Electronic Circuits and Diagram-Electronics Projects and Design

50 watt audio amplifier.

LM3876 is a high performance audio power amplifier IC from National Semiconductors. The LM3876 can deliver 50watts of output power into an 8 ohm loudspeaker. LM3876 has excellent signal to noise ratio and has wide supply voltage range. Other features of LM3876 are output to ground short circuit protection, input mute function, and output over voltage protection, etc. Applications of LM3876 are component stereo, compact stereo, surround systems, self powered speakers, etc.

Description.

The 50 watt audio amplifier  circuit shown below is designed based on the application diagram from the data sheet of LM3876. Some modifications are made on the original circuit for improving the performance. The bipolar electrolytic capacitor C7 is the input DC decoupling capacitor. R4 is the input resistance. R2 & R1 and bipolar electrolytic capacitor C5 forms a feedback circuit. C2, C1 are filter/by-pass capacitors for the positive supply rail. C4 & C3 are the filters/by-pass capacitors for the negative supply rail. The feedback resistor R2 sets the gain of the amplifier. L1 provides high impedance at high frequencies so that R7 may decouple capacitive loads. R3 is the mute resistance which allows 0.5mA to be drawn from pin8 to turn the mute function OFF. S1 is the mute switch. Resistor R6 and capacitor C8 forms a Zobel network which improves the high frequency stability of the amplifier and prevents oscillations.

Circuit diagram.

LM3876 50watt audio amplifier

Notes.

• The LM3876 can be operated from a supply voltage range of +/-12V to +/-49V DC.
• I recommend +/-35V DC for powering the IC.
• LM3876 requires a proper heat sink.
• Quiescent current of LM3876 is around 70mA