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.

Jerry Whitaker is Vice President of Standards Development at the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC), Washington, D.C. He was previously President of Technical Press, a consulting company based in the San Jose area. Whitaker has been involved in various aspects of the electronics industry for over 30 years, with specialization in communications. He has lectured extensively on the topic of electronic systems design, installation, and maintenance. He is the former editorial director and associate publisher of Broadcast Engineering and Video Systems magazines, and a former radio station chief engineer and television news producer. Mr. Whitaker is a Fellow of the Society of Broadcast Engineers and an SBE-certified professional broadcast engineer. He is also a fellow of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, and a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

Chapter 1. An Overview of Vacuum Tube Audio Applications
Chapter 2. Passive Circuit Components
Chapter 3. Vacuum Tube Principles
Chapter 4. Vacuum Tube Circuits
Chapter 5. Interconnection, Layout, and Operating Environment
Chapter 6. Construction Project Considerations
Chapter 7. Tube Characteristics
Chapter 8. Project 1: Power Supply
Chapter 9. Project 2: Audio Preamplifiers
Chapter 10. Project 3: 15 W Audio Power Amplifier
Chapter 11. Project 4: 30 W Audio Power Amplifier
Chapter 12. Putting It All Together
Chapter 13. Final Thoughts
Appendix A. Notes and References
Index