TOPIC 4

MULTISTAGE AMPLIFIER

LEARNING OUTCOME

Upon completion of this subtopic, you should be able to:-

Describe the concept of multistage / cascaded

amplifier
Explain the concepts of feedback
Explain the analysis of multistage amplifier
Multistage
Amplifier

Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Multistage Amplifier
Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

In practical, we need amplifier which can

amplify a signal from a very weak source
such as a microphone, to a level which is
suitable for the operation of another
transducer such as loudspeaker. This is
achieved by cascading number of amplifier
stages, known as multistage amplifier.
Cascade amplifier or multistage amplifier
is define as any amplifier constructed
from a series of amplifier, where each
amplifier sends its output to the input
of the next amplifier.

Multistage Amplifier
Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Two or more amplifier can be connected in

a cascaded arrangement with the output
of one amplifier driving the input of the
next.
The basic purpose of a multistage
arrangement is to increase input
resistance, reduced output resistance,
increase small-signal voltage gain and
and increased power handling capability.

Multistage Amplifier
Multistage
Multistage
Amplifier
Amplifier

Two stage cascade amplifier.

fig. 4.1 shows the block diagram of two stage cascade
amplifier . These stage are connected such that the
output of the first stage is connected to the input of the
second stage.

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Fig. 4.1 Block diagram of two stage

cascade amplifier

Multistage Amplifier
As shown in fig. 4.1 Vi1 is the input of the first stage and Vo2 is the
output of the second stage . Therefore Vo2 / Vi1 is the overall Voltage
gain of two stage amplifier and it can be given as,

Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Voltage gain of multistage amplifier is the product of voltage gains of

the individual stage.
Voltage gain in Decibels (dB)
- Amplifier voltage gain is often expressed in decibels (dB) as follows:

Av(dB) = 20 log Av
- In multistage system overall voltage gain in dB, the sum of the
individual voltage gains in dB.

Multistage Amplifier
Example 4.1
Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

A certain cascaded amplifier arrangement has the following

voltage gains:
Av1 = 10, Av2 = 15, and Av3 = 20. What is the overall voltage gains?
Also express each gain in decibels (dB) and determine the total voltage
gain in dB.

Solution
Av = Av1 Av2 Av3 = (10)(15)(20) = 3000

Av1(dB) = 20 log 10 = 20.0 dB

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Av2(dB) = 20 log 15 = 23.5 dB

Av3(dB) = 20 log 20 = 26.0 dB
total voltage gain in dB, Av(dB) = 20.0 dB +23.5 dB + 26.0 dB = 69.5
dB

Multistage Amplifier

Effect of adding stages of amplification.

Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Fig. 4.2 Adding stages of

Figureamplification
4.2 shows the effect of adding stages of amplification.
As stages of amplification are added, the signal increases
and the final output (from the speaker) is increased.

Feedback Amplifier
Multistage
Amplifier

Feedback is a technique where a proportion

of the output of a system (amplifier) is fed
back and recombined with input.

source x +

xi

`
Feedback
Amplifier

xf

- ve
feedback
Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Amplifier
Forward
Gain

xo

load

Feedback
Network

+ve
feedback
Fig. 4. 3 Block diagram of
feedback

the various signal x can be either current

or voltage.

Type of Feedback Amplifier

Feedback
Amplifier

Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Positive
Feedback
(Regenerative
)
Positive feedback occurs
when the feedback signal is
in phase with the input
signal.
Application used in
Oscillator circuits

Negative
Feedback
(Degenerativ
e)
Negative feedback occurs
when the feedback signal is
out of phase with the input
signal.
Application - used in
Amplifier Circuits.

Positive Feedback
Positive feedback is the process when the output is added to the
input, amplified again, and this process continues.
Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Fig 4.4 a) Block Diagram Positive

Feedback
Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Figure 4.4 a) shows a block diagram of an amplifier with positive

feedback. Notice that the feedback signal is in phase with the input
signal.
This means that the feedback signal will add to or "regenerate" the
input signal. The result is a larger amplitude output signal than
would occur without the feedback.
Example. In a PA system, you get feedback when you put the
microphone in front of a speaker and the sound gets uncontrollably
loud (you have probably heard this unpleasant effect).

Negative Feedback
Negative feedback is when the output is subtracted from the input.

Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Fig 4.4 b) Block Diagram Negative

Feedback

Figure 4.4 b) is a block diagram of an amplifier with negative

feedback. In this case, the feedback signal is out of phase with
the input signal.
This means that the feedback signal will subtract from or
"degenerate" the input signal. This results in a lower amplitude
output signal than would occur without the feedback.
Example. Speed control. If the car starts to speed up above the
desired set-point speed, negative feedback causes the throttle
to close, thereby reducing speed; similarly, if the car slows,
negative feedback acts to open the throttle.

Difference Between Positive

&Negative Feedback
Multistage
Amplifier

Parameter

Positive
Feedback

Negative
Feedback

Input &Output
Voltage, noise
Feedback Signal &
Input Signal
Stability

Increases due to
Feedback
In phase

Decreases due to
Feedback
Out of phase

Becomes poor

Becomes better

Applications

Oscillators

Amplifiers

Overall Phase Shift

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

0 or 3600

1800

Negative Feedback
Advantages
Desensitize the gain
- make the value of the gain
less sensitive to variations in
the values of circuit
components, such as might be
caused by changes in
temperature.

Circuit Gain
- The overall amplifier
gain, with negative
feedback, is reduced
compared to the basic
amplifier used in the
circuit.

Bandwidth extension,
- The bandwidth of a circuit
that incorporates negative
feedback is large than that of the
basic amplifier.

Stability
- There is a possibility
that the feedback circuit
may become unstable
(oscillate ) at high
frequencies

Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Disadvantages

Noise sensitivity,
- Negative feedback may
reduce the noise level in
amplifier and increase the
single-to-noise ratio (SNR)

Negative Feedback
Advantages
Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Reduction of non-linear
distortion.
- since transistors have
nonlinear characteristics, distortion
may appear in the output signals,
especially at large signal levels.
Negative feedback reduces this
distortion.

Control of impedance levels.

- The input and output
impedances can be increased and
decreased with proper type of
negative feedback circuits.

Disadvantages

Basic Feedback Concepts

A. Close Loop Gain
Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

The gain with feedback (or closed-loop gain) Af as

X o A.X i

X0
Xi
XS
Xf

= OUTPUT SIGNAL
= INPUT SIGNAL
= SOURSE SIGNAL
= FEEDBACK SIGNAL

Basic Feedback Concepts

A. Close Loop Gain
Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

X f .X o
Xo
A
Af

X s 1 A

= FEEDBACK TRANSFER
FUNCTION
Af = CLOSE LOOP GAIN

Basic Feedback Concepts

Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

A. Close Loop Gain

The quantity A is called the loop
gain, and the quantity (1 + A) is

called the amount of feedback.

Normally , the error signal is small,
so the expected loop gain is large. If
the loop gain is large so that A >> 1,

Basic Feedback Concepts

A. Close Loop Gain
Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Example 1
Assume that the open-loop gain of
system is A = 105 and close-loop gain is Af
= 50, calculate the transfer function .
Solution 1

Basic Feedback Concepts

A. Close Loop Gain
Example 2
Assume that the open-loop gain of
system is
5
` A = -10 and close-loop gain is Af = -50,
Feedback
Amplifier calculate the transfer function .

Multistage
Amplifier

Solution 2

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Basic Feedback Concepts

A. Close Loop Gain
Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

From these typical parameter values, we

see that
and also see that if the open-loop gain A
is negative, then the close-loop gains Af and
feedback transfer function will also be negative for
a negative feedback network.

Basic Feedback Concepts

B. Gain Sensitivity
Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

makes the gain less sensitive ( more

stability ) to changes in circuit
components e.g. due to changes in
temperature or frequency.
If you represent the gain without
feedback (the open loop gain) by Ao,
then the system
gain
Vout
Ao with 1negative
A f is;

feedback

Vin

1 Ao

Basic Feedback Concepts

B. Gain Sensitivity
Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

The extent of this stabilizing influence can be

illustrated as follows (for = 0.01):

Ao

Af = Ao/(1+Ao )

1,000
5,000
10,000
20,000

90.9
98.3
99.0
99.5

the change in Af is reduced by factor (1+ A) compared to change

in A. The term (1+ A) is called the densensitivity factor.

Basic Feedback Concepts

Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

C. Bandwidth
Reduce the gain and increase the bandwidth.
extension

Can increase the gain at the expense of a

reduce bandwidth or can increase the
bandwidth at the expense of a reduced
gain. This property is illustrated in figure
12.2

Basic Feedback Concepts

Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

C. Bandwidth
extension

Basic Feedback Concepts

C. Effect of Negative Feedback on Gain and
Bandwidth

Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Fig. 3-6:
Effect of
negative
feedback on
gain and
bandwidth
The amplifier with negative feedback has
more bandwidth
(Bf) than the amplifier without feedback (B).
The use of feedback results in a lowering of
voltage gain.
The product of gain and frequency remains

Basic Feedback Concepts

D. Noise and Nonlinear Distortion with
Feedback
Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Reduction the effect of noise

minimize the contribution to the output
of unwanted signals generated in circuit
components or extraneous interference.

Reduction non-linear distortion

make the output proportional to the
input, keeping the gain constant,
independent of signal level.

Basic Feedback Concepts

Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Decreasing Distortion/noise with

Feedback
The use of negative feedback can discriminate
against sources of noise or distortion within an
amplifier.
Distortion sources

Basic Feedback Concepts

Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Decreasing Distortion/noise with

Feedback
showing that distortion within the feedback loop
is discriminated against, with more reduction of
distortion which arises near the output.

Coupling Multistage
Amplifier
In multistage amplifier, the output signal of

preceding stage is to be coupled to the input circuit

Multistage
of succeeding stage.
Amplifier
For this interstage coupling, different types of
coupling elements can be employed. These are :
a.
RC coupling
`
Direct coupling
Feedback b.
Amplifier c.
Transformer coupling

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Coupling Multistage
Amplifier
Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

This can be done either to increase the overall

small-signal voltage gain or provide an overall
voltage gain greater than 1 with a very low output
resistance.
The overall voltage or current gain is not simply the
product of the individual amplification factors.
Each stage in the cascaded amplifier contribute to
have a better gain however the loading effect must
be taken into account.

RC Coupling
RC Coupling
Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

RC Coupling
Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Fig. 4a Two stage RC coupled amplifier using

transistor

RC Coupling
Fig. 4a shows RC coupled amplifier using transistors. As
shown in fig.4a the output signal of first-stage is coupled
Multistage
to the input of the next stage through coupling capacitor
Amplifier
and resistive load at the output terminal of first stage.
The coupling does not effect the quiescent point of the
next stage since the coupling capacitor Cc blocks the dc
`
voltage of the first stage from reaching the base of the
Feedback
second stage. The RC network is broadband in nature.
Amplifier
Therefore, it gives a wideband frequency response
without peak at any frequency and hence used to cover a
complete AF amplifier bands.
However its frequency response drops off at very low
Analysis
frequencies due to coupling capacitors and also at high
Multistage
Amplifier
frequencies due to shunt capacitors such as stray
capacitance.
Fig. 4b shows the frequency response of RC coupled
amplifier

RC Coupling
Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Fig. 4b Frequency Response of RC coupled

amplifier

RC Coupling (cont)
Multistage
Amplifier

RC coupling does have a few disadvantages. The resistors

use dc power and so the amplifier has low efficiency. The
capacitor tends to limit the low-frequency response of the
amplifier and the amplifying
device itself limits the high-frequency response.
Capacitive reactance (X C) is determined by the following
formula:

`
Feedback
Amplifier

This explains why the low frequencies are limited by the

capacitor. As frequency decreases, XC increases. This
causes more of the signal to be "lost" in the capacitor.
The formula for XC also shows that the value of capacitance
Analysis
(C) should be relatively high so that capacitive reactance
Multistage
Amplifier
(XC) can be kept as low as possible. So, when a capacitor is
used as a coupling element, the capacitance should be
relatively high so that it will couple the entire signal well and
not reduce or distort the signal.

Direct Coupling
A. CE CC Amplifier Configuration
Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Direct Coupling

B. The Darlington Pair

Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Internal connection;
Collectors of Q1 and
Q2;
Emitter of Q1 and
base of Q2.
Provides high
current gain : IC
2
IB
Darlington
configuration
provides;
Increased current;
High input
resistance.

Direct Coupling
Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

In direct coupling the output of one stage is

connected directly to the input of the
following stage.
Direct coupling provides a good frequency
response since no frequency-sensitive
components (inductors and capacitors) are
used. The frequency response of a circuit
using direct coupling is affected only by the
amplifying device itself.
Direct coupling has several disadvantages,
however. The major problem is the power
supply requirements for direct-coupled
amplifiers. Each succeeding stage requires a
higher voltage.

Direct Coupling
Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Fig. 4c Frequency Response of Direct coupled

amplifier

Transformer Coupling
Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Fig. 4d Two stage transformer coupled amplifier using

transistor

Transformer Coupling
Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Fig. 4d shows transformer coupled amplifier

using transistors. As shown in the fig.4d the
output signal of first stage is coupled to the
input of the next stage through an
impendence matching transformer.
This type of coupling is used to match the
impedance between output and input
cascaded stage. Usually, it is used to match
the larger output resistance of AF power
amplifier to a low impedance load like
loudspeaker.
As we know, transformer blocks dc,
providing dc isolation between two stage.
Therefore, transformer coupling does not
affect the quiescent point of the next stage.

Transformer Coupling
Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Frequency response of transformer coupled

amplifier is poor in comparison with that of
an RC coupled amplifier.
Its leakage inductance and interwinding
capacitances does not allow amplifier to
amplify the signals of different frequencies
equally well.
The transformer-coupled amplifiers are used
in radio and receiver for amplifying RF
signals.
Fig. 4e, shows the frequency response of
transformer coupled amplifier.

Transformer Coupling
Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

Fig. 4e, frequency response of transformer coupled

amplifier.

Comparison between
coupling method
Multistage
Amplifier

`
Feedback
Amplifier

Analysis
Multistage
Amplifier

COMPREHENSION
QUESTION
1. Choose the CORRECT statement about multistage amplifiers
i. A combination of more than one amplifier
ii. Output of one amplifier is connected to the input of another amplifier
iii. Possible to combine the characteristic of one amplifier with those of
others
iv. Overall gain of a circuit can be increased.
2. In RC-coupled amplifiers:
i. The various stages are DC isolated. This feature facilitates the biasing
of
individual stages
ii. The various stages can be similar. Hence the design of the amplifier is
simplified.
iii. The coupling capacitors influence the responses of the amplifier
iv. A great number of biasing resistors is necessary.

COMPREHENSION
QUESTION
3. Transformer coupling is often used for:A.
Low frequency amplification
B.
Medium frequency amplification
C. High frequency amplification
D. NONE of the above
4.The main purpose of multistage or cascade amplifier is to get a
A.
lower voltage gain
B.
higher voltage gain
C. low lower cutoff frequency
D. high higher cutoff frequency

QUICK REVISION

State the purpose of multistage amplifier

Draw the block diagram of multistage amplifier
Explain working principle of multistage amplifier.
Draw the block diagram of feedback.
State the types and differentiate of feedback.
Explain the feedback concepts.
Draw RC-coupling, CE-CC configuration,
Darlington Pair and Transformer coupling.
Explain briefly RC-coupling, CE-CC configuration,
Darlington Pair and Transformer coupling