Class A Amplifying devices operating in class A conduct over the whole of the input cycle.

A class-A amplifier is distinguished by the output stage being biased into class A (see definition above). Advantages of class-A amplifiers Class-A designs are simpler than other classes; for example class-AB and -B designs require two devices (pushpull output) to handle both halves of the waveform; class A can use a single device single-ended. The amplifying element is biased so the device is always conducting to some extent, normally implying the quiescent (small-signal) collector current (for transistors; drain current for FETs or anode/plate current for vacuum tubes) is close to the most linear portion of itstransconductance curve. Because the device is never shut off completely there is no "turn on" time, little problem with charge storage, and generally better high frequency performance and feedback loop stability (and usually fewer high-order harmonics). The point at which the device comes closest to being cut off is not close to zero signal, so the problem of crossover distortion associated with class-AB and -B designs is avoided. Disadvantage of class-A amplifiers They are very inefficient; a theoretical maximum of 50% is obtainable with inductive output coupling and only 25% with capacitive coupling, unless deliberate use of nonlinearities is made (such as in square-law output stages). In a power amplifier this not only wastes power and limits battery operation, it may place restrictions on the output devices that can be used (for example: ruling out some audio triodes if modern lowefficiency loudspeakers are to be used), and will increase costs. Inefficiency comes not just from the fact that the device is always conducting to some extent (that happens even with class AB, yet its efficiency can be close to that of class B); it is that the standing current is roughly half the maximum output current (although this can be less with square law output stage), together with the problem that a large part of the power supply voltage is developed across the output device at low signal levels (as with classes AB and B, but unlike output stages such as class D). If high output powers are needed from a class-A circuit, the power waste (and the accompanying heat) will become significant. For every watt delivered to the load, the amplifier itself will, at best, dissipate another watt. For large powers this means very large and expensive power supplies and heat sinking. Class-A designs have largely been superseded by the more efficient designs for power amplifiers, though they remain popular with some hobbyists, mostly for their simplicity. Also, many audiophiles believe that class A gives the best sound quality (for their absence of crossover distortion and reduced odd-harmonic and high-order harmonic distortion) which provides a good market for expensive high fidelity class-A amps. Single-ended and triode class-A amplifiers Some aficionados who prefer class-A amplifiers also prefer the use of thermionic valve (or "tube") designs instead of transistors, especially inSingle-ended triode output configurations for several claimed reasons: Single-ended output stages (be they tube or transistor) have an asymmetrical transfer function, meaning that even order harmonics in the created distortion tend not to be canceled (as they are in pushpull output stages); by using tubes OR FETs most of the distortion is from the square law transfer characteristic and so secondorder, which some consider to be "warmer" and more pleasant. For those who prefer low distortion figures, the use of tubes with class A (generating little odd-harmonic distortion, as mentioned above) together with symmetrical circuits (such as push pull output stages, or balanced low-level stages) results in the cancellation of most of the even distortion harmonics, hence the removal of most of the distortion.Though good amplifier design can reduce harmonic distortion patterns to almost nothing, distortion is essential to the sound of electric guitar amplifiers, for example, and is held by recording engineers to offer more flattering microphones and to enhance "clinical-sounding" digital technology.Historically, valve amplifiers often used a class-A power amplifier simply because valves are large and expensive; many class-A designs use only a single device.Transistors are much cheaper, and so more elaborate designs that give greater efficiency but use more parts are still cost-effective. A classic application for a pair of class-A devices is the long-tailed pair, which is exceptionally linear, and forms the basis of many more complex circuits, including many audio amplifiers and almost all op-amps.Class-A amplifiers are often used in output stages of high quality op-amps (although the accuracy of the bias in low cost op-amps such as the 741 may result in class A or class AB or class B, varying from device to device or with temperature). They are sometimes used as medium-power, low-efficiency, and high-cost audio amplifiers. The power consumption is unrelated to the output power. At idle (no input), the power consumption is essentially the same as at high output volume. The result is low efficiency and high heat dissipation.

The Class B Amplifier To improve the full power efficiency of the previous Class A amplifier by reducing the wasted power in the form of heat, it is possible to design the power amplifier circuit with two transistors in its output stage producing what is commonly termed as a "push-pull" type amplifier configuration. Push-pull amplifiers use two "complementary" or matching transistors, one being an NPN-type and the other being a PNP-type with both power transistors receiving the same input signal together that is equal in magnitude, but in opposite phase to each o other. This results in one transistor only amplifying one half or 180 of the input waveform cycle while the other o transistor amplifies the other half or remaining 180 of the input waveform cycle with the resulting "two-halves" being put back together again at the output terminal. Then the conduction angle for this type of amplifier circuit is o only 180 or 50% of the input signal. This pushing and pulling effect of the alternating half cycles by the transistors gives this type of circuit its amusing name, but these types of audio amplifier circuit are more generally known as the Class B Amplifier Class B Amplifier operation has zero DC bias as the transistors are biased at the cut-off, so each transistor only conducts when the input signal is greater than the base-emitter voltage. Therefore, at zero input there is zero output and no power is being consumed Class C Amplifier Class C amplifier operates for less than half of the input cycle. Its efficiency is about 75% because the active device is biased beyond cutoff. It is commonly used in RF circuits where a resonant circuit must be placed at the output in order to keep the sine wave going during the nonconducting portion of the input cycle. Voltage amplifier An electronic circuit whose function is to accept an input voltage and produce a magnified, accurate replica of this voltage as an output voltage. The voltage gain of the amplifier is the amplitude ratio of the output voltage to the input voltage. Often, electronic amplifiers designed to operate in different environments are categorized by criteria other than their voltage gain, even though they are voltage amplifiers in fact. Many specialized circuits are designed to provide voltage amplification. POWER AMPLIFIER The purpose of a power amplifier, in very simple terms, is to take a signal from a source device (in a DJ system the signal typically comes from a preamplifier or signal processor) and make it suitable for driving a loudspeaker. Ideally, the ONLY thing different between the input signal and the output signal is the strength of the signal. In mathematical terms, if the input signal is denoted as S, the output of a perfect amplifier is X*S, where X is a constant (a fixed number). The "*" symbol means multiplied by". RC-coupled amplifiers: The various stages are DC isolated. This feature facilitates the biasing of individual stages. The various stages can be similar. Hence the design of the amplifier is simplified. The coupling capacitors influence the responses of the amplifier. A great number of biasing resistors is necessary. Direct Coupled Amplifier-the direct coupled amplifier (DC) is consist of two transistors Q1 and Q2 , a voltage divider base bias resistor network (R1, R2) which is provided on the transistorQ1 base two collector resistors Rc1and Rc2, the transistor Q2 is self biased, we also use tow emitter by pass resistors RE1and RE2. The direct-coupled amplifier is operated with out the using of frequency sensitive component like capacitor, inductor and Transformer etc. The direct coupled amplifier amplify the A.C signal with frequency as low a fraction hertz. Applications of Direct Coupled Amplifier Pulse amplifier ,Differential Amplifier,Regulator circuits of electronic power supply,Computer circuitry,Jet engine control, Electronic instruments

Transformer-Coupled Amplifiers For audio-frequency amplification, a transformer is used as the coupling unit between two tubes only when power is to be transferred or when coupling is to be made to a push-pull stage. Usually, triodes, such as 6C5, 6J5, and similar tubes, with a of 20 or less, are used. Push-pull amplifier-the power supply is connected to the center-tap of the transformer and a tube is connected to both the upper and lower end of the center-tapped primary. This allows the tubes to conduct on alternate cycles of the input waveform. A push-pull stage can be biased class A, where current flows in both tubes for the entire input cycle (but in opposite directions in the output transformer, so they sum in-phase in the secondary winding while the DC offset bias current cancels out, to prevent core saturation and allow use of smaller, ungapped cores), or class AB, where current flows alternately in both halves, but less than a full cycle in each, or class B, where current flows only half the time in each tube. Most designs are biased class AB for best efficiency and power output with minimal crossover distortion (but not necessarily best "tone").A push-pull stage requires at least two tubes to operate, but can have more connected in parallel with each side, resulting in an amp with four, six, or even eight output tubes for higher-power amps. This is called "parallel push-pull" operation. Another advantage of the push-pull circuit is that there is little or no unbalanced DC current in the output transformer if the tubes are matched and the output stage is balanced, since current flows in opposite directions to each tube, allowing a smaller transformer with less iron (translation: cheaper). Also, even order harmonics and distortion products generated in the output stage are canceled out (translation: good for hi-fi buffs, possibly bad for guitar players!) In addition, power supply hum is canceled out, allowing the designer to get by with less filtering of the power supply. This stage generally clips symmetrically, resulting in more odd harmonic distortion.One possible disadvantage in class AB or class B operation is that the DC supply current changes dramatically between off and full signal, requiring heavier filtering to prevent supply "sag", unless that is what you are looking for, as is sometimes the case in guitar amplification, depending upon the style of the player. What does "single-ended" mean? A single-ended guitar amp output stage is generally biased class A, in order to maximize the output power before distortion. The output transformer primary is not center-tapped, having only two connections. One connection goes to the power supply, the other to the plate of the power tube or tubes. Tubes can also be paralleled for more power as in a push-pull stage, resulting in what is called "parallel single-ended". The single-ended stage is the type of output stage used in the venerable Fender champ guitar amplifier and countless millions of early radios and tv's. It is making a comeback in high-end vacuum tube audio in the form of the singleended triode stage, which supposedly is the "ultimate" in hi-fi sound reproduction. It is as inefficient as it is good sounding, putting out very low power levels in comparison to push-pull output stages. Another problem with this type of stage is the transformer must handle a continuous DC current. This results in a physically larger and more costly output transformer, which must be gapped to prevent saturation of the core due to this offset DC current. Disadvantages of single-ended include: no rejection of power supply hum, which mandates heavier filtering to keep the hum to acceptable levels, no rejection of even order harmonics (a great advantage to guitar players!), and generally asymmetrical limiting on overloads which further emphasizes even order harmonics (which are more pleasing to the ear than odd order harmonics). These "disadvantages" give the single-ended output stage a unique tone, compared to the push-pull output stage. Whether it is "better" or not is a matter of taste. Some guitarists prefer single-ended output stages, others prefer push-pull. Complementary-Symmetry Class B Amplifier that does not use transformers in its design therefore, it is transformerless using instead complementary or matching pairs of power transistors. As transformers are not needed this makes the amplifier circuit much smaller for the same amount of output, also there are no stray magnetic effects or transformer distortion to effect the quality of the output signal. Class B Transformerless Output Stage The Class B amplifier circuit above uses complimentary transistors for each half of the waveform and while Class B amplifiers have a much high gain than the Class A types, one of the main disadvantages of class B type push-pull amplifiers is that they suffer from an effect known commonly as Crossover Distortion.