Product Description

Serious about sound? Build showcase amplifiers that outperform store-bought models-at a fraction of the cost. Ideal for audiophiles, electronics hobbyists, and audio engineers, here is the ultimate audio amplifier dream-to-reality book, giving you leading-edge electronics tools for designing every detail of a superior high-power amplifier. Using Randy Slone's ready-to-construct recipes, you can-in less time than you think-put together an amplifier that's a major step up from commercial offerings. And you'll save hundreds, even thougsands, of dollars doing it. The Best In Do-It-Yourself Audio Amplification: 12 complete designs, ready to guild; theory and principles for designing your own world-class amplifier; optimal audio power supply building methods; new configurations and analyses of voltage amplifiers; new methods for increasing stability; new distortion-reduction techniques; latest info on computer analysis and diagnostics; and popular audio myths debunked.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #224417 in Books
• Published on: 1999-05-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 476 pages

From the Author
Understand the Science of Audio Power Amplifers.
I designed this book for audiophiles and electronics hobbyists who want to build their own high-quality audio power amplifiers. The designs contained herein are not just mediocre amplifiers; they are audiophile-quality designs, with the majority capable of significantly superior performance in comparison to commercially available amplifiers. My philosophy is simple: If you're going to invest the time and expense to build audio power amplifiers, why not construct projects of exemplary performance?

This textbook is for those who have been discouraged by the apparent schism between audio professionals and extravagant esoterics. It is designed to help anyone experience the ultimate in sonic quality at a reasonable expense. The concepts and principles presented are not subjective, mythical, or traditional; they are scientific and extensively supported with provable analyses. Many readers will be pleasantly surprised at the low cost involved with even the best audio power amplifiers.

From the Back Cover
Serious About Sound? Build showcase amplifiers that outperform store-bought models-at a fraction of the cost. Ideal for audiophiles, electronics hobbyists, and audio engineers, here is the ultimate audio amplifier dream-to-reality book, giving you leading-edge electronics tools for designing every detail of a superior high-power amplifier. Using Randy Slone's ready-to-construct recipes, you can-in less time than you think-put together an amplifier that's a major step up from commercial offerings. And you'll save hundreds, even thougsands, of dollars doing it. The Best In Do-It-Yourself Audio Amplification. 12 complete designs, ready to guild; Theory and principles for designing your own world-class amplifier; Optimal audio power supply building methods; New configurations and analyses of voltage amplifiers; New methods for increasing stability; New distortion-reduction techniques; Latest info on computer analysis and diagnostics; Popular audio myths debunked. Serious About Sound? Build showcase amplifiers that outperform store-bought models-at a fraction of the cost. Ideal for audiophiles, electronics hobbyists, and audio engineers, here is the ultimate audio amplifier dream-to-reality book, giving you leading-edge electronics tools for designing every detail of a superior high-power amplifier. Using Randy Slone's ready-to-construct recipes, you can-in less time than you think-put together an amplifier that's a major step up from commercial offerings. And you'll save hundreds, even thousands, of dollars doing it. The Best In Do-It-Yourself Audio Amplification. 12 complete designs, ready to build; Theory and principles for designing your own world-class amplifier; Optimal audio power supply building methods; New configurations and analyses of voltage amplifiers; New methods for increasing stability; New distortion-reduction techniques; Latest info on computer analysis and diagnostics; Popular audio myths debunked.

About the Author
G. Randy Slone is an electrical engineer with nearly two decades of experience in data processing and industrial electronics. A private engineering consultant, his clients have included DuPont, Champion International, and Ralston Purina. Also a former college instructor, Slone spends much of his time working in his state-of-the-art home electronics laboratory.

Customer Reviews

A great guide to power amplifier design
I am enjoying this book greatly! I have been interested in building my own high quality power amplifier for some time, and am pleased that a book of this nature is available. Although I work in the electronics industry, I have no training in audio design; this book has given me confidence that I can launch into the project with success, and have some fun at the same time.

It is obvious that the author has worked in the audio arena for many years, and his thorough knowledge of, and love for, the subject matter are reflected in his book. He often includes anecdotes and personal insights into amplifier design, as well as his opinions about the 'myths' surrounding audio equipment.

The book offers schematics for several ready-to-build amplifiers. In addition, the author arms the reader with the knowledge to customize the final design. Mr. Slone also welcomes personal contact, either by e-mail or telephone, to discuss design issues. Besides the designs included in the book, there are several kit projects available through his company, Seal Electronics.

If you want to build amplifiers, this is the book you need!
This book will take you by the hand and put you "in the know" if you are attempting to learn about or construct high power audio amplifiers. Mr Slone is very adept at explaining the necessary concepts in a way that can be easily understood. Anyone with technical ability and a reasonable amount of electronics experience should be able to take this book and build an exceptional amplifier. What I particularly like about the book is it not only tells you the details that you must know, it also tells you why and is very solidly backed up with examples. The book literally covered everything I wanted to know (and then some) about amplifiers. From power supplies to the output stages, he very thouroughly unravels the details that separate the truly great designs from mediocre ones (you may never look at your commercially manufactured amp the same way again!) Designs and artwork are included for 12 different amplifiers, each geared towards different applications- and all sporting exceptional performance numbers. Mr Slone has designed these projects around components that are readily accessible and can actually be ordered at very reasonable prices through his business, Seal Electronics. If you want to build, modify, troubleshoot, or just learn what makes an amplifier tick, then this book is the answer.

A comprehensive, resourceful guide for making audio amps
Overall, I find this book to be an excellent resource. It covers everything from power supply design to output stages. In addition, it intelligently attempts to cover all aspects of power amplifiers, including different approaches and topologies. One thing that is particularly pleasing about the way Slone covers this topic is that he discusses it intellegently, and scientificly. I found the section where he debunks audio myths to be of particular interest. Most importantly though, the author adds his experience into the book, by including rules of thumb, and the "really" important yet subtle details that come only with experience.

However, from a technical standpoint, this book is probably not for everyone. I've had an introductory course in EE (and will take my fundamentals course next year), and can understand most of what the author is saying. However, some topics seem heady, and I will probably not attempt to really read into those until after my fundamentals course. But I would say that if you have a good understanding of EE, this book should be no problem for you. However, if you don't (like me :), don't despair either, as there's really only a few chapters in the book that would be difficult. There's still a lot of material that one can understand with only a basic education in electronics.

But, in any case, I am definetly keeping this book with me, because anything that I need to know about building amplifiers is most likely going to be in there.