Super Low Distortion Ultra Pure Audio Oscillators Revisited

Where we discuss new analog design ideas for Pro Audio and modern spins on vintage ones.
User avatar
mediatechnology
Posts: 5442
Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2007 2:34 pm
Location: Oak Cliff, Texas
Contact:

Re: Super Low Distortion Ultra Pure Audio Oscillators Revist

Post by mediatechnology »

I now have an AGC loop that I'm happy with based on an adaption of Vicktors Mickevics' design.

The updated Wien bridge portion of the oscillator has an added link to disconnect the VCA output for test.
I'm also using a different VCA Ec pin than before and increased the input resistor to 47KΩ.

Image
Subtractive VCA Stabilizes Wien Bridge Oscillator Rev A.

A link was added at the output of the VCA to allow the 1KΩ trim pot to be preset.
With the link open the pot is trimmed so the oscillator has enough gain to start.
(The 1K can be made much smaller in value maybe about 200Ω.)
With the link closed the final trim adjustment can be made by setting Ec- to +380 mV.
This sets the VCA Q-point to about -63dB attenuation.

The AGC is a modified version of Vicktors Mickevics' half-wave design.

I found that the heavy filtering of Vicktors' half-wave design had just as low a distortion as a full-wave rectifier.
Due to the way the VCA works the "kick-start" power-up circuit in his FET-based design is not needed.
The whole oscillator - excluding output buffers - is just two LME49720 and a THAT2180 VCA.

Image
AGC Circuit for A Subtractive VCA_Stabilized Wien Bridge Oscillator.

Op amp A is a filtered half-wave rectifier which produces a positive output for negative-going inputs.
It has a gain of 1.6.
The output of the half-wave rectifier is converted to current by the 120KΩ resistor.

The AGC loop servo point is the inverting input of op amp B.
Current is pulled out of the summing node by the output level adjustment.
The oscillator output level is controlled by the servo action of op amp B and the VCA so that average current sourced from the rectifier vs. the reference current hold the two currents in equilibrium.

With the values shown, the oscillator output peak-to-peak level is approximately equal to the reference voltage at the wiper of the output level pot.

At this point I'm measuring converter distortion.
I need to build the notch filter.

Image
User avatar
mediatechnology
Posts: 5442
Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2007 2:34 pm
Location: Oak Cliff, Texas
Contact:

Re: Super Low Distortion Ultra Pure Audio Oscillators Revisited

Post by mediatechnology »

I had a chance to build a 1 kHz passive notch filter to check the oscillator purity.

I scaled the 2 kHz Janasek notch frequency to 1 kHz.
The filter has 40 dB of post-filter gain. (See: http://www.janascard.cz/PDF/An%20ultra% ... 0%20dB.pdf)
The insertion loss at 2kHz is about 9 dB; at 3 kHz 5 dB.

Image
Oscillator output distortion at +10 dBu with a notch filter at 1 kHz and 40 dB post-filter gain.

The 1 kHz fundamental (at +10 dBu) is reduced by about -55 dB.
At +10dBu output I'm measuring third harmonic around -138 dB below +10 dBu.
(Third harmonic -93 dBu, -40 dB post-filter gain, +5 dB insertion loss = -128 dBu or -138 dB relative to +10 dBu.)
That's about 0.126 ppm or 0.0000126%.
I'll take that.

The oscillator is currently on a Protoboard and I do see some HF rectifier transients in the nulled output.
On a PCB board I'm confident the higher-order harmonics can be lowered.

The amount of VCA attenuation does not have an effect on third when its contribution is varied from around -40 to -65 dB so it does not appear to be a significant contributor to distortion.
I think I'm seeing op amps, film caps and strays.
Its so much better than the converter I'm using for measurements so its THD is low enough.
User avatar
JR.
Posts: 3700
Joined: Sat May 24, 2008 7:21 pm
Contact:

Re: Super Low Distortion Ultra Pure Audio Oscillators Revisited

Post by JR. »

Now clean up that mains hum... :lol:

JR
Cancel the "cancel culture", do not support mob hatred.
User avatar
mediatechnology
Posts: 5442
Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2007 2:34 pm
Location: Oak Cliff, Texas
Contact:

Re: Super Low Distortion Ultra Pure Audio Oscillators Revisited

Post by mediatechnology »

I haven't visited this thread in awhile and wanted to provide an updated schematic of my VCA-based variation of Vicktor's oscillator.

Image
Subtractive VCA Stabilizes Ultra-Pure Sub-PPM Distortion Wien Bridge Oscillator

The only change from the previous version was to move VR1 to provide additional adjustment range to compensate for R4/R5 tolerance.

Using a notch filter I'm able to determine that the distortion is below -140 dBc.

I can only obtain that performance using the LME49720. No other dual op amp I've tried can come close. The op amps are clearly the most significant distortion contributor.

The subtractive VCA's highly non-linear control response is advantageous to stabilization and permits the "kick start" circuit in Vicktor's original, required for a FET, to be eliminated.

I haven't yet drawn Vicktor's floating TL431 shunt supply which I intend to use.

The adjustment procedure is to set VR2 to midpoint.
Open J1 and adjust VR1 until oscillation is sustained.
Crank the mult-turn trim about a half turn until the oscillator output is mildly clipped.
Install J1. After the loop stabilizes adjust VR1 for +360 mV at TP1.
This adjusts the gain of the feedback loop so that the VCA is in 60 dB attenuation.
Wait a few minutes and then trim VR1 again to 360 mV at TP1.
Power-cycle the oscillator and check for startup.

When the unit is powered up cold, you will initially see TP1 around +400mV.
If startup is uncertain adjust VR1 for slightly more gain.
TP1 should remain at about +360 mV as VR2, the output level, is varied.
User avatar
JR.
Posts: 3700
Joined: Sat May 24, 2008 7:21 pm
Contact:

Re: Super Low Distortion Ultra Pure Audio Oscillators Revisited

Post by JR. »

The old catch 22 measuring the distortion of your test equipment..... :roll:

Decades ago when I rigged the the product output of my (heathkit) distortion analyzer into my (Singer) spectrum analyzer to extend the measurement floor, I had to drop the nominal 0dB operating level of the Heathkit to stop seeing it's own distortion. :lol:

Nice job...

JR
Cancel the "cancel culture", do not support mob hatred.
Alejandro
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:12 am

Re: Super Low Distortion Ultra Pure Audio Oscillators Revisited

Post by Alejandro »

Does anyone know if you can buy such a low noise generator somewhere?
User avatar
mediatechnology
Posts: 5442
Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2007 2:34 pm
Location: Oak Cliff, Texas
Contact:

Re: Super Low Distortion Ultra Pure Audio Oscillators Revisited

Post by mediatechnology »

Thanks for joining us Alejandro!

Victor Mickevics aka "vicnic" at DIYAudio is selling his sub-ppm oscillator. Victor was originally selling it on ebay but now is asking that you PM him at DIYAudio.
mlloyd1
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2014 3:45 pm

Re: Super Low Distortion Ultra Pure Audio Oscillators Revisited

Post by mlloyd1 »

Hi Wayne:

Any plans to offer PCBs of this oscillator design?

mlloyd1
User avatar
mediatechnology
Posts: 5442
Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2007 2:34 pm
Location: Oak Cliff, Texas
Contact:

Re: Super Low Distortion Ultra Pure Audio Oscillators Revisited

Post by mediatechnology »

Thank you for the inquiry and recently joining us.

I've been kicking around the idea of offering a board though I think I want to add an output buffer with a simple 0, -20, -40 dB pad in addition to the variable level it now has.
I also want to explore Victor's floating TL431 shunt regulator and using an optional battery supply.
It might be possible to achieve a floating output.
So I think I have a little more work to do first.
User avatar
JR.
Posts: 3700
Joined: Sat May 24, 2008 7:21 pm
Contact:

Re: Super Low Distortion Ultra Pure Audio Oscillators Revisited

Post by JR. »

I shared a link to this project before but apparently the designer (Mike) had a stroke so has abandoned this project unfinished.

For the low distortion oscillator crowd, (not me) maybe somebody will pick this up and carry it further down the road.

http://mike-wsm.org.uk/ldo.html

JR
Cancel the "cancel culture", do not support mob hatred.
Post Reply