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Recommended Texts

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Reference Texts 

This is a subset of textbooks in my library and various websites I find useful. In many cases, I refer to these references for the full derivations or explanations on a topic. Note that many textbooks are updated rather frequently and the newest edition is often incredibly expensive. I list the edition I use, which is often not the latest. Readers interested in buying these books will often be able to find considerable savings by picking up a used copy of an older edition.

The texts are listed alphabetically by author.

Blencowe: Merlin Blencowe: “Designing Power Supplies for Tube Amplifiers”. Wem Publishing, 2010. ISBN: 978-0-9561545-1-4.

Franco: Sergio Franco: “Design with Operational Amplifiers and Analog Integrated Circuits”, 3rd edition, McGraw-Hill, 2002, ISBN: 0-07-232084-2.

Note: The differences between the second and third editions are minimal. If you are considering buying this book, you may be able to find good deals on the older edition. The differences between the first and second editions are significant, however.

Jones: Morgan Jones: “Valve Amplifiers”, 4th Edition, Newnes, 2012, ISBN: 978-0-08-096640-3.

Jung: Walt Jung (editor): “Op Amp Applications Handbook”, Newnes, 2005, ISBN: 0-7506-7844-5. Also available as a free download from Analog Devices, Inc.: Jung – Op Amp Applications Handbook.

Sedra/Smith: Adel S. Sedra, Kenneth C. Smith: “Microelectronic Circuits”, 5th Edition, Oxford, 2004. ISBN: 0-19-514251-9.

Self: Duglas Self: "Audio Power Amplifier Design", 6th Edition, Routledge, 2013, ISBN: 0-24-052613-9

Self: Douglas Self: "Small Signal Audio Design", 3rd Edition, Focal Press, 2020, ISBN: 0-36-746895-6

Videos

I generally prefer to read rather than watch, but I do occasionally come across reasonably well-produced and informative videos. I have linked to some of these below.

Benchmark Media Systems: Star-Quad Microphone Cable Demonstration. Neat demonstration of the Star-Quad cable geometry compared with regular shielded twisted pair cable.

Ethan Winer: “The Null Tester”. An application of Baxandal’s summing circuit for testing ultra-low distortion and other non-idealities of audio components.

Ethan Winer: “AES Damn Lies Workshop”. In this video, Ethan Winer illustrates the important specifications of audio circuits. His description of the various distortion mechanisms and their impact on the perceived sound quality is excellent. He also points out what to look for in the various spec sheets and how to tell a good spec sheet from a useless one.

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