Clip Indicator (LED) for Any Power Amp

A power amplifier cannot deliver an output wave wider than its power supply voltage. When you reach the limit, increasing gain may sound louder but sound will be distorted and can even damage speakers .This simple clipping indicator circuit will announce with an LED that you have reached that limit.

Q1 BC547 NPN transistor

Q2 BC557 PNP transistor

D1-D3 1N4148 diode

note: If your amp V+ voltage is higher than 45v use BC546/BC556 (up to 65v) or other higher voltage ones.

also increase R4 for a led current of 30mA. ( R=v/a )

For longer "peak hold" time increase R3 up to 100K