This quad final amplifier is actually intended to be used in a car, but
it can naturally also be used for a variety of other medium-power
applications. The TDA7375A can be successfully used in all situations in
which a reasonable amount of audio power is desired and only a
relatively low supply voltage is available. This IC is the successor to
the TDA7374B, which forms the heart of the active loudspeaker system
described earlier this year. Such a quad IC amplifier is naturally an
excellent choice for this application, especially since the individual
amplifiers can be connected in pairs in the bridge configuration, which
allows them to provide approximately four times as much power.
In addition, all inputs have RC networks (R1/C1, etc.) to block possible
RF interference. The function of R6 is to separate the grounds of the
input and output stages, in order to avoid possible ground loops that
might arise with the use of multiple modules. A 5-W type is used for
this resistor, in order to prevent it from going up in smoke if the
ground connection of the power supply comes loose. C10 decouples the
internal voltage divider, which biases the internal amplifier stages to
half of the supply voltage. RC network R5/C9 provides a delayed,
plop-free switch-on.
C15 and C16 are local bypass capacitors for the supply voltage. The
power supply ripple rejection of the TDA7375A is approximately 50 dB. If
you want to use only a transformer, bridge rectifier and smoothing
capacitor for the power supply, the minimum requirement is a transformer
rated at 12 V / 30 VA in combination with a 10,000-µF electrolytic
capacitor (remember that the maximum allowable supply voltage is 18 V).
One of the few drawbacks of this quad amplifier is that two of the
channels are inverted with respect to the other two. For this reason,
the polarity of each loudspeaker terminal is marked on the circuit board
layout (e.g., +LS1 and –LS4) to indicate which terminal of the
loudspeaker should be connected where.
Radial electrolytic capacitors rated at 3300µF/16V and having a
diameter of only 12 mm are used for the output capacitors, which allows
the circuit board to remain relatively compact. Our preferred type of
electrolytic capacitor is a member of the Rubycon ZL series, which can
handle no less than 3.4 A of ripple current. The maximum current
consumption of the circuit with all four channels driven to the clipping
level (with 4-Ω loads) is approximately 2.1 A. The TDA7375A can also be
used with 2-Ω loads. However, in this case the internal temperature
rises considerably, since the Multiwatt 15V package has a rather large
thermal impedance of 1.8 ºC/W.
In the interest of the service life of the IC, it is thus a good
idea to use a somewhat larger heat sink. A 4 A/T fuse has been selected
in consideration of possible 2-Ω operation. If you limit the load to 4
Ω, the fuse value can be reduced to 2 A/T. The output terminals of the
amplifiers can be found on the circuit board next to the associated
electrolytic capacitors. The related ground connections for LS1 and LS2
are located next to the LS1 and LS2 terminals, but the ground
connections for LS3 and LS4 are located on the left, next to the IC,
since this gives the best current paths on the circuit board and the
least distortion. Vertical car connectors (spade terminals) are used for
the power supply connections.
Resistors:
R1-R4 = 100Ω
R5 = 10kΩ
R6 = 0Ω1, 5W
P1-P4 = 10 k preset
Capacitors:
C1,C3,C5,C7 = 15nF
C2,C4,C6,C8 = 220nF
C9 = 10µF 63V radial
C10 = 47µF 25V radial
C11-C14 = 3300µF 16V
C15 = 100nF
C16 = 1000µF 25V radial, max. diameter 13mm
Semiconductors:
IC1 = TDA7375A (ST)
Miscellaneous:
F1 = fuse, 4A/T (time lag), with
PCB mount holder 2 fast-on (spade) terminal, male, vertical, solder type (2-pin version)
Measurement results
Supply voltage = 14.4 V
Quiescent current = 100 mA
Pmax. (0.1%
THD) = 4 × 5.3 W/ 4Ω
Input sensitivity = (5.2 W/4 Ω) 0.5 V
THD+N (B = 80 kHz, 1 kHz 1W/4 Ω) = < 0.04 % Bandwidth = 28 Hz to 55 kHz
100W Quad Car Amplifier circuits.
