On 15 Jul 2004 11:03:36 GMT, (Fred McKenzie) wrote:

OTOH, I could just
stick an emitter follower stage on the end of the amp chain and have
done with it. :-/

Paul-

Now that you have a good grip on the problem, consider one more idea - that
most audio amplifiers have more gain than they need, and operate with the
volume control set at a fraction of full range.

If you were to use a series resistor (27 or 56 Ohms?) and NO transformer, would
the output stage have sufficient power to produce an acceptable audio level
with the volume control advanced?

I instinctively doubt it, Fred, but I'm in a position to give it a try
so I shall duly do so! I'll report back the results later.
BTW, this isn't a conventional hi-fi type audio amp; it's solely been
designed for picking up very faint, distant sounds. I was intrigued by
the design so set out to further examine how it worked. I've spiced it
and have now built it; the last piece in the jigsaw is the Z-matching
problem.
--

"What is now proved was once only imagin'd." - William Blake, 1793.