A few popular circuits supplied by Maplin (now

discontinued).
This design suits transformers of 22-0-22 to 28-0-28V
and inspired a matching 12V switched mode power
supply. A high quality (E-I) mains transformer with
separate secondaries (LW34M) was available.

A re-examination of this approach is given by Rod

Elliott, removing the class A driver's current source,
adding a bootstrap capacitor and rearranging the local
feedback around the class B drivers. J. Ellis'
observations on bias stability can easily be applied to
these arrangements with good effect.
A less sophisticated, but meatier design intended for 320-32V transformers. Fit 3A fuses, all output devices
mounted on 2.1C/W heat-sink. Uprating the output

stage with devices with a higher Vce, or reducing the

supply voltage, will increase reliability.

A mosfet design intended as a guitar amp that has seen

upgrading, which has ranked amongst Maplin's best
selling products, and with good reason. This was
available with a bridging module for high power
demand. Note use of low noise, high voltage, small
signal transistors. This design certainly ranks as the
simplest mosfet design employed and, importantly, none
have failed.

This was derived from an Hitachi application which

spawned a number of copies and derivatives.
Output devices could be easily paralleled (with their
attendant gate resistors) for higher power handling. The
Maplin design was used for experiments with sub-bass
units using the modifications set out below. Power
supply smoothing was increased substantially, as was
heat-sinking, and where a LF roll-off was required, an
input coupling cap was re-fitted. A power output of
30Wrms max suited most applications involving 12-18"
speakers. Later designs used class D.

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