Valve Amplifiers, 4th Edition

Valve Amplifiers, 4th Edition

by Morgan Jones
Released October 2011
Publisher(s): Newnes
ISBN: 9780080966410

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Book description

Valve Amplifiers has been recognized as the most comprehensive guide to valve amplifier design, analysis, modification and maintenance. It provides a detailed presentation of the rudiments of electronics and valve design for engineers and non-experts. The source also covers design principles and construction techniques to help end users build their own tool from scratch designs that work. The author's approach walks the reader through each step of designing and constructing, starting with an overview of the essential working principles of valve amplifiers, the simple and complex stages, the process of linking the stages, and completing the design.

The book is comprised of seven chapters all of which include a DIY guide discussion of practical aspects. The text starts with familiarization of the fundamentals of electronics, which are essential for designing and building valve amplifiers. Particular attention has been paid to providing solutions for questions that are commonly asked and faced by beginners in valve designing and construction.

Valve Amplifiers is a masterful hands-on guide for both experts and novices who work with tube audio equipment, and for electronic hobbyists, audio engineers, and audiophiles.

  • The practical guide to analysis, modification, design, construction and maintenance of valve amplifiers
  • The fully up-to-date approach to valve electronics
  • Essential reading for audio designers and music and electronics enthusiasts alike

Table of contents

  1. Cover image
  2. Title page
  3. Table of Contents
  4. Copyright
  5. Preface
  6. Dedication
  7. Acknowledgements
  8. Chapter 1. Circuit Analysis
    1. Publisher Summary
    2. Mathematical Symbols
    3. Electrons and Definitions
    4. Potential Dividers
    5. Alternating Current (AC)
    6. Active Devices
    7. Silicon Diodes
    8. Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJTs)
    9. General Observations on BJTs
    10. Feedback
    11. The Operational Amplifier
    12. References
    13. Recommended Further Reading
  9. Chapter 2. Basic Building Blocks
    1. Publisher Summary
    2. The Common Cathode Triode Amplifier
    3. The Tetrode
    4. The Beam Tetrode and the Pentode
    5. The Cascode
    6. The Charge Amplifier
    7. The Cathode Follower
    8. Sources and Sinks: Definitions
    9. The Common Cathode Amplifier as a Constant Current Sink (CCS)
    10. The Cathode Follower with Active Load
    11. The White Cathode Follower
    12. The μ-Follower
    13. The Shunt-Regulated Push–Pull Amplifier (SRPP)
    14. The β-Follower
    15. The Cathode-Coupled Amplifier
    16. The Differential Pair
    17. Semiconductor Constant Current Sinks
    18. References
    19. Recommended Further Reading
  10. Chapter 3. Dynamic Range: Distortion and Noise
    1. Publisher Summary
    2. Distortion
    3. Digital Concepts
    4. The Fast Fourier Transform (FFT)
    5. Designing for Low Distortion
    6. Signal Amplitude
    7. Grid Current
    8. Distortion Reduction by Parameter Restriction
    9. Distortion Reduction by Cancellation
    10. DC Bias Problems
    11. Individual Valve Choice
    12. Coupling from One Stage to the Next
    13. Distortion and Negative Feedback
    14. Carbon Resistors and Distortion
    15. Noise
    16. Noise from Resistances
    17. Noise from Amplifying Devices
    18. Noise in DC references
    19. References
    20. Recommended Further Reading
  11. Chapter 4. Component Technology
    1. Publisher Summary
    2. Resistors
    3. General Considerations on Choosing Resistors
    4. Capacitors
    5. Different Types of Capacitors
    6. General Considerations in Choosing Capacitors
    7. Magnetic Components
    8. Inductors
    9. Transformers
    10. Why Should I Use a Transformer?
    11. General Considerations in Choosing Transformers
    12. Uses and Abuses of Audio Transformers
    13. Thermionic Valves
    14. Individual Elements of the Valve Structure
    15. Thoriated Tungsten Filament Fragility
    16. References
    17. Recommended Further Reading
  12. Chapter 5. Power Supplies
    1. Publisher Summary
    2. The Major Blocks
    3. Rectification and Smoothing
    4. Regulators
    5. Common-Mode Interference
    6. Practical Issues
    7. A Practical Design
    8. Adapting the Power Supply to the EC8010 RIAA Stage
    9. References
    10. Recommended Further Reading
  13. Chapter 6. The Power Amplifier
    1. Publisher Summary
    2. The Output Stage
    3. Classes of Amplifiers
    4. The Push–Pull Output Stage and the Output Transformer
    5. Output Transformer-Less (OTL) Amplifiers
    6. The Entire Amplifier
    7. The Driver Stage
    8. The Phase Splitter
    9. The Input Stage
    10. Stability
    11. Classic Power Amplifiers
    12. New Designs
    13. Single-Ended Madness
    14. The Scrapbox Challenge Single-Ended Amplifier
    15. Obtaining more than Single Digit Output Power
    16. Driving Higher Power Output Stages
    17. The Crystal Palace Amplifier
    18. The Bulwer-Lytton Scalable Parallel Push–Pull Amplifier
    19. References
    20. Further Reading
  14. Chapter 7. The Pre-Amplifier
    1. Publisher Summary
    2. Input Selection
    3. Volume Control
    4. Balance Control
    5. Cable Driver
    6. Tone Control
    7. Obtaining a Clean Signal from Analogue Disc
    8. RIAA Stage Design
    9. A Simplified Example RIAA Stage
    10. 3180 μs and 318 μs Equalisation
    11. The EC8010 RIAA Stage
    12. The Balanced Hybrid RIAA Stage
    13. References
    14. Recommended Further Reading
  15. Appendix
    1. Valve Data
    2. Standard Component Values
    3. Resistor Colour Code
    4. Plastic Capacitor Coding
    5. Cable
    6. Square Wave Sag and Low Frequency f−3 dB
    7. Playing 78s
    8. Equalisation
    9. Sourcing Components: Bargains and Dealing Directly
    10. References
  16. Index

Product information

  • Title: Valve Amplifiers, 4th Edition
  • Author(s): Morgan Jones
  • Release date: October 2011
  • Publisher(s): Newnes
  • ISBN: 9780080966410