Amplifying With Vacuum Tubes

Vacuum tube fundamental circuit design written for the novice interested in vacuum tube amplifier construction. A brief concise book covering several factors of circuit design including bias requirements, voltage gain requirements and power supply requirements.To help understand circuit operation rather than use traditional schematic drawings pictorial illustrations are used. In several sections circuit operation is demonstrated using illustrations along with a vacuum tube breadboard. Experiments are used to correlate circuit design to actual working circuits.Circuit calculations involving fundamental electronic formulas can be performed using a standard twelve digit calculator. Examples of how to solve calculations are provided. Basic electronic knowledge of voltage, current and ohms law related to vacuum tube circuit design is included where appropriate.The 70+ pages of circuit design contain enough information to design high quality vacuum tube amplifier circuits. The last few pages of the book have related information including how to use sound pressure levels to determine amplifier power required to produce desired loudness.

Incorporate the "tube sound" into your home audio system Learn how to work with vacuum tubes and construct high-quality audio amplifiers on your workbench with help from this hands-on, do-it-yourself resource. The TAB Guide to Vacuum Tube Audio: Understanding and Building Tube Amps explains tube theory and construction practices for the hobbyist. Seven ready-to-build projects feature step-by-step instructions, detailed schematics, and layout tips. You'll also find out how to tweak the projects, each based on a classic RCA design, for your own custom-built amps. Coverage includes: Principles and operational theory behind vacuum tubes Tube nomenclature, applications, and specifications Circuit layout, connections, and physical construction Finding and selecting the right components for the project Power supplies for vacuum tube circuits Preamplifier and power amplifier circuits Performance measurement Safety, maintenance, and troubleshooting techniques Tips on building your own tube-based system—and having fun in the process This book is intended for hobbyists interested in adding the tube sound to any audio system. (Readers looking for high-performance audiophile books are urged to consider the McGraw-Hill books by Morgan Jones.) Learn more at www.vacuumtubeaudio.info Make Great Stuff! TAB, an imprint of McGraw-Hill Professional, is a leading publisher of DIY technology books for makers, hackers, and electronics hobbyists.

A project book for the advanced builder, includes circuit diagrams and circuit descriptions to build a gain controlled amplifier also referred to as a compressor. This type of amplifier is used to prevent over-driving audio systems by maintaining an average output and keep levels in a more comfortable listening range. This particular design uses all triode vacuum tubes including a triode gain control stage, all stages are built around the popular 12AX7 tube. Triodes are used because they produce primarily second harmonic content when harmonic distortion occurs, the addition of low-level second harmonics enhances the sound. The design uses a variable compression ratio, the ratio becomes tighter as the input level increases past the compression threshold. This allows soft passages to retain high dynamics while imposing more control on loud passages. The amplifier uses broadband compression to maintain the original sound balance. A slow gain control is used as an average level reference on which a faster gain control rides, ratio between the two is adjustable. Gain control is non-intrusive and dynamics are maintained, this is not a brick wall processor. Useful gain control is a 30DB range.

Providing examples of applications, this handbook examines the underlying technology of each type of power vacuum tube device in common use today. The author reports on new development efforts and explains the benefits of specific work. Basic principles are discussed, and supporting mathematics are included to clarify the material presented. Extensive technical illustrations and schematic diagrams aid the reader in understanding the maxims of the subject. What's New in the Second Edition? Reviews the latest in new vacuum tube technology - new devices and refinements of existing devices that extend power and frequency capabilities Identifies new applications for commercial and scientific research Examines new frontiers on materials science - directly impacting construction, reliability, and performance Outlines new methods of power tube design - yielding more efficient, lasting tubes Describes new modulation methods affecting power tube design and application, including digital technologies

THE TUBE AMP BOOK WITH AUDIO ONLINE ERRATA SHEET ADDED.