The Super Gain Clone™

The Super Gain Clone™ stereo amplifier is based on the National Semiconductor LM3886 Integrated Circuit power amplifier chip. Its features are summarized here:

  • 40 Watts per channel into 8 ohms from LM3886 devices
  • LM3886's operated in inverting mode for best performance
  • Inverting input buffer stage provides overall non-inverting amplifier
  • Audio-grade DC servo control of output offset voltage
  • No output coupling capacitor to degrade sonics
  • No input stage feedback return capacitor to degrade sonics
  • No electrolytic capacitors in the signal path
  • High input impedance
  • Adaptive soft clipping (Klever Klipper ) ahead of the feedback loop
  • The amplifier-proper never clips
  • Extra input-path RFI filtering
  • Conjugate-matched pi output network for exceptional RFI immunity
  • Torroidal air core output inductor for HF stability without sonic degradation
  • Heavily snubbed and bypassed power supply with 60,000 uF per rail

Many details of the design of the Super Gain Clone are covered in Chapter 27 of Designing Audio Power Amplifiers, while the Klever Klipper soft clipping circuit is described in Chapter 17.