Balanced Microphone Preamplifier Circuit

In this post we learn about a simple Hi-Fi balanced microphone preamplifier circuit and also evaluate the calculations, specifications of the design through formulas.

What is a Balanced Preamplifier

A "balanced" amplifier or differential amplifier possesses not one but two distinct inputs and only the difference amongst these inputs is actually amplified.

To elucidate just how this performs please see the diagram that indicates a basic version of a balanced microphone preamplifier circuit. To help make the calculation less difficult we are going to cut down the gain to 9 simply by doing Rl = R4 = and R5 = Rl l = 9.

Circuit Diagram

Typically the units aren't critical. just the proportions are. We are going to commence the justification by exploring the situation wherein input with R1 is at 0V and input with R4 is at + l00mV.

How the Circuits Works

An perfect amplifier will do a couple of stuffs - it will not take virtually any current into the input pins and it keep the output unaffected regardless of any voltage variations at the input pins.

We therefore will need to have 100mV through R4 and therefore a voltage of 900mV around R11 (it possesses 9 times the resistance and the exact same current like R4). This offers us a gain of nine. The output is for that reason -900mV. In the circumstance any time point A reaches 0V and point B is in +100mV. point D is going to be at

VB x R5/(R1 + R9) = 90mV

As a result point C will in addition be at +90mV. The voltage around R4 will probably be 90mV and voltage around Rl is going to be 810mV (9 x 90mV).

This implies the output voltage ought to be +900mV. Also this is with gain of nine. Observe even so that the polarity (or phase) is not equal. At this point imagine both inputs are at say + 1V, point D will probably be at +900mV and thus will point C.

The voltage through R4 is l00mV and R11 900mV This provides an output voltage of (1V The common signal is just not amplified by any means In case however, one input (B) reaches IV and the other (A) was at l.0lV the difference is amplified and the output will probably be -lV.

Returning to the specific circuit, we have employed an LM301A with a pair of low-noise transistors in the front stage.

These transistors come with a constant current through Q3 and Q4. A constant current is necessary because enables the inputs to increase and down without transforming the voltage around R6 or R7

The resistor R2 and R3 relate the inputs to UV are usually high enough never to impact the functioning in the slightest

Parts List for Balanced Microphone Pre-Amplifier Circuit

• R1, R4 = 330
• R2,R3, R6, R7, R8 = 10K
• R5 = 33K
• R9 = 3K3
• R10, R11 = 33K
• R12 = 1K
• C1 = 1nF C2,
• C3 = 33uF/25V
• C4, C7 = 10uF/25V
• C5 = 33pF
• C6 = 100nF
• Q1, Q4 = BC109C
• IC1 = LM301A

Technical Specifications:

Frequency Response: 10Hz - 20kHz (<5V output) +0/ -3dB
Gain: 40dB
Equivalent Input Noise: -123dB (0.5uV)
Distortion: 0.05%, 300mV - 5V output, 100Hz - 10kHz
Max Input Voltage: 100mV
Common Mode Rejection Ratio: 60dB
Maximum Common Mode Signal: 3V

About the Author

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 to help!