Valve and Transistor Audio Amplifiers

Valve and Transistor Audio Amplifiers

by John Linsley Hood
Released November 1997
Publisher(s): Newnes
ISBN: 9780080520414

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Book description

The audio amplifier is at the heart of audio design. Its performance determines largely the performance of any audio system. John Linsley Hood is widely regarded as the finest audio designer around, and pioneered design in the post-valve era. His mastery of audio technology extends from valves to the latest techniques. This is John Linsley Hood's greatest work yet, describing the milestones that have marked the development of audio amplifiers since the earliest days to the latest systems.

Including classic amps with valves at their heart and exciting new designs using the latest components, this book is the complete world guide to audio amp design.

John Linsley Hood is responsible for numerous amplifier designs that have led the way to better sound, and has also kept up a commentary on developments in audio in magazines such as The Gramophone, Electronics in Action and Electronics and Wireless World. He is also the author of The Art of Linear Electronics and Audio Electronics published by Newnes.

  • Complete world guide to audio amp design written by world famous author
  • Covers classic amps to new designs using latest components
  • Includes the best of valves as well as best of transistors

Table of contents

  1. Front Cover
  2. Valve and Transistor Audio Amplifiers
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Contents
  5. Preface
  6. Chapter 1. Active Components
    1. Valves or Vacuum Tubes
    2. Solid State Devices (1/3)
    3. Solid State Devices (2/3)
    4. Solid State Devices (3/3)
  7. Chapter 2. Passive Components
    1. Inductors and Transformers
    2. Capacitors (1/2)
    3. Capacitors (2/2)
    4. Resistors
    5. Switches and Electrical Contacts
  8. Chapter 3. Voltage Amplifier Stages Using Valves
    1. Circuit Configurations
    2. Grid Bias Systems
    3. Cathode Bias Resistor Calculations
    4. Anode Load Systems
    5. Grounded Grid Stages
    6. The Cascode Circuit
    7. The Long-tailed Pair
    8. The Cathode Follower
    9. The µ Follower
    10. Tetrodes, Beam-Tetrodes and Pentodes
    11. Load Lines
  9. Chapter 4. Valve Audio Amplifier Layouts
    1. Single-ended vs. Push–pull Operation
    2. Phase Splitters
    3. Output Stages
    4. Output (Load-matching) Transformer
    5. Effect of Output Load Impedance
    6. Available Output Power
  10. Chapter 5. Negative Feedback
    1. Benefits of Negative Feedback
    2. Stability Problems
    3. Series and Shunt NFB
    4. The Effect of NFB on Input and Output Impedances
    5. Influence of NFB on Output Impedance
    6. Effect of NFB on the Harmonic Components of the Signal
    7. Practical Valve NFB Systems
    8. The Baxandall Negative Feedback Tone Tontrol System
    9. Frequency Response Equalisation
    10. Filter Circuits Based on NFB (1/2)
    11. Filter Circuits Based on NFB (2/2)
  11. Chapter 6. Valve Operated Audio Power Amplifiers
    1. The Mclntosh Amplifier
    2. The Williamson Amplifier
    3. Distributed Load Systems
    4. The Quad System
    5. Baxandall's Amplifier
    6. The Baxandall 5 Watt Design
    7. The Radford Valve Amplifiers
    8. The Leak TL/12
    9. The Mullard 5/10 and 5/20 Designs
    10. The GEC Audio Amplifiers
    11. The GEC 912 + Amplifier
    12. Other GEC Audio Designs
    13. The Brimar 25P1 Design
    14. The Sonab Design
    15. Increasing Available Output Power
    16. Conclusions
  12. Chapter 7. Solid State Voltage Amplifiers
    1. Junction Transistors
    2. Control of Operating Bias
    3. Stage Gain
    4. Basic Junction Transistor Circuit Configurations
    5. Emitter–follower Systems
    6. Thermal Dissipation Limits
    7. Junction Field Effect Transistors (JFETs)
    8. Insulated Gate FETs (MOSFETs)
    9. Power BJTs vs. Power MOSFETs as Amplifier Output Devices
    10. U and D MOSFETs
    11. Useful Circuit Components
    12. Circuit Oddments
    13. Slew Rate Limiting
  13. Chapter 8. Early Solid State Audio Amplifier Designs
    1. The Lin Circuit
    2. Quasi-complementary Output Stage Asymmetry
    3. Listener Fatigue
    4. Alternative Circuit Choices
    5. Class A Operation
    6. Fully Complementary Designs
    7. Gain Stage Designs
    8. HF Compensation Techniques
    9. Symmetry in Circuit Layout and Slewing Rates
    10. Stability of Output Current
  14. Chapter 9. Contemporary Power Amplifier Designs
    1. Remaining Design Problems
    2. Power MOSFETs vs. Bipolar Junction Power Ttransistors (BJTs)
    3. Frequency Response of MOSFET Devices
    4. MOSFET Linearity
    5. gm Values for BJTs and MOSFETs
    6. Quiescent Current Stability in Push–pull Output Systems
    7. Other Iq Control Techniques
    8. The Quad Current Dumping Amplifier
    9. The Sandman Class S System
    10. The Technics Class AA system
    11. Voltage Amplifying Stage Gain and Overall THD
    12. Basic Gain Stage Constructions
    13. Output/Input Signal Isolation
    14. Effect of NFB on Signal Distortion
    15. Symmetry in Gain Block Structure
    16. Negative Feedback and Sound Quality
    17. Power Amplifier Output Stages
    18. Output DC Offset Control
    19. Hybrid Systems
    20. Listening Trials
  15. Chapter 10. Preamplifiers
    1. Gramophone Record Replay Equalisation Characteristics
    2. Replay Equalisation Circuitry
    3. Practical Circuit Layouts
    4. Very Low Noise Input Systems
    5. Low Noise Devices
    6. Headroom
    7. Tone Controls and Filters
    8. Signal Channel Switching and Remote Controls
    9. Voltage Controlled Gain Systems
    10. Digital Inputs
  16. Chapter 11. Power Supplies
    1. High Power Systems
    2. Solid State Rectifiers
    3. Music Power
    4. Influence of Signal Type on Power Supply Design
    5. High Current Power Supply Systems
    6. Half-wave and Full-wave Rectification
    7. DC Supply Line Ripple Rejection
    8. Voltage Regulator Systems
    9. Series Regulator Layouts
    10. Over-current Protection
    11. Integrated Circuit (Three Terminal) Voltage Regulator ICs
    12. Typical Contemporary Commercial Practice
    13. Battery Supplies
    14. Switch-mode Power Supplies
  17. Index (1/2)
  18. Index (2/2)

Product information

  • Title: Valve and Transistor Audio Amplifiers
  • Author(s): John Linsley Hood
  • Release date: November 1997
  • Publisher(s): Newnes
  • ISBN: 9780080520414