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Overshoot and Ringing in Tube Amplifiers--Causes, Detection (Square-Wave Test), and Practical Adjustment Methods
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posted by Vincent Zhang
Published by IWISTAO
Introduction
In tube amplifiers, overshoot and ringing are common distortion or instability phenomena.
They are typically caused by excessive feedback gain or deficiencies in output transformer design. These issues can be effectively addressed through precise adjustments focusing on optimizing the feedback loop, gain structure, and output transformer behavior.
The sections below provide a detailed, practical guide for diagnosing and resolving overshoot and ringing during tube-amplifier debugging, using a square-wave test and oscilloscope observation.
Test Method (Recommended):
Apply a square-wave signal (for example, 1 kHz) to the amplifier input and observe the output waveform on an oscilloscope across a proper dummy load.
1. Overshoot Adjustment
1.1 Identifying Overshoot
Apply a square-wave signal (for example, 1 kHz) and observe the output waveform on an oscilloscope:
- Overshoot appears as a sharp “spike” or peak at the top of the waveform, where the signal exceeds the ideal flat level.
- Overshoot usually occurs during the high-level portion of the waveform, indicating that the amplifier gain is too high or that the feedback loop is responding too aggressively.
1.2 Cause Analysis
- Excessive feedback gain: When feedback gain is too high, the amplifier overreacts to rapid signal changes, causing transient over-amplification and overshoot at the waveform edges.
- Driver stage issues: If the gain of the driver or preamplifier stage is too high, the power stage may be overdriven, especially when the input signal amplitude is excessive.
- Power supply instability: Poor power-supply regulation or inadequate filtering can introduce voltage lag or fluctuations, which can exacerbate overshoot behavior.
1.3 Adjustment Procedure
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Reduce feedback gain: Inspect the feedback loop and reduce the amount of feedback if necessary. Lower feedback gain slows the amplifier’s transient response and often eliminates overshoot.
- Global negative feedback: slightly reducing the feedback ratio is often effective.
- Local feedback: ensure that resistor and capacitor values are correctly chosen to avoid excessive high-frequency gain.
- Optimize driver-stage gain: If overshoot originates from excessive driver gain, adjust the driver stage to reduce signal amplitude and prevent the output stage from being pushed beyond its linear region.
- Check power-supply stability: Verify that the B+ supply remains stable under load. Improving filtering—such as increasing reservoir capacitance within safe limits—can help reduce overshoot.
- Add or adjust feedback resistors: Introducing small resistors in the feedback path (typically in the 1 kΩ to 10 kΩ range, depending on design) can help smooth the feedback response and suppress overshoot.
2. Ringing Adjustment
2.1 Identifying Ringing
Ringing is typically visible at the rising and falling edges of a square-wave signal:
- Ringing appears as oscillations or “echoes” following the waveform transitions.
- Instead of a clean, instantaneous edge, the waveform shows several cycles of damped oscillation.
2.2 Cause Analysis
- Output transformer design limitations: If the output transformer lacks sufficient bandwidth or approaches magnetic saturation, frequency response becomes uneven, leading to ringing during fast signal transitions.
- Compensation network issues: Tube amplifiers often include compensation networks to stabilize high-frequency response. Incorrect capacitor values or time constants can result in excessive high-frequency resonance, producing ringing.
- Poor circuit layout: Suboptimal wiring, grounding, or lead dress can introduce parasitic capacitance and inductance, contributing to high-frequency instability and ringing.
2.3 Adjustment Procedure
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Evaluate the output transformer: If ringing is prominent at waveform edges, examine whether the output transformer provides adequate bandwidth.
- Use a high-quality transformer with appropriate low- and high-frequency performance.
- Ensure the core does not saturate under normal operating conditions.
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Adjust compensation networks: If ringing originates from compensation circuits, experiment with compensation capacitor values and time constants.
- Reducing compensation capacitance or adjusting associated resistors can rebalance high-frequency response and suppress oscillations.
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Improve circuit layout: Keep signal paths short and direct to minimize parasitic effects.
- Use low-impedance grounding techniques.
- Avoid ground loops and maintain proper separation between signal and power paths.
- Add high-frequency damping: Small high-frequency suppression capacitors (for example, 100 pF to 1 nF, depending on design) at appropriate locations can help smooth high-frequency components and reduce ringing.
3. Summary
- Overshoot is mainly caused by excessive feedback gain, overly high driver-stage gain, or unstable power supplies. It can be mitigated by reducing feedback, optimizing gain structure, and improving power-supply stability.
- Ringing is typically caused by output transformer limitations or improper compensation. It can be reduced by selecting suitable transformers, adjusting compensation networks, and improving circuit layout.
- Through careful adjustment of the feedback loop, gain structure, and output transformer design, overshoot and ringing in tube amplifiers can be significantly reduced, resulting in cleaner, more stable, and more accurate sound reproduction.
Practical Tip:
Always verify square-wave results at multiple frequencies (e.g., 100 Hz / 1 kHz / 10 kHz) and with the correct rated load. Many overshoot and ringing issues only become obvious at the high-frequency edge transitions.
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