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I'm designing a guitar headphone amplifier that uses a single supply op-amp as the output stage to the headphones. I'm using a potentiometer after the final JFET stage and before the op-amps as a volume control (so that I can keep the overdrive tone from the final JFET stage).

Schematic

The part I'm unsure about is the C9/RV3/C14 part of the schematic. I've used C9 to block DC (from the JFET bias) to avoid potentiometer crackle, and C14 blocks DC to the inputs of the op-amps.

My question is, can I connect pin 1 of the potentiometer to V_gnd (currently connected to DC GND) and omit C14? If that's the case, does R14 stay connected, or does RV3's V_Gnd connection suffice as a reference for the op-amps? If RV3's connection alone is relied on, I'm worried that the changing resistance between the op-amp and V_gnd voltage divider will cause instability, but having both C9 and C14 seems superfluous.

Also, is DC GND the best point to connect C15 and C16, or would connecting them to V_gnd be beneficial?

Thanks!

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    \$\begingroup\$ Your circuits now look correct, you do not need to change anything. Without C14 RV3 at "low setting" will affect the op-amp DC voltage (RV3 will load V_gnd). And Yes C5 and C16 should be connected to the DC GND. \$\endgroup\$
    – G36
    Dec 5, 2018 at 16:41
  • \$\begingroup\$ And why C10 ony 1µF? \$\endgroup\$
    – G36
    Dec 5, 2018 at 16:50
  • \$\begingroup\$ @G36 Thanks! That's a relief. C10 must be a typo - all the other big values are 10u. \$\endgroup\$ Dec 5, 2018 at 16:53
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    \$\begingroup\$ @G36 I don't think RV3 will load V_gnd at "low setting" because there is no DC current through RV3, except the input bias current of U1A and U1B. \$\endgroup\$
    – DavidG25
    Dec 12, 2018 at 19:36
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    \$\begingroup\$ @G36 OP’s question is if he can remove C14 and connect pin 1 to V_gnd. \$\endgroup\$
    – DavidG25
    Dec 12, 2018 at 21:10

1 Answer 1

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can I connect pin 1 of the potentiometer to V_gnd (currently connected to DC GND) and omit C14?

Yes. The DC level of the non-inverting input will be at mid-supply (V_gnd), and that should be within the common mode input range of U1A and U1B. The volume control should be unchanged, because V_gnd is effectively an AC ground due to the large decoupling capacitors C10 and C11.

If that's the case, does R14 stay connected, or does RV3's V_Gnd connection suffice as a reference for the op-amps?

R14 should be removed, as it will affect your volume control. It would be in parallel with pins 1 and 2 of the potentiometer.

If RV3's connection alone is relied on, I'm worried that the changing resistance between the op-amp and V_gnd voltage divider will cause instability

Pin 3 of the potentiometer is not connected to any DC voltage, so the common mode voltage of U1A and U1B will be V_gnd no matter what the potentiometer setting will be. The one thing to watch out for is the input bias current of U1A and U1B. The common mode voltage will change with the potentiometer setting if the input bias current is large. I wouldn't imagine the input bias current would be so large that it would move the common mode voltage outside of the common mode input range.

The resistance to ground at the non-inverting input also has no effect on the amplifier's stability because there is no feedback to the non-inverting input.

Also, is DC GND the best point to connect C15 and C16, or would connecting them to V_gnd be beneficial?

I don't think it matters if C15/16 are connected to DC GND or V_gnd, since both of those nodes are effectively AC ground. If there is a difference connecting them to DC GND or V_gnd, just increase the decoupling capacitance (C10/11).

Lastly, if U1A and U1B have a lot of current noise, different volume settings will have different amounts of noise since the source impedance to U1A and U1B will be changing. Consider picking op amps with low current noise.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Thanks! I've received PCBs and built one and it works well with low impedance sources (I don't have a guitar to test it with), but if I can reduce the component count that's always good. There's also a little bit of hiss, but I think that's coming from the high impedance input, because it's present across all stages. \$\endgroup\$ Dec 13, 2018 at 11:27
  • \$\begingroup\$ @JoeofLoath nice. Why do you need 2 pots “gain” and “volume”? \$\endgroup\$
    – DavidG25
    Dec 13, 2018 at 19:53
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    \$\begingroup\$ gain controls overdrive into the final JFET stage, and volume controls listening volume through the op amp. By balancing them you can get both the overdrive tone and listening volume you require. \$\endgroup\$ Dec 14, 2018 at 9:39
  • \$\begingroup\$ Simply removing R14 isn't a good idea, the non-inverting inputs wouldn't have a DC path to "ground" (in this case R14 should be returned to a bias voltage at half the positive supply.) Op-amp inputs always need a DC path to a well-defined voltage, ground, or the output terminal they can't just be left floating. \$\endgroup\$
    – MattyZ
    May 28, 2019 at 0:59
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    \$\begingroup\$ @Bitrex OP isn’t asking to remove only R14, but to remove R14 and C14. The op amps have a DC path to ground through the pot RV3. \$\endgroup\$
    – DavidG25
    Jun 4, 2019 at 15:55

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