UBC-01 Audio Balanced Driver - Unbalanced to Balanced

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UBC01 is a converter for an unbalanced signal to balanced. The major function is established by a DRV134/135. This design is very well suited for connecting two power amplifiers in bridge mode.

Interesting features

  1. 2-layer pcb with 35 um copper.
  2. Gold pads.
  3. Extremely low distortion.
  4. High common mode output impedance.
  5. Low and adjustable differential mode output impedance.
  6. Option for DIL08 or SO08 DRV134/135 .
  7. Several types of input coupling capacitors, high performance RIFA PHE426 polypropylene or 5 mm/ 0.2" caps such as polyester or other types with the same footprint, or some other type with pin spacing from 15 to 27.5 mm.
  8. On-board regulators of LM317/337 type
  9. Discrete regulators for using higher voltage than the max supply voltage of the LM317/337.


DRV134 driver

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Background

There has has been a demand for using the DRV134 for connecting two amplifiers together in a bridge configuration. You could of course use a plain opamp configured in inverting mode but you could also use an integrated circuit for this. The advantage is a precision balanced signal with high common mode output impedance accomplished with an integrated solution with laser trimmed resistors.

 


 

The design

Input coupling capacitor

The design is based on the datasheet of the DRV134/DRV135. The input may go via a coupling capacitor and the pcb has room for lot's of different kinds of caps. The input impedance of the DRV134 is exactly 10 kohms and you don't have to have any pulldown resistors since the inside of the DRV134 consists of inverting opamps where the input bias currents will go from the output via feedback resistors.

 

The driver board with LM317/337 regulators. The driver board with discrete regulators.

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The common mode output impedance

The DRV134 has two sensing inputs and they are for creating a high common mode output impedance which is essential for balanced signals. Texas Instruments recomends unpolarized caps for this if you also have offsets in the signal. If you have control over the situation you can short the caps with the a tin blob at the solder side.

The output impedance

The output impedance is set to 50 ohms by internal resistors but can be tuned to anything, therefore there is room for external resistors for setting the output impedance. If you not want to use those, just short them on the solder side.

DIL08 vs. SO08

The pcb has two footprints, one for DRV134 which comes in DIL08 package, holemounted and SO08 which will fit the DRV135 which is the SMD version of the DRv134. The are indentical except for thermal properties.

The power supply

The pcb has two types of power supplies. In most cases the LM317/LM337 based power supply will do. Max input voltage will be approx. 50 V DC unless you use the HV version which will manage 65 V at least. If you of some reason want to use the amplifier supply voltage the other regulator can handle 80-100 V depending of used parts. This regulator is built with a constant current source feeding an zener diode of 15 volts. This reference voltage is fed into an emitter follower formed by a TO92 or TO220 transistor. The LED's are shining rather weak because they are biased with 2.7 mA and the purpose is that they create a 1.6 V for the current generation.

Hum problems

You should pay attention not to create ground loops and by that induce hum. In some cases it may be necessary to let this driver have a separate transformer. If you are going to get hum or not can be hard to tell but feeding this pcb from a separate power supply is a safe way to succeed but you may get a hum free installation using the raw voltage from the power amp.


Build directions

The pcb with LM317 and LM337 regulators

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This pcb is pretty simple to solder. You just have to place the parts in their right locations and it may be practical to start with small parts first. Check carefully which parts you will use for each configuration. If you'll prefer SMD caps you could use 0805 XR7 types. C7 and C8 isn't always necessary. See the datasheet for more info.

You could wait with mounting the DRV134 until you have tested the regulators.

The pcb with discrete regulators

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This pcb is pretty simple to solder. You just have to place the parts in their right locations and it may be practical to start with small parts first. Check carefully which parts you will use for each configuration. The LED's could be tricky to polarize right but the long leg is plus. If you'll prefer SMD caps you could use 0805 XR7 types. C7 and C8 isn't always necessary. See the datasheet for more info.

You could wait with mounting the DRV134 until you have tested the regulators.


Test

The DRV134 unmounted

Apply voltage to the X4 connector. Notice the connection of the X4, see above!

  • Measure the voltage between ground and pin 6 of the N1, should be around +15 V.
  • Measure the voltage between ground and pin 5 of the N1, should be around -15 V.


Solder the DRV134. Apply voltage again and check the output voltage which should be a few millivolts.


Technical data

For detailed data, see the datasheet for DRV134, DRV135.

Output voltage: 17Vrms into 600Ω
Distortion: 0.0005% at f = 1kHz 
S/N: 125 dB
Supply voltage: Max 50 V Min 4 volts more than the stabilized voltage.
Current consumption: 20 mA.
Dimensions: 76 x 63 mm, 3.00 x 2.48 inch