Stereo Widening

Huub Smits (The Netherlands) many portable devices, ghettoblasters and also contains part of the sound from the right
PC loudspeakers, even though it is usually channel, shifted a little in phase compared
Although the principle is quite old, ‘widening’ called something else in these applications. to the right channel. The same is true for the
of the sound image is still done these days in To generate the stereo image, the left channel right channel, where the signal from the left

+12V
+12V
C3
C7 +12V
100n
100n C11
L R1 7
3
6k8 R3
6 3 7 100n
IC1 6k8 R22
2 6 L–R
R4 IC3 6k8
4 2 3 7
6k8 R23 L
4 6
6k8 IC5
2
C8 4
C4
R25
100n 6k8
100n
R24
–12V C12
–12V

6k8
R7
6k8 100n

R8 –12V
470R

R9
470R

R10 S1
560R
A1
A2
R11
A3 C1
560R A
A4
A5 10µ
R12 63V
A6
510R
+12V
+12V
C5 +12V
C9
100n C13
R5
100n
R R2 7
6k8
100n
3
6k8 R6
6 3 7
IC2 6k8 R26
2 6 L+R 3 7
IC4 6k8 R
4 2 6
R27 IC6
4 2
6k8
4
R13
C10 R28
C6
6k8
6k8

100n
100n
C14
–12V
–12V
R14 100n
C1
510R
C2
–12V
C3 C2
R15 C
C4
1k1
C5 10µ
R21 63V
C6
1k3

R16
1k6
R20
1k8

IC1...IC6 = TL071
R17
1k1

R18
1k6

R19
2k2 090174 - 11

 elektor - 7-8/2009
channel is slightly shifted in phase. To make
the stereo image ‘wider’, you can amplify the
difference signals of both channels.
To do this you generate a sum- and a dif-
ference signal from the left and right chan-
nels. With a couple of opamps you can real-
ise a ‘left+right’ signal and a ‘left-right’ signal.
So the (left–right) signal needs to be made
stronger with respect to the (left+right) sig-
nal. Expressed as a formula:
(L+R) + (L–R) = 2L and (L+R) – (L–R) = 2R
With a suitable circuit, the left signal in the
left channel is increased and the right signal
is decreased. Similarly, in the right channel
7-8/2009 - elektor
the right signal is increased if the left signal
reduces. To maintain a constant volume, we
also have to make sure that the total signal
strength remains the same.
From the schematic you can see how this
problem was solved. IC1 and IC2 are the
input buffers. After the buffer, the left and
right signals are combined with the other
channel respectively. IC3 generates the
(L–R) signal and IC4 the (L+R) signal. With
two times six resistors and a multi-posi-
tion switch, the amount of the effect can
be adjusted. The values of resistors R7–R12
and R14–R21 are selected such that the
total volume remains about the same when
changing the switch. IC5 and IC6 generate
the final left and right signal from the (L+R)
and (L–R) signals.
For additional protection, electrolytic
coupling capacitors of 10 μF 16 V can be
added to the inputs and outputs. Each of
the inputs of IC1 and IC2 will then also need
a 10 kΩ resistor to ground, otherwise the
opamp outputs will run up against power
supply rail.
The power supply requires a symmetrical
voltage of ±12 V. This voltage can usually be
found in an existing amplifier, so normally
there is no need to build a special power
supply.
(090174-I)