Thanks for all the input. Ill just start with noting that i have no formal training in electronics, i jumbled this together from a few diff designs to suit my needs
I'll address the questions as they appeared
The 2.2K resistors: As stated, i don't know WHY these are there, they were just in the design, if i had to guess, i would say its to put a bit of a load on the transformer so the idle voltage isn't too high.
What's the point of the 1 ohm resistors is series with a 100nF cap?
No idea, again part of someone else's design, it came off another power-supply for a different gain-clone chip
The 1R resistors in series with the 100nF capacitors are pointless and actually degrade the performance so should be removed.
Will do, thanks.
How much current are you intending to draw and at what voltage?
You do realise that the LM338 can't output 5A when the input-output voltage is higher than about 10V?
According to the datasheet, at a 10 volt drop the MINIMUM available current is 5, typical is 8. With a 15 volt drop (and ideal temp, granted,) the typical is still around that level. That being said, i am only going for about a 10v drop. The transformer is 25 volts, so rectified it should be about 35. I can also use a few series diodes to drop it another volt or so if the transformer outputs too high. The minimum voltage i would need to run is 25 volts, and at that voltage the max draw i should ever see is 4 amps.
Remember this is an audio amplifier, the max power output at 25 volts is 47 watts per channel, so about 94 watts, which comes to just under 4 amp draw at 25 watts...now this would be at max volume...and even then, audio signals never draw full power all the time.
Given the speakers i already have (6 ohm) i will likely be running a voltage of about 30v, with a power of about 55, this drawing slightly less current....again, full draw would be at full volume, with max load...unlikely with an audio amp.
I would also add a couple of ceramic or small tantalum caps to the output. You want to be sure to have low impedance to the amp at high frequencies as well, so some caps will help.
ill take the tantalum caps into consideration, but as for the high frequency, isn't the whole point to eliminate any frequencies from the DC supply going to the chipamp?
Ok, all that being said, clearly there are some pitfalls to keep a watch out for, i suppose a more practical solution would be a voltage regulator that can handle more current, with similar output voltages. Again i really only need Vout in the range of 25-32, with a Vin of (hopefully) 35
Again, thanks for all the input!