Section I4: Multistage Feedback Amplifiers

The figure below (a modified version of Figure 11.6a in your text) illustrates
a multistage amplifier with feedback. All the benefits of negative feedback
that we have discussed are still possible for a multistage system, but care
must be taken that there is an odd number of polarity changes (phase
reversals of the signal as it propagates through the system). For example, in
the circuit below, each stage has a negative gain so we must have an odd
number of stages (three for this circuit) to get an overall odd number of
polarity changes.

Actually, its not as bad as it looks. Since a

multistage amplifier may be seen as a
single amplifier with the gain, response, input
impedance and output impedance derived
from its multiple components, the complex
circuit above may be replaced by the
schematic of Figure 11.6b (given to the
right). Note that the overall multistage
amplifier is shown as by an op-amp symbol,
and the bias balance requirement is satisfied
by the resistances (or impedances) at the
non-inverting and inverting terminals.