Symasym5, is a "cute" power amplifier, designed with quality but still low price in mind. This resulted in a ClassAB BJT amplifier, using only TO92 transistors for input and VAS, with a reasonable part count. The topology used is well known and consist of a single diffamp for input, plus a 2nd diffamp with current mirror for VAS. This is followed by normal darlington EF outputstage using modern high beta devices. The circuit uses large amounts of feedback over the whole audioband and an unconventional feedback compensation scheme.Important update:
Right now symasym is designed to be driven directly from a CD/DVD-player, simply place a 22k poslog stereo pot between player and symasym. (as voltage divider)
There is an issue with substituting the MJLs by the Toshiba sc5200/sa1943. Without further modification symasym starts to oscillate when using these devices, resulting in a dull and flat sound !Some specs:
Please check Pavels site for more details and what to change with these devices.
The at least change is to reduce C14 from 22pF to 10pF, but i recommend to follow Pavel's advice.
I recommend C14 with 10pF also for MJLs, this increases safety margin.
Another update are the resistors R31/32 to be increased from 22ohm to 47ohm.Do not forget to read Pavel's Review! A very promising evaluation of the qualities to be expected from symasym. Thanks Pavel !
Symasym5_3 is an update of v5.2, with an improved board layout concerning power gnd, resulting in lower thd for high frequencies, giving more clarity in sound. Here is the Page for symasym5_3.
- THD: ~0.005% (measured) sim'd: 0.002%
- Power into 8ohm: 60 watts
- Power into 4ohm: 100 watts
- Gain: 32dB (~1:40) full output at 0.7v input (0.5v rms)
- Feedback: 57dB
- Phase margin: > 90°
- Supply voltage: +/- 36v
- Biasing: 55ma, 12.1mv across a single 0.22 ohm
- Measurings: RMAA Symasym5_2 The measurings itself are far from perfect, but give a good idea !
- Frequency response: 3.2hz to 145khz (-1db) using 4.7uf input cap
- Phaseshift at 10khz: <3°
- More will follow !
Incredible of course !
The most outrageous characteristics are great dynamics, very tight and controlled bass, surprisingly detailed sound, uncolorized and an incredible soundstage !
Also, no turn on/off thump is recognizable. Voice-imaging is stunning, like touchable, perfectly understandable.
Sounding is pleasant, not bright/false trebles, nearly soft but very transparent.
Symasym does not prefer special kind of music, it plays well with all kind of signals music or dvd...
Schematic from Eagle, having device numbers:
The files for making boards:
Eagle board files: Eagle 4.15 Board files download (zipped) 36kb
File for printout: 600dpi Symasym5 monochrome bitmap (zipped) 48kb
The upper layer is misused for showing the wire jumpers !Image for placing parts (quasi silk screen):
Not the very latest version, but a good guide:
The heatsink is too small for long time high power, i recommend at least double the size !
Recommended parts:
All resistors are standard metal film 250mW except: R1/3/4/7, these are 2W metal film, and the 0.22ohm beeing 5W.Parts list:
Around R7 is wounded a 0.6mm isolated (enamelled) copper wire forming the output coil.
For c19 i used 470uf/16v, all other electrolytics 63v. The 22/100/330pF should be mica-caps.
The 100nf and 47nf is recommended to be Wima MKS2, also for C1 i suggest Wima MKS2, 4.7uf is enough.
For Trimpot i use a Piher. The MPSA18 can be substituted by BC550C, for all other parts i do not recommend changes, especially the feedback network should be kept unchanged, feedback compensation is very delicate for this circuit !Be careful when substituting the MPSA18 with BC550C, the pinout is reversed between these 2 transistors !!!
Transistors: Device Qty Value Notes Q1,Q2 2 MPSA18 can be substituted by BC550C (pins reversed !) Q7,Q8 2 BC546B or 2n5551 (pins reversed !) Q3,Q9 2 2N5551 OnSemi/Fairchild/Philips Q4,Q5,Q12 3 2N5401 OnSemi/Fairchild/Philips T1 1 BD139 or bd135, bd135-16 U$5 1 MJE15030 OnSemi U$6 1 MJE15031 OnSemi U$3 1 MJL3281A OnSemi U$4 1 MJL1302A OnSemi
Capacitors: Device Qty Value Notes C14 1 10pF (has been 22pF) Mica C2,C7 2 100pF Mica C3,C4 2 330pF Mica C18 1 47nF Wima MKS2 C5, C6, C10, C11, C16, C17, C20 7 100nF Wima MKS2 C1 1 10uF (4.7uF also fits) Wima MKS2 C8,C9 2 100uF Electrolytic 63v (at least 40v) C19 1 470uF Electrolytic 16v C12,C13 2 1000uF Electrolytic 63v (at least 40v)
Hot fixes:
Resistors: Device Qty Value Notes R27,R28 2 0R22 5Watts R1, R3 2 1R2 2Watts metal film R4 1 4R7 2Watts metal film R7 1 10 2Watts metal film R2 1 10 250mW metal film R8, R9 2 22 250mW metal film R31, R32 2 47 (has been 22) 250mW metal film R26 1 33 250mW metal film R10 1 68 250mW metal film R15,R17 2 150 250mW metal film R11 1 220 250mW metal film R24,R30 2 499 (or 500) 250mW metal film R5,R6 2 680 250mW metal film R13,R23 2 2k 250mW metal film R12,R14,R29 3 22k 250mW metal film R18,R20 2 47k 250mW metal film R22 1 1k pot Piher, small
Miscellaneous: Device Qty Value Notes F1,F2 2 2.5T Fuse Slow blow F1,F2 2 --- Fuse holder L1 1 --- 0.6mm isolated (enamelled) copper wire wounded around R7 forming the output coil.
Interesting:Placing a short thick wire connecting the ground pins of the supply caps reduces THD:
Square wave
response ~11khz:
Symasym5
biasing: (for debugging)
Older versions:
Symasym4, the first published one, using slightly different feedbackcompensation: SchematicContact:
I gave up symasym4, as symasym5 has a slightly more relaxed sound.
Symasym5, not having the 10ohms between signal gnd and power gnd: Schematic
If you have questions or suggestions contact me: michael at synetic dot deDisclaimer:
Don't forget to visit: DIY-Audio Forum My username is "MikeB" The thread for Symasym
And also visit: Synetic, the Funfactory My occupation...
And my best friend and web hoster: Lars Franke
Pavels Audio page
Work done by Michael Bittner, additional help from Greg Erskine and Pavel Macura. Not to forget "Carlos E. B. Mergulhão"
for pushing this project, testing, evaluating and PR ! Many thanks to you !Authorized for use by any private hobbyist, commercial use / profit unauthorized !
Have fun !
