectbethe output Some
violated. noise; thinking, the inputand voltage somenoise algebra, is
effectively
would show shorted
that anbyoptimum the low is impedance
reached when at thethe opamp headinverting amp gain input.equals the required dynamic
range. From now on, all that needs to be determined is the supply voltage, to allow the
At the same
maximum required currentoutput node,swing. a lead-lag That'sfrequency the reason compensation
why in HPS3.1 (R17/C16) and HPS4.1 is provided the head to amp set
the unity
gain was set gain to frequency
40 (32dB), at equal about to the 1MHz. entire This, RIAAinamp combination headroom. with the lag compensation
provided by C13, provides a phase margin of about 80 degs. The open loop gain is
independent
Back to the feedback to R2/R23loop, (the for input stage load) being
a conventional resistive essentialy
feedback Gm*R16 network,where there's Gmalways is the a
JFET stage
noise impact.transconductance, Current feedbackorisabout the least 8*2*Id/Vt daunting, where Id is thethe
because drain current and
degeneration Vt is theto
(required
JFET pinch
linearize thevoltage. open loop As long characteristic) as the input canstage be made gain ispart larger of the than 1/3 the total
feedback network. gain In (set here
HPS3.1
at 40HPS4.0
and by the four feedback 1 ohmnetwork) resistorstheareR2/R23 providing impact on the output noise
degeneration/local feedback can (to be asafely noise
neglected. of 1/4~0.25ohm per stage). For a fixed gain of 40, the other feedback resistor (that
equivalent
does not directly impact the noise, because its noise equivalent is divided by the open loop
This configuration
gain) results 39ohm. allows a very small source resistor (here it's the equivalent of 0.5ohm, in
the final design it is 1.1ohm) but requires in turn a pretty high output current, to feed the
feedback
The outputnetwork. level atHence the head the amp selection will be of 0.5mV*40
OPA552, having = 20mVa at maximum 1KHz. Atoutput 20KHz current it will of be
200mA. 200mV. Add the headroom of 40 (32dB) and you'll find the worst case output level
maximum
as being not less than 8V. See how things are adding up? We started with on 0.5mV nominal
One disadvantage
signal and we got toofanusing 8V maximum a flat fixed output! gain pre-preamp is that this stage defines the high
frequency headroom. While at high frequency the RIAA stages have low gain, it is the front
end that
These 8Vlimits are fully the output dropping swing, on the and39ohm the limitation feedback is in the ability
resistor. Thisofmeans the opamp that the to head drive the amp
low to
has impedance
provide no feedback
less thannetwork. 200mA of After current mucho to be calculations
able to sustain and experimentingthis output level. (and Of here'scourse,
where
this is HPS an absolute 3.0 wasmaximum buried, if you rating, wondered the average about)current I determined and power that the input stage
dissipation will needs be much a
8V swing to conserve the low frequency headroom of 32dB (that is, a +/-20V swing at the
lower.
preamp output) defined by the output stage opamp. Which in turn leads to a feedback
network
Back to impedance
HPS4.1, bipolar of 40ohm devices and are an equivalent
quieter than source unipolar resistor (JFET of 1ohm. or MOSFET) devices. It is
well known though that bipolar devices have both significant equivalent input voltage and
The headamp
current noise, while employs in unipolar a servo, keeping
devices, at the leastDC forat RIAA the amps, output the to under input current 50uV. A noise good can low be
noise JFET
safely neglected. input opamp should be used here. The servo acts by adding/substracting current
from the folded cascode stage and fortunately, due to the relative independence of the output
noise to theaR2/R23
Obviously, bipolar impedance, head amp can this be barely designed affects to thehave totalmuch noise less as well. input equivalent voltage
noise than a JFET head amp. Also, as already mentioned, low noise bipolar devices are still
This being
widely available said, here's (and Ithe would HPSmention 3.0 boardhere levelthe schematicSanyo FBET (one channel devices,only). at par with the best
dedicated low noise devices ever made). What are the challenges of a bipolar head amp?
A 12 positions DIP switch is now used to switch the input impedance (6 resistors 10, 50, 100,
There500,
200, are 1k a few. andFirst, 6 C0G theceramic murky cartridge caps (yes, current.I can Ialready was unable hear to the find out any reference
grumbles, trust me, about they
whatexcellent)
are is the maximum 22, 47, DC100, current 220,allowed 330, 470pF). by a MC With cartridge, the DIP and what switches is theallimpact off, the on the input AC
performance.
impedance The automatic
defaults to 47k/0pF. answer is "zero current", unfortunately this is not really possible to
achieve in a bipolar implementation. Even in a complementary symmetrical design (like
HPS4.1),
The foldedbeta cascode mismatches fixed voltage will lead to a DC by
is provided currenta LM431 through parallel the regulator.
DC coupled These cartridge.
crittersI are was
ablefamous
not to bringforthis lowcurrent noise, to but0.5uA, R208 using and C203/C204 selected and arematched filtering the high noise betatodevices, a negligible but Ilevel. would
agree also
R208 this isdoes difficult the and job impractical
of avoidingtoloading target for theDIYers. LM431 output vith a capacitive load, which
may lead to oscillations.
Now, assuming the fear of DC current is based on permanently magnetizing the cartridge, an
input capmay
OPA552 of whatever look like quality an exotic won't component,help a iota. in fact As long it is not. as the It's cartridge
a high voltage/high impedancecurrent, is much
lowerspeed,
high than the JFET ampinput input impedance,
opamp, coming a in relatively
TO220,large in fullcurrent production pulsefrom will TI. flowYou anyway can get at thempower
up oryour
from in any distributor other transient of choice,conditions; for under $10. if anythingIt's rather bad difficultcan to happen,recommend it will ahappen replacement, with or
without aThe
though. $100 only teflon other isolation
combination cap, not that to Imention have experimented a leaky electrolytic. with, toItreplace appearsthe that, OPA522,like it or
not, we
was a regularhave toJFET live with input some low noise DC through opampthe cartridge.OPA827, OPA134) followed by a nigh
(OPA637,
voltage unity gain buffer like the National LME49600. Set aside the extra complexity, such a
Secondly, from
combination ends a noise up bing perspective,
more expensive; there's an the optimumLME49600 in thecosts collector well current over $10. of the Finally, low noise you
input settle
may stage. for aThis low voltage is Ic=Vt*SQRT(Beta)/Rsource.
high current JFET input opamp Assuming of yourVt=26mV, choice, butBeta=100 this will affect and
Rsource=10ohm,
the overall headroom. Ic=26mA and the base current is 260uA. At this levels, it is extremely difficult
to balance the input bias currents to under 1uA, by using component matching only. Of course,
it is two
The always following possible stages to use are an input bias
performing thecurrent distributed cancelling RIAA active technique, correction but itand canproviding be easily
proven
the extrafrom gainthermodynamic
up to 60dB at 1KHz. considerations R207 andthat C215 input adds bias thecurrent extra 50KHz cancellation pole. can't be done
without a noise penalty.
R202/R240 and R213/R226 should be 1W/50ppm metal film or metal foil resistors. The
Third, the
number input impedance
of electrolytic caps istrade-off. pretty large, Input butimpedancenone of them canisbe really made in the quite signal high, path; by they using
negative
all have decoupling feedback, and/or roles. emitter Any good followers qualityatmodels the input. canIt be is not used, a huge I amdifficulty personally to bring like the it in
the 47kohm105
Panasonic range, degs/3000 which hours seemsseries. to be the standard for high input impedance. However, the
input bias current is biting us again. If we use a 47k input resistor to the ground, the input offset
You
voltage don't (that need cannot to match be cancelled or sort the byJFETs.a similar It doesn't
resistor matter on the for inverting noise anyway input, because and thethat servo has
takes
to be low careasofpart the of offset.
the feedback You neednetwork, the BL series see above) (6...12mA can easily Idss) reach but any 500mV parts (50k*10uA),
straight fromin
the
particulartubes will overdoajust large fine. range of temperatures. 500mV*40=20V output and our head amp is
dead in the water. No servo could compensate such a huge offset. For a 1ohm feedback
The
resistor, HPSa 3.1 DC power blocking supply cap should is located have onathe huge same value, board certainly and isnot thepractical.
same Jung regulator but
series regulators are now power MOSFETs. You can replace them with any darlingtons in TO
220
What's without left isany providing other changes. an extra degree Also, toofincrease flexibility, toby open adjusting loop gain, the current the current balance sources by using vere a
defined
multiturnusing pot. The a pair servo of high will balance voltagethe JFETs. output, They while don't the need pot will to cance be in the particular input bias of very current. low
noise, essentially any 50V JFETs will do. You can of course replace them with resistors as in
the
In the originalHPS4.1 Jung head schematic,
amp schematic, with a slight to provide penalty thein47Kohm the output input impedance.
impedance, Here'sthe input the HPS stage
is
3.0anpower emitter supply follower. board Four level low noise devices are running at about 13mA each. The input bias
schematic.
current can be cancelled by RV204 to under 50nA, posing no risk to the MC cartridge. The
next
Everything four low noise devices,
mentined so far double is placed cascoded,
on the same and the board. OPA552 You opamp can download are providing the HPS the open 3.1
loop
boardgain Gerbers (about here. 150dB at LF). A current feedback loop is closed for a gain of 32dB. The
currents in the paralleled low noise devices are balanced by 2.2 ohm emitter resistors. From
and
Here's ACa picture perspective, of the they HPS are in parallel as
3.1 assembled board. well, so they don't impact the noise (0.54ohm
(follower) + 0.54ohm (gain stage) is negligible).

The rest of the amp (including the power supply) is identical to HPS3.1 (including the
Neumann 50KHz pole; if you don't like it, just don't install the cap).

These are the Gerbers for the entire HPS4.1 construction (signal chain plus the Jung

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Low Noise Design Schematics http://www.synaesthesia.ca/LNschematics.html

regulators, schematics are both for one channel only).

I decided to build a PCB for the raw power supply (the same as for HPS3.1) and the Gerbers
are here.

From a construction perspective, there are a few changes. The head amp layout is improved,
leading to a better hum performance compared to HPS3.1 The board is slightly larger, because
some board level heatsinks were added (otherwise, the input stage, the current sources, the
gain stages are running pretty hot, affecting the overall noise performance).

Nothing special on the passive devices side; good quality Vishay metal film resistors (RC55)
and polypropilene caps (sorted to better than 1%) are used. Good news about the
complementary low noise devices. Due to technology involved (ion implantation) these devices
have remarkably good matched beta across a tube. This, and the 2.2ohm degeneration makes
matching devices of the same type pretty much a moot point. Provided you are using N/P
devices in the same beta class, there's no need to match beta between N and P devices as
well; RV204 will balance the currents amd cancel the input bias current for you.

Once the construction is ready, adjust RV204 for <1mV input voltage (with all switches open,
so across the default 47Kohm resistor) and check the head amp output at the test point - it
should be zero. The output DC voltage (before the output cap) should be <100mV.

No further adjustments are required. This will provide an input bias current of about 20nA and
even with the temperature variations it will never exceed 50nA. Compare this with 20-30uA of
input bias current running behind the scenes in your cartridge, in some well regarded phono
stages (and how conveniently they miss specifying this important parameter).

Here's a picture of the assembled HPS4.1 board.

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