Application Report

SLOA042 - JANUARY 2000

Audio Tone Control Using The TLC074

Operational Amplifier
Dee Harris Mixed-Signal Products

ABSTRACT

This application report describes the design and function of a stereo high-fidelity tone control
using a single TLC074 quad operational amplifier. A rail-to-rail operational amplifier is used
to provide a midpoint supply voltage and signal ground, allowing the use of a single power
supply.

Contents
1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2 Circuit Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
3 Tone Control Frequency Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
4 Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
5 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

List of Figures
1 Tone Control BLock Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2 Tone Control Composite Frequency Response Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3 Audio Tone Control Schematic Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
4 Bass and Treble Tone Control Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
5 Maximum Bass and Treble Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
6 Bass and Treble Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
7 Maximum Bass and Treble Cut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

1
SLOA042

1 Introduction
Tone controls allow the frequency response of the audio system to be adjusted
to compensate for the response of speakers and their enclosures or the listening
room, or to simply provide a more pleasing sound.
In this design, a variation of the classic and very popular Baxandall1, negative
feedback tone control circuit provides the familiar Hi-Fi tone control with
cut...flat...boost response for both bass and treble frequencies. A single bass
control adjusts both channels simultaneously and a single treble control adjusts
both channels.
A pair of slide pots adjusts the volume of each channel independently. The circuit
provides a gain of 6 dB at the maximum volume setting when both tone controls
are at their midpoints (flat).

2 Circuit Description
Each of the two separate channels of the tone control circuit is basically an active
filter built around an IC operational amplifier. An active filter design was chosen
over a passive filter circuit because active filters have the frequency-response
adjusting components located in the feedback loop of the filter amplifiers,
providing much lower THD, little or no insertion loss, and a symmetrical response
about the axis in both boost and cut, compared with most passive designs. Each
channel also includes an input buffer amplifier to provide some gain and isolation
from source impedance variations.
A block diagram of the right channel of the tone control circuit is shown in
Figure 1. The left channel is identical.

C1
Feedback Network
U2:A U2:D
In
R1 2× Out
(Log)

Buffer Amplifier Tone Control Filter Amplifier

mid

Figure 1. Tone Control Block Diagram

One dual-element slide pot adjusts the bass response from approximately
–20 dB of cut, to flat, to approximately 20 dB of boost for both channels
simultaneously. Another dual-element slide pot adjusts the treble response of
both channels through the same range.
Mid-range frequencies are not affected by the tone controls. An overall flat
response (no boost or cut at frequency extremes) is obtained when the tone
controls are at their mid-point position.
The composite frequency response range curves shown in Figure 2 are provided
by the component values indicated in the schematic (Figure 3).

2 Audio Tone Control Using The TLC074 Operational Amplifier

 SLOA042

20
Full Boost
15

10

Output Level – dB
5
Flat
0

–5

–10

–15
Full Cut
–20

15 100 1k 10k 20k

f – Frequency – Hz

Figure 2. Tone Control Composite Frequency Response Range

A single TLC074 quad operational amplifier IC contains all the amplifiers required
for buffering and filtering both left and right channels. A TLV2461 operational
amplifier IC is connected to provide a virtual ground for proper operation of the
TLC074 from a single supply voltage.
Figure 3 shows the tone control schematic diagram.

Audio Tone Control Using The TLC074 Operational Amplifier 3

SLOA042

VDD
U1 = TLV2461
VDD C3 +
C5 Single Op-Amp
R3 10 µF U2 = TLC074
_ 0.1 µF
20 kΩ Quad Op-Amp
mid
+
U1
R4 C4
20 kΩ 2.2 µF

GND

R19
C7
10 kΩ
0.033 µF C11
3300 pF
R14 R16
10 kΩ 3.3 kΩ R18A
R In R10A
C1 100 kΩ 100 kΩ
2.2 µF
R7 C12
20 kΩ 3300 pF C15 ‡
R5
R11 C9 _ 100 Ω
R1† 10 kΩ U2:A 0.033 µF
_ 10 kΩ
50 kΩ
+
Vol R Out
+ U2:D R19
C6 47 kΩ
Bass Treble mid
mid 0.1 µF
mid
VDD
R12
C8
10 kΩ
0.033 µF C13
3300 pF
R15
10 kΩ
R10B R18B
L In
C2 100 kΩ 100 kΩ
2.2 µF R17
R8 3.3 kΩ C14
20 kΩ 3300 pF C16 ‡
R6 R13 C10 _ 100 Ω
R2† 10 kΩ 10 kΩ 0.033 µF
_
50 kΩ
+
Vol L Out
+ U2:C R20
U2:B 47 kΩ
mid
mid
mid
† Volume controls are audio taper (log) potentiometers. ‡ Component locations marked C15 and C16 on the SLOP109 EVM board
should be populated with 100-Ω resistors.

Figure 3. Audio Tone Control Schematic Diagram

The input buffer amplifier provides a gain of approximately 2 (RF/RIN) with the
specified resistor values. Input capacitor C1 blocks dc and sets the minimum
low-frequency response of the tone control circuit at approximately 16 Hz (–3 dB)
with the value of 2.2 µF. Volume control R1 has an audio taper to provide a
perceived linear response in volume, proportional to the physical position of the
slider. The adjustment range of the buffer amplifier is from 0 V to approximately
2 times (6 dB) the audio signal input voltage.

4 Audio Tone Control Using The TLC074 Operational Amplifier

 SLOA042

The tone adjusting action in each channel of the tone control circuit is provided
by an equalizing amplifier (or active filter) created by placing a
frequency-dependent negative feedback network around an operational
amplifier. Almost any overall gain-versus-frequency characteristic can be defined
by the design of the feedback network.

3 Tone Control Frequency Response

The overall tone control circuit frequency response can be shifted up or down by
changing the values of capacitors C7, C9, C11, and C12 in the tone adjusting
networks.

To shift the frequency response downward, for example, increase the values of
the capacitors in the tone adjusting networks. Doubling the values of C7, C9, C11,
and C12 shifts the break frequency downward a full octave (Case B, Figure 4).
Conversely, halving the values of C7, C9, C11, and C12 shifts the break
½
frequency upward a full octave. (1 octave up = Cx and 1 octave down = 2 Cx.)

Case A: C7, C9 = 0.033 µF

20
C11, C12 = 3300 pF
15

10
Output Level – dB

0 Case B Case A

–5

–10

–15
Case B: C7, C9 = 0.068 µF
–20
C11, C12 = 6800 pF

15 100 1k 10k 20k

f – Frequency – Hz

Figure 4. Bass and Treble Tone Control Response

Note that to keep the boost and cut break frequencies the same, the value of C7
must equal that of C9, and the value of C11 must equal that of C12. In addition,
although the bass and treble break frequencies can be adjusted separately if
desired, to maintain the overall shape and symmetry of the response, all four
capacitors must be increased or decreased by the same factor.

Audio Tone Control Using The TLC074 Operational Amplifier 5

SLOA042

Measured Performance
Figures 5, 6, and 7 are measurements from the TI Tone Control EVM (SLOP109),
using the TLC074 IC amplifier. All measurements taken with Vdd = 5 V, Vin =
100 mVrms, RL = 47 kΩ, and f = 3 kHz.

THD + Noise vs Frequency Output Gain vs Frequency

2
Vo = 170 mV Vo = 170 mV
1 20

15
0.5
10
THD + Noise — %

Output Gain — dB
0.2 5

0.1 0

–5
0.05
–10
0.02
–15
0.01 –20

0.005
20 100 1k 10k 20k 20 100 1k 10k 20k
f – Frequency – Hz f – Frequency – Hz

Figure 5. Maximum Bass and Treble Boost

THD + Noise vs Frequency Output Gain vs Frequency

Vo = 100 mV Vo = 100 mV
1 20

15
0.5
10
THD + Noise — %

Output Gain — dB

0.2 5

0.1 0

–5
0.05
–10
0.02
–15
0.01 –20

0.005
20 100 1k 10k 20k 20 100 1k 10k 20k
f – Frequency – Hz f – Frequency – Hz

Figure 6. Bass and Treble Flat

6 Audio Tone Control Using The TLC074 Operational Amplifier

 SLOA042

THD + Noise vs Frequency Output Gain vs Frequency

2
Vo = 60 mV Vo = 60 mV
1 20

15
0.5
10

Output Gain — dB
THD + Noise — %

0.2 5

0.1 0

–5
0.05
–10
0.02
–15
0.01 –20

0.005
20 100 1k 10k 20k 20 100 1k 10k 20k
f – Frequency – Hz f – Frequency – Hz

Figure 7. Maximum Bass and Treble Cut

4 Summary
The familiar Baxandall Hi-Fi tone control is updated from vacuum tubes with
modern high-performance operational amplifiers. Two channels (for stereo) can
be implemented using only two very small IC packages and a few small passive
components. This design places the frequency determining components in the
feedback loop of an operational amplifier, reducing distortion and insertion loss,
and providing symmetrical boost and cut responses.

5 References
1. Negative-Feedback Tone Control, by P. J. Baxandall, Wireless World, October 1952.

Audio Tone Control Using The TLC074 Operational Amplifier 7

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8 Audio Tone Control Using The TLC074 Operational Amplifier

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