LM1036 Dual DC Operated Tone/Volume/Balance Circuit

January 1995

LM1036
Dual DC Operated Tone/Volume/Balance Circuit
General Description Features
The LM1036 is a DC controlled tone (bass/treble), volume n Wide supply voltage range, 9V to 16V
and balance circuit for stereo applications in car radio, TV n Large volume control range, 75 dB typical
and audio systems. An additional control input allows loud- n Tone control, ± 15 dB typical
ness compensation to be simply effected. n Channel separation, 75 dB typical
Four control inputs provide control of the bass, treble, bal- n Low distortion, 0.06% typical for an input level of 0.3
ance and volume functions through application of DC volt- Vrms
ages from a remote control system or, alternatively, from four n High signal to noise, 80 dB typical for an input level of
potentiometers which may be biased from a zener regulated 0.3 Vrms
supply provided on the circuit. n Few external components required
Each tone response is defined by a single capacitor chosen
to give the desired characteristic.

Block and Connection Diagram

Dual-In-Line Package

DS005142-1

Order Number LM1036N

See NS Package Number N20A

© 1999 National Semiconductor Corporation DS005142 www.national.com

 Absolute Maximum Ratings (Note 1) Storage Temperature Range −65˚C to +150˚C
If Military/Aerospace specified devices are required, Power Dissipation 1W
please contact the National Semiconductor Sales Office/ Lead Temp. (Soldering, 10 seconds) 260˚C
Distributors for availability and specifications. Note 1: “Absolute Maximum Ratings” indicate limits beyond which damage
to the device may occur. Operating Ratings indicate conditions for which the
Supply Voltage 16V device is functional, but do not guarantee specific performance limits.
Control Pin Voltage (Pins 4, 7, 9, 12, 14) VCC
Operating Temperature Range 0˚C to +70˚C

Electrical Characteristics
VCC = 12V, TA = 25˚C (unless otherwise stated)
Parameter Conditions Min Typ Max Units
Supply Voltage Range Pin 11 9 16 V
Supply Current 35 45 mA
Zener Regulated Output Pin 17
Voltage 5.4 V
Current 5 mA
Maximum Output Voltage Pins 8, 13; f = 1 kHz
VCC = 9V, Maximum Gain 0.8 Vrms
VCC = 12V 0.8 1.0 Vrms
Maximum Input Voltage Pins 2, 19; f = 1 kHz, VCC 2V 1.3 1.6 Vrms
Gain = −10 dB
Input Resistance Pins 2, 19; f = 1 kHz 20 30 kΩ
Output Resistance Pins 8, 13; f = 1 kHz 20 Ω
Maximum Gain V(Pin 12) = V(Pin 17); f = 1 kHz −2 0 2 dB
Volume Control Range f = 1 kHz 70 75 dB
Gain Tracking f = 1 kHz
Channel 1–Channel 2 0 dB through −40 dB 1 3 dB
−40 dB through −60 dB 2 dB
Balance Control Range Pins 8, 13; f = 1 kHz 1 dB
−26 −20 dB
Bass Control Range f = 40 Hz, Cb = 0.39 µF
(Note 3) V(Pin 14) = V(Pin 17) 12 15 18 dB
V(Pin 14) = 0V −12 −15 −18 dB
Treble Control Range f = 16 kHz, Ct, = 0.01 µF
(Note 3) V(Pin 4) = V(Pin 17) 12 15 18 dB
V(Pin 4) = 0V −12 −15 −18 dB
Total Harmonic Distortion f = 1 kHz, VIN = 0.3 Vrms
Gain = 0 dB 0.06 0.3 %
Gain = −30 dB 0.03 %
Channel Separation f = 1 kHz, Maximum Gain 60 75 dB
Signal/Noise Ratio Unweighted 100 Hz–20 kHz 80 dB
Maximum Gain, 0 dB = 0.3 Vrms
CCIR/ARM (Note 4)
Gain = 0 dB, VIN = 0.3 Vrms 75 79 dB
Gain = −20 dB, VIN = 1.0 Vrms 72 dB
Output Noise Voltage at CCIR/ARM (Note 4) 10 16 µV
Minimum Gain
Supply Ripple Rejection 200 mVrms, 1 kHz Ripple 35 50 dB
Control Input Currents Pins 4, 7, 9, 12, 14 (V = 0V) −0.6 −2.5 µA
Frequency Response −1 dB (Flat Response 250 kHz
20 Hz–16 kHz)
Note 2: The maximum permissible input level is dependent on tone and volume settings. See Application Notes.

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Electrical Characteristics (Continued)
Note 3: The tone control range is defined by capacitors Cb and Ct. See Application Notes.
Note 4: Gaussian noise, measured over a period of 50 ms per channel, with a CCIR filter referenced to 2 kHz and an average-responding meter.

Typical Performance Characteristics

Volume Control Balance Control Tone Control Characteristic
Characteristics Characteristic

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DS005142-20 DS005142-21

Tone Characteristic (Gain Tone Characteristic (Gain Loudness Compensated

vs Frequency) vs Frequency) Volume Characteristic

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Input Signal Handling vs THD vs Gain Channel Separation vs

Supply Voltage Frequency

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 Typical Performance Characteristics (Continued)

Loudness Control Output Noise Voltage THD vs Input Voltage

Characteristic vs Gain

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DS005142-29 DS005142-30

Application Notes
TONE RESPONSE maximum boost defined by Cb and Ct. There is no loudness
The maximum boost and cut can be optimized for individual compensation when pin 7 is connected to pin 17. Pin 7 can
applications by selection of the appropriate values of Ct be connected to pin 12 to give the loudness compensated
(treble) and Cb (bass). volume characteristic as illustrated without the addition of
further external components. (Tone settings are for flat re-
The tone responses are defined by the relationships:
sponse, Cb and Ct as given in Application Circuit.) Modifica-
tion to the loudness characteristic is possible by changing
the capacitors Cb and Ct for a different basic response or, by
a resistor network between pins 7 and 12 for a different
threshold and slope.

SIGNAL HANDLING
The volume control function of the LM1036 is carried out in
two stages, controlled by the DC voltage on pin 12, to im-
prove signal handling capability and provide a reduction of
output noise level at reduced gain. The first stage is before
Where ab = at = 0 for maximum bass and treble boost respec-
the tone control processing and provides an initial 15 dB of
tively and ab = at = 1 for maximum cut.
gain reduction, so ensuring that the tone sections are not
For the values of Cb and Ct of 0.39 µF and 0.01 µF as shown overdriven by large input levels when operating with a low
in the Application Circuit, 15 dB of boost or cut is obtained at volume setting. Any combination of tone and volume settings
40 Hz and 16 kHz. may be used provided the output level does not exceed
1 Vrms, VCC = 12V (0.8 Vrms, VCC = 9V). At reduced gain
ZENER VOLTAGE ( < −6 dB)the input stage will overload if the input level ex-
A zener voltage (pin 17 = 5.4V) is provided which may be ceeds 1.6 Vrms, VCC = 12V (1.1 Vrms, VCC = 9V). As there is
used to bias the control potentiometers. Setting a DC level of volume control on the input stages, the inputs may be oper-
one half of the zener voltage on the control inputs, pins 4, 9, ated with a lower overload margin than would otherwise be
and 14, results in the balanced gain and flat response condi- acceptable, allowing a possible improvement in signal to
tion. Typical spread on the zener voltage is ± 100 mV and noise ratio.
this must be taken into account if control signals are used
which are not referenced to the zener voltage. If this is the
case, then they will need to be derived with similar accuracy.

LOUDNESS COMPENSATION
A simple loudness compensation may be effected by apply-
ing a DC control voltage to pin 7. This operates on the tone
control stages to produce an additional boost limited by the

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Application Circuit

DS005142-3

Applications Information
OBTAINING MODIFIED RESPONSE CURVES Figure 2 and Figure 3 show the effect of changing the re-
The LM1036 is a dual DC controlled bass, treble, balance sponse defining capacitors Ct and Cb to 2Ct, Cb/2 and 4Ct,
and volume integrated circuit ideal for stereo audio systems. Cb/4 respectively, giving increased tone control ranges. The
values of the bypass capacitors may become significant and
In the various applications where the LM1036 can be used,
affect the lower frequencies in the bass response curves.
there may be requirements for responses different to those
of the standard application circuit given in the data sheet.
This application section details some of the simple variations
possible on the standard responses, to assist the choice of
optimum characteristics for particular applications.

TONE CONTROLS
Summarizing the relationship given in the data sheet, basi-
cally for an increase in the treble control range Ct must be in-
creased, and for increased bass range Cb must be reduced.
Figure 1 shows the typical tone response obtained in the
standard application circuit. (Ct = 0.01 µF, Cb = 0.39 µF). Re- DS005142-5
sponse curves are given for various amounts of boost and
cut. FIGURE 2. Tone Characteristic (Gain vs Frequency)

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FIGURE 1. Tone Characteristic (Gain vs Frequency) FIGURE 3. Tone Characteristic (Gain vs Frequency)

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 Applications Information (Continued)

Figure 4 shows the effect of changing Ct and Cb in the oppo-

site direction to Ct/2, 2Cb respectively giving reduced control
ranges. The various results corresponding to the different Ct
and Cb values may be mixed if it is required to give a particu-
lar emphasis to, for example, the bass control. The particular
case with Cb/2, Ct is illustrated in Figure 5.

Restriction of Tone Control Action at High or Low

Frequencies
It may be desired in some applications to level off the tone
responses above or below certain frequencies for example
to reduce high frequence noise. DS005142-7

This may be achieved for the treble response by including a FIGURE 4. Tone Characteristic (Gain vs Frequency)
resistor in series with Ct. The treble boost and cut will be 3
dB less than the standard circuit when R = XC.
A similar effect may be obtained for the bass response by re-
ducing the value of the AC bypass capacitors on pins 5
(channel 1) and 16 (channel 2). The internal resistance at
these pins is 1.3 kΩ and the bass boost/cut will be approxi-
mately 3 dB less with XC at this value. An example of such
modified response curves is shown in Figure 6. The input
coupling capacitors may also modify the low frequency re-
sponse.
It will be seen from Figure 2 and Figure 3 that modifying Ct
and Cb for greater control range also has the effect of flatten-
ing the tone control extremes and this may be utilized, with
or without additional modification as outlined above, for the DS005142-8
most suitable tone control range and response shape.
FIGURE 5. Tone Characteristic (Gain vs Frequency)
Other Advantages of DC Controls
The DC controls make the addition of other features easy to
arrange. For example, the negative-going peaks of the out-
put amplifiers may be detected below a certain level, and
used to bias back the bass control from a high boost condi-
tion, to prevent overloading the speaker with low frequency
components.

LOUDNESS CONTROL
The loudness control is achieved through control of the tone
sections by the voltage applied to pin 7; therefore, the tone
and loudness functions are not independent. There is nor-
mally 1 dB more bass than treble boost (40 Hz–16 kHz) with
loudness control in the standard circuit. If a greater differ- DS005142-9
ence is desired, it is necessary to introduce an offset by
means of Ct or Cb or by changing the nominal control voltage FIGURE 6. Tone Characteristic (Gain vs Frequency)
ranges.
Figure 7 shows the typical loudness curves obtained in the
standard application circuit at various volume levels
(Cb = 0.39 µF).

DS005142-10

FIGURE 7. Loudness Compensated Volume

Characteristic

Figure 8 and Figure 9 illustrate the loudness characteristics

obtained with Cb changed to Cb/2 and Cb/4 respectively, Ct

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Applications Information (Continued)

being kept at the nominal 0.01 µF. These values naturally

modify the bass tone response as in Figure 2 and Figure 3.
With pins 7 (loudness) and 12 (volume) directly connected,
loudness control starts at typically −8 dB volume, with most
of the control action complete by −30 dB.
Figure 10 and Figure 11 show the effect of resistively offset-
ting the voltage applied to pin 7 towards the control refer-
ence voltage (pin 17). Because the control inputs are high
impedance, this is easily done and high value resistors may
be used for minimal additional loading. It is possible to re-
duce the rate of onset of control to extend the active range to
DS005142-12
−50 dB volume control and below.
The control on pin 7 may also be divided down towards FIGURE 9. Loudness Compensated Volume
ground bringing the control action on earlier. This is illus- Characteristic
trated in Figure 12, With a suitable level shifting network be-
tween pins 12 and 7, the onset of loudness control and its
rate of change may be readily modified.

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FIGURE 10. Loudness Compensated Volume

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Characteristic

FIGURE 8. Loudness Compensated Volume

Characteristic

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FIGURE 11. Loudness Compensated Volume

Characteristic

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FIGURE 12. Loudness Compensated Volume Characteristic

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 Applications Information (Continued) USE OF THE LM1036 ABOVE AUDIO FREQUENCIES
The LM1036 has a basic response typically 1 dB down at
When adjusted for maximum boost in the usual application 250 kHz (tone controls flat) and therefore by scaling Cb and
circuit, the LM1036 cannot give additional boost from the Ct, it is possible to arrange for operation over a wide fre-
loudness control with reducing gain. If it is required, some quency range for possible use in wide band equalization ap-
additional boost can be obtained by restricting the tone con- plications. As an example Figure 15 shows the responses
trol range and modifying Ct, Cb, to compensate. A circuit il- obtained centered on 10 kHz with Cb = 0.039 µF and
lustrating this for the case of bass boost is shown in Figure Ct = 0.001 µF.
13. The resulting responses are given in Figure 14 showing
the continuing loudness control action possible with bass
boost previously applied.

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FIGURE 13. Modified Application Circuit for Additional Bass Boost with Loudness Control

DS005142-17 DS005142-18

FIGURE 14. Loudness Compensated Volume FIGURE 15. Tone Characteristic (Gain vs Frequency)
Characteristic

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Simplified Schematic Diagram (One Channel)

DS005142-19

*Connections reversed

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LM1036 Dual DC Operated Tone/Volume/Balance Circuit
Physical Dimensions inches (millimeters) unless otherwise noted

Molded Dual-In-Line Package (N)

Order Number LM1036N
NS Package Number N20A

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