Tone Control

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This simple tone control can be used in may audio applications. It can be added to amplifers, used as a stand alone control module, or even built into new and exciting instruments. It's one IC construction makes it a very compact circuit, as only a few support components are required. Plus, it does not use a dual power supply. This means that the circuit will run from 9V to 15V (although the bass will be a little weak at 9V). The circuit is by Robert Barg and originally appeared in the Think Tank column of the May 1998 issue of Popular Electronics.

Schematic

Parts

Part	Total Qty.	Description	Substitutions
C1, C3, C5, C7, C15, C16	6	2.2uf Electrolytic Capacitor
C2, C6	2	0.05uF Ceramic Disc Capacitor
C4	1	0.22uF Disc Capacitor
C8, C10	2	0.015uF Ceramic Disc Capacitor
C9	1	100uF Electrolytic Capacitor
C11, C12, C13, C14	4	0.1uF Ceramic Disc Capacitor
R1, R4	2	10K 1/4W Resistor
R2, R5	2	33K 1/4W Resistor
R3, R6	2	4.7K 1/4W Resistor
R7	1	2.2K 1/4W Resistor
R8, R9, R10, R11	4	50K Linear Pot
U1	1	TDA1524A Tone Control IC
S1	1	SPST Switch
J1, J2, J3, J4	4	RCA Jacks	Other connectors of your choice
MISC	1	Board, Wire, Knobs, 18 Pin Socket

Notes

S1 is a contour control. Volume is controlled by R11. Balance is controlled by R10. R9 and R8 control bass and treble, respectivly.

J1 is the left input, J4 is the right input. J2 is the left output, J3 is the right output.

The circuit is designed to accept line level or mic level inputs. if you are going to be using a stronger signal, a voltage divider will be necessary to cut it down to proper levels.

You can, of course, skip J1-J4 if you plan to integrate this circuit into another.

Related Circuits

Comments

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wilson Tone Control Sunday, January 18, 2015 10:20:12 PM

Gud somebody told me that the IC with 16 pins that I was looking is a CD3699. But I have a problem searching for that exact IC. Do you know?, any substituion regarding on this IC. like other IC, that have the same function as this...

wilson Tone Control Saturday, October 11, 2014 4:38:00 AM

Hi I have a karaoke model Plardin Pl-1029. It is a 10k watts amplifier, Fm radio. I just can't find the right IC for the tone control section of it, because I don't know what is the part number of it Do you have a schematic diagram of this model. Preferably on its tone control section?.

julius c. horfilla Tone Control Monday, October 24, 2011 5:48:42 AM

try to experiment more,improvised it. do your best find the best possible as you can . but be carefull or you may waste your money in a split seconds.if you damage your audio amplifier and power supply if it explode.

julius c. horfilla Tone Control Monday, October 24, 2011 5:31:23 AM

you can use that input captain transformer to enhance bass response of your amplifier.not directly on your amplifier but to your tonecontrol circuit specifically.as i explained it already. that's a tradeschool (ctu) trade secret, highschool and college since the 1980's. my schoolyear 1982-1886.csat-cscst.

eeejey Tone Control Wednesday, August 17, 2011 6:15:51 AM

@julius Hi im from cebu too, i am still a beginner in electronics, i built an "bass & treble amp" as we call it here i am interested in putting a "captain transformer" to the amp, can you please give me a schematic on how and where to connect it to my amp thank in advance :)

julius c. horfilla Tone Control Saturday, January 15, 2011 9:15:26 AM

how to make your standard horn/dome tweeter w/permanent magnet a super tweeter. use 2.2uf/50v non polar series filter capacitor then parallel an inductor to the ground.then series again another 1uf/50v to the tweeter. now parallel tweeter's two terminal's with another inductor. the data of the two inductor's is 50 turns #24 magnetwire on a 5/16"diameter 4.5"long ferritebar.you can also reduce/adding another number of turns of your coil.or changing the value of your capacitor.with my data it's already tested.

julius c.horfilla Tone Control Saturday, September 18, 2010 4:23:08 AM

as i mentioned this input captain transformer is most likely applicable to andy collinsons baxandall type,tone control circuit.you can also use this input captain transformer to any tone control circuit similar that of andy collinsons tone control circuit.you can also connect a switch, to turn it on and off.don't also forget to parallel a capacitor to the input captain transformer rated at .01-.2uf/50vmylar capacitor for brilliant treble effect.try also different combinations for improvement.

anonymous Tone Control Monday, July 19, 2010 2:13:38 AM

this input captain trnsformer is most likely applicable to andy collinson's baxandall tone control cicuit.just parallel the input captain transformer to the 2nd stage transistors emitter,and the other terminal of the input captain to the ground.remember the input captain transformer has five terminals.one side has 2terminals and the other side has 3terminals.just chose 2terminals per side.and the other side is of no use.also parallel your input captain transformer with .01uf -.1uf mylar capacitor for brilliant treble effect.....the effect of this input captain transformer is a rubberlike and extremely deep bass effect.

julius c.horfilla Tone Control Tuesday, July 13, 2010 5:56:48 AM

my advice,when incorporating an input captain transformer to your tone control circuit , try puting a switch in series with it.it really works, a very deep and a rubberlike bass effect.and for a brilliant tweeter effect .also parallel your input captain transformer with a mylar capacitor rated at .05uf-.2uf/50v.try different combinations,experiment.

julius c.horfilla Tone Control Monday, June 07, 2010 6:48:02 AM

for perfect tweeter series filter capacitor use .5uf-2.2uf /50v non polar or mylar 630v capacitor for horn/dome tweeter. .22uf-.5uf /50v non polar or 630v mylar capacitor for piezo electric tweeter specially motorolla.and parallel your tweeter an inductor/coil directly.the data for the coil is 50-130 turns#24 magnetwire on a 5/16"diameter 4.5"long ferrite bar or your old junk A.M.radio ferrite bar.

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wilson	Tone Control	Sunday, January 18, 2015 10:20:12 PM
Gud somebody told me that the IC with 16 pins that I was looking is a CD3699. But I have a problem searching for that exact IC. Do you know?, any substituion regarding on this IC. like other IC, that have the same function as this...
wilson	Tone Control	Saturday, October 11, 2014 4:38:00 AM
Hi I have a karaoke model Plardin Pl-1029. It is a 10k watts amplifier, Fm radio. I just can't find the right IC for the tone control section of it, because I don't know what is the part number of it Do you have a schematic diagram of this model. Preferably on its tone control section?.
julius c. horfilla	Tone Control	Monday, October 24, 2011 5:48:42 AM
try to experiment more,improvised it. do your best find the best possible as you can . but be carefull or you may waste your money in a split seconds.if you damage your audio amplifier and power supply if it explode.
julius c. horfilla	Tone Control	Monday, October 24, 2011 5:31:23 AM
you can use that input captain transformer to enhance bass response of your amplifier.not directly on your amplifier but to your tonecontrol circuit specifically.as i explained it already. that's a tradeschool (ctu) trade secret, highschool and college since the 1980's. my schoolyear 1982-1886.csat-cscst.
eeejey	Tone Control	Wednesday, August 17, 2011 6:15:51 AM
@julius Hi im from cebu too, i am still a beginner in electronics, i built an "bass & treble amp" as we call it here i am interested in putting a "captain transformer" to the amp, can you please give me a schematic on how and where to connect it to my amp thank in advance :)
julius c. horfilla	Tone Control	Saturday, January 15, 2011 9:15:26 AM
how to make your standard horn/dome tweeter w/permanent magnet a super tweeter. use 2.2uf/50v non polar series filter capacitor then parallel an inductor to the ground.then series again another 1uf/50v to the tweeter. now parallel tweeter's two terminal's with another inductor. the data of the two inductor's is 50 turns #24 magnetwire on a 5/16"diameter 4.5"long ferritebar.you can also reduce/adding another number of turns of your coil.or changing the value of your capacitor.with my data it's already tested.
julius c.horfilla	Tone Control	Saturday, September 18, 2010 4:23:08 AM
as i mentioned this input captain transformer is most likely applicable to andy collinsons baxandall type,tone control circuit.you can also use this input captain transformer to any tone control circuit similar that of andy collinsons tone control circuit.you can also connect a switch, to turn it on and off.don't also forget to parallel a capacitor to the input captain transformer rated at .01-.2uf/50vmylar capacitor for brilliant treble effect.try also different combinations for improvement.
anonymous	Tone Control	Monday, July 19, 2010 2:13:38 AM
this input captain trnsformer is most likely applicable to andy collinson's baxandall tone control cicuit.just parallel the input captain transformer to the 2nd stage transistors emitter,and the other terminal of the input captain to the ground.remember the input captain transformer has five terminals.one side has 2terminals and the other side has 3terminals.just chose 2terminals per side.and the other side is of no use.also parallel your input captain transformer with .01uf -.1uf mylar capacitor for brilliant treble effect.....the effect of this input captain transformer is a rubberlike and extremely deep bass effect.
julius c.horfilla	Tone Control	Tuesday, July 13, 2010 5:56:48 AM
my advice,when incorporating an input captain transformer to your tone control circuit , try puting a switch in series with it.it really works, a very deep and a rubberlike bass effect.and for a brilliant tweeter effect .also parallel your input captain transformer with a mylar capacitor rated at .05uf-.2uf/50v.try different combinations,experiment.
julius c.horfilla	Tone Control	Monday, June 07, 2010 6:48:02 AM
for perfect tweeter series filter capacitor use .5uf-2.2uf /50v non polar or mylar 630v capacitor for horn/dome tweeter. .22uf-.5uf /50v non polar or 630v mylar capacitor for piezo electric tweeter specially motorolla.and parallel your tweeter an inductor/coil directly.the data for the coil is 50-130 turns#24 magnetwire on a 5/16"diameter 4.5"long ferrite bar or your old junk A.M.radio ferrite bar.