High-Power Audio Amplifier Construction Manual

Rating:
Summary: Slone is becoming by favorite author. Excellent Book.
Review: This book is it. The real deal. Look no further if you are looking to build your own amp, or just understand what is going on in most audio amps, this is the one. Randy, like all us, has his points of view, but in no way does he attack any one elses differing opinions on items such as the Tube vs. Solid State. He simply gives you the facts. You are free to use his knowledge or not. No tube lover, and I consider myself a guitar tube amp lover, will dispute that solid state is cleaner to the point of sterility vs the color of rectifier sag, and plate voltages variations on a 6l6 tube. Solid is sterile and Randy points out that coloring belongs in the preamp stages.In solid state, the amp is just to boost the preamp and its colors,Tubes are different. Randy knows that a solid state will not mimic a tube amp, nor does he try. This book is excellent in presentation and the material. I plan on building several of the completed designs.

Rating:
Summary: Can't understand it!!
Review: This book is targeted on people with a basic knowledge of electronics, which, unfortunately I don't have...... But still I fully enjoyed the first couple of chapters where it explained a lot about why building your own amp is better than buying a commercial brand. For now, I'm actually searching for an electronics basics book so I can go back to this book and really enjoy it, and perhaps, build my own power amp!!

Rating:
Summary: If you want to build amplifiers, this is the book you need!
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: If you want to build amplifiers, this is the book you need!
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Great book for intermediate level builder
Review: This has got to be the single best book I have read on building high-power amplifers! Many other publications do not go into the level of theory that is needed, or, go to the extreme. This book has a nice balance between theory and application. An extra bonus is the pcb artwork is included for several designs in the book (complete with parts placement diagram). G. Randy Slone does a great job of "debunking the myths" of audio amplification; in an almost humorus way! I would not advise a pure electronics beginner get this book, unless they simply want some basic information povided in the early chapters and some complete power-amp designs. There is some discussion requiring basic knowledge of tranistor/mosfet (and the like) theory. G. Randy Slone does indicate that he did not write the book for the pure novice. That being said, I have had only two, very basic, EE classes (about 9 years ago), and I don't have much trouble with the book. :-) I highly encourage anyone who is interested in building and designing power-amps to get this book.

Rating:
Summary: Luis, from Spain
Review: This is a fantastic book. It describes a lot of differents amplifiers. If you want to know about amplifier design this book teach you so much. I love this book, thanks Randy.

Rating:
Summary: Only Randy can explain this complicated subject so well.
Review: This is my 2nd book by Randy and just like his other book "Understanding Electricity and Electronics" Randy does a great job of breaking down a complicated subject so anyone can understand it. I'm not saying this book is only for beginners because this book can be enjoyed by anyone who wants to learn audiophile grade, solid state amp design. There have been a few reviews that rate this book poorly because Randy knocks tube design. If you want to learn tube design this book is not for you but if you want to learn solid state design this book, by far, is the best I've read.

Randy I thank you for writing these books. Too many times when I started this jounery of learning electronics I became frustrated and overwhelmed until I came across your books. I would not understand near as much without them.