Clipping Class AB Amplifier output

Audioguru again

Joined Oct 21, 2019
6,692
Since the output power is more than before then the currents from the driver transistors also must be higher, and the currents from their drivers must also be higher.
 

Ian0

Joined Aug 7, 2020
9,817
Again, I disagree. Sziklai pairs have a tendency to oscillate. Darlingtons tend to be more stable. On a 55V supply the difference is less than 0.1dB. The common emitter configuration of the output transistor makes it slow to turn off, so that cross conduction is more likely than with a Darlington.
 

Audioguru again

Joined Oct 21, 2019
6,692
Your positive peaks are clipped because the NPN and PNP driver transistors do not have enough hFE and do not have matched hFE. The PNP KSA1381 has a much higher range of hFE than the NPN KFC3503DS.
It doesn't matter because the difference in output level between low distortion and that clipping is very small.
 

Ian0

Joined Aug 7, 2020
9,817
Your positive peaks are clipped because the NPN and PNP driver transistors do not have enough hFE and do not have matched hFE. The PNP KSA1381 has a much higher range of hFE than the NPN KFC3503DS.
It doesn't matter because the difference in output level between low distortion and that clipping is very small.
Agreed. Also, there is an extra Vbe loss in the top circuit than in the bottom.
If you added a current limiter in the bottom driver (because otherwise there is only the 10Ω resistor and the transistor Hfe limiting the driver current when driven into clipping) then they would be more-or-less symmetrical - after you have dealt the @Audioguru again 's point above.
 
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