Small Signal Audio Design is a highly practical handbook providing an extensive repertoire of circuits that can be assembled to make almost any type of audio system. This fully revised fourth edition offers wholly new content on internally balanced audio design, electret microphones, emitter-follower stability, microphony in capacitors, and much, much more. This book continues the engaging prose style familiar to readers, as you learn why mercury-filled cables are not a good idea, the pitfalls of plating gold on copper, and what quotes from Star Trek have to do with PCB design. Learn how to: make amplifiers with apparently impossibly low noise design discrete circuitry that can handle enormous signals with vanishingly low distortion transform the performance of low-cost-opamps build active filters with very low noise and distortion, while saving money on expensive capacitors make incredibly accurate volume controls make a huge variety of audio equalisers make magnetic cartridge preamplifiers that have noise so low it is limited by basic physics, by using load synthesis sum, switch, clip, compress, and route audio signals build simple but ultra-low noise power supplies be confident that phase perception is not an issue Including all the crucial theory, but with minimal mathematics, Small Signal Audio Design is the must-have companion for anyone studying, researching, or working in audio engineering and audio electronics.

This book addresses the widened scope of technology that has become available to the audio designer over the last 35 years. Including expanded prefaces to each article, the author provides background information and circuit commentary. Douglas Self has spent many years working at the top level of design in the professional audio and hifi industries and has taken out a number of patents in the field of audio technology.

Small Signal Audio Design is a highly practical handbook providing an extensive repertoire of circuits that can be assembled to make almost any type of audio system. This fully revised fourth edition offers wholly new content on internally balanced audio design, electret microphones, emitter-follower stability, microphony in capacitors, and much, much more. This book continues the engaging prose style familiar to readers, as you learn why mercury-filled cables are not a good idea, the pitfalls of plating gold on copper, and what quotes from Star Trek have to do with PCB design. Learn how to: make amplifiers with apparently impossibly low noise design discrete circuitry that can handle enormous signals with vanishingly low distortion transform the performance of low-cost-opamps build active filters with very low noise and distortion, while saving money on expensive capacitors make incredibly accurate volume controls make a huge variety of audio equalisers make magnetic cartridge preamplifiers that have noise so low it is limited by basic physics, by using load synthesis sum, switch, clip, compress, and route audio signals build simple but ultra-low noise power supplies be confident that phase perception is not an issue Including all the crucial theory, but with minimal mathematics, Small Signal Audio Design is the must-have companion for anyone studying, researching, or working in audio engineering and audio electronics.

This is the essential book reference for amplifier designers. Douglas Self covers all the design issues of noise, distortion, power supply rejection, protection, reliability, and layout. He describes advanced forms of compensation that give dramatically lower distortion. This edition is much expanded, and packed with new information. It is a must-have for audio power amplifier professionals and audiophiles, amateur constructors and anyone with intellectual curiosity about the struggle towards technical excellence. New to the sixth edition: The characteristics of the audio signal The principles of distortion Feedback intermodulation distortion Non-switching output stages VAS distortion explained Push-pull VAS configurations Output-inclusive compensation In addition, five amplifier design examples that illustrate important design principles are examined and measured in detail. These can be straightforwardly adapted to specific requirements. This new edition also includes a wealth of material on the XD crossover-displacement principle (invented by the author and in use by Cambridge Audio), four-stage amplifier architectures, error correction, current-mirrors, power transistors with internal sensing diodes, amplifier bridging, input-stage-common-mode distortion, amplifier stability, output stages with gain, inrush current suppression, DC servo design, thermal protection, cooling fan control, advanced line input stages, testing and safety, infrared remote control, signal activation, 12V trigger control, the history of solid-state amplifiers and much more. Simple procedures for heatsinking and power supply design are given.

Active crossovers are used by almost every sound reinforcement system and every recording studio monitoring set-up; but the use of active crossovers is rapidly expanding. This new edition, presents all the updates to loudspeaker technology and crossover design. The edition expands on loudspeaker configurations and design issues, sound reinforcement issues, more on lowpass and highpass filters, and may other filters. This new edition is a must read for anyone wanting comprehensive practical knowledge.

Presents the first comprehensive book on electronics for vinyl High-level, practical information with minimal mathematics Includes topics such as low-noise amplification, proper cartridge loading, equalisation for archival recordings, and more Includes tricks and innovations from an expert author

Active crossovers are used by almost every sound reinforcement system and every recording studio monitoring set-up; but the use of active crossovers is rapidly expanding. This new edition, presents all the updates to loudspeaker technology and crossover design. The edition expands on loudspeaker configurations and design issues, sound reinforcement issues, more on lowpass and highpass filters, and may other filters. This new edition is a must read for anyone wanting comprehensive practical knowledge.

Presents the first comprehensive book on electronics for vinyl High-level, practical information with minimal mathematics Includes topics such as low-noise amplification, proper cartridge loading, equalisation for archival recordings, and more Includes tricks and innovations from an expert author

All the design and development inspiration and direction an audio engineer needs in one blockbuster book! Douglas Self has selected the very best sound engineering design material from the Focal and Newnes portfolio and complied it into this volume. The result is a book covering the gamut of sound engineering.The material has been selected for its timelessness as well as for its relevance to contemporary sound engineering issues.

This is the essential book reference for amplifier designers. Douglas Self covers all the design issues of noise, distortion, power supply rejection, protection, reliability, and layout. He describes advanced forms of compensation that give dramatically lower distortion. This edition is much expanded, and packed with new information. It is a must-have for audio power amplifier professionals and audiophiles, amateur constructors and anyone with intellectual curiosity about the struggle towards technical excellence. New to the sixth edition: The characteristics of the audio signal The principles of distortion Feedback intermodulation distortion Non-switching output stages VAS distortion explained Push-pull VAS configurations Output-inclusive compensation In addition, five amplifier design examples that illustrate important design principles are examined and measured in detail. These can be straightforwardly adapted to specific requirements. This new edition also includes a wealth of material on the XD crossover-displacement principle (invented by the author and in use by Cambridge Audio), four-stage amplifier architectures, error correction, current-mirrors, power transistors with internal sensing diodes, amplifier bridging, input-stage-common-mode distortion, amplifier stability, output stages with gain, inrush current suppression, DC servo design, thermal protection, cooling fan control, advanced line input stages, testing and safety, infrared remote control, signal activation, 12V trigger control, the history of solid-state amplifiers and much more. Simple procedures for heatsinking and power supply design are given.

This book addresses the widened scope of technology that has become available to the audio designer over the last 35 years. Including expanded prefaces to each article, the author provides background information and circuit commentary. Douglas Self has spent many years working at the top level of design in the professional audio and hifi industries and has taken out a number of patents in the field of audio technology.

All the design and development inspiration and direction an audio engineer needs in one blockbuster book! Douglas Self has selected the very best sound engineering design material from the Focal and Newnes portfolio and complied it into this volume. The result is a book covering the gamut of sound engineering.
The material has been selected for its timelessness as well as for its relevance to contemporary sound engineering issues.

* Hand picked content, provides everything you want to know in one volume * Proven best design practices * Case histories and design examples get you off and running on your current project

The Newnes Know It All Series takes the best of what our authors have written to create hard-working desk references that will be an engineer's first port of call for key information, design techniques and rules of thumb. Guaranteed not to gather dust on a shelf!
Part I Fundamentals of Sound
Chapter 1 Audio Principles
Chapter 2. Measurement
Chapter 3 Acoustic Environment
II. Audio Electronics
Chapter 4 Components
Chapter 5 Power supply design

III Preamplifiers and Amplifiers
Chapter 6 Introduction to Audio Amplification
CHAPTER 7 Preamplifiers and input signals
Chapter 8 Interfacing and processing
Chapter 9 Audio amplifiers
Chapter 10 Audio amplifier
Chapter 11. Valve (tube-based) amplifiers
Chapter 12 Negative feedback
Chapter 13 Noise and grounding
Part IV Digital Audio
Chapter 14 Digital audio fundamentals
Chapter 15 Representation of Audio Signals
Chapter 16.Compact disc
Chapter 17 Digital audio recording basics
Chapter 18 Digital audio interfaces
Chapter 19 Data compression
Chapter 20 Digital audio production
Chapter 21 Other Digital Audio Devices
V. Microphone and Loudspeaker Technology
Chapter 22 Microphone technology
Chapter 23 Loudspeakers
Chapter 24 Loudspeaker enclosures
Chapter 25 Headphones
Part VI. Sound Reproduction Systems
Chapter 26 Tape Recording
Chapter 27 Recording consoles
Chapter 28 Video synchronization
Chapter 29 Room acoustics
Part VII Audio Test and Measurement
CHAPTER 30 Fundamentals and instruments
- A 360-degree view from our best-selling authors
- Hot topics covered
- The ultimate hard-working deskreference; all the essential information, techniques and tricks of the trade in one volume

Learn to use inexpensive and readily available parts to obtain state-of-the-art performance in all the vital parameters of noise, distortion, crosstalk and so on. With ample coverage of preamplifiers and mixers and a new chapter on headphone amplifiers, this practical handbook provides an extensive repertoire of circuits that can be put together to make almost any type of audio system.

A resource packed full of valuable information, with virtually every page revealing nuggets of specialized knowledge not found elsewhere. Essential points of theory that bear on practical performance are lucidly and thoroughly explained, with the mathematics kept to a relative minimum. Douglas' background in design for manufacture ensures he keeps a wary eye on the cost of things. Includes a chapter on power-supplies, full of practical ways to keep both the ripple and the cost down, showing how to power everything.

Douglas wears his learning lightly, and this book features the engaging prose style familiar to readers of his other books. You will learn why mercury cables are not a good idea, the pitfalls of plating gold on copper, and what quotes from Star Trek have to do with PCB design.

Learn how to:

• make amplifiers with apparently impossibly low noise
• design discrete circuitry that can handle enormous signals with vanishingly low distortion
• use humble low-gain transistors to make an amplifier with an input impedance of more than 50 Megohms
• transform the performance of low-cost-opamps, how to make filters with very low noise and distortion
• make incredibly accurate volume controls
• make a huge variety of audio equalisers
• make magnetic cartridge preamplifiers that have noise so low it is limited by basic physics
• sum, switch, clip, compress, and route audio signals

The second edition is expanded throughout (with added information on new ADCs and DACs, microcontrollers, more coverage of discrete op amp design, and many other topics), and includes a completely new chapter on headphone amplifiers.