Xref: utzoo rec.audio:7356 sci.electronics:3362
Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!helios.ee.lbl.gov!pasteur!ames!mailrus!cornell!rochester!kodak!ornitz
From: ornitz@kodak.UUCP (barry ornitz)
Newsgroups: rec.audio,sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Homebrew audio equipment
Summary: An oldie but goodie reference.
Keywords: solid-state,audio,amplifier,design,homebrew,RCA
Message-ID: <1333@kodak.UUCP>
Date: 20 Jul 88 01:54:07 GMT
References: <1075@gethen.UUCP>
Reply-To: ornitz@kodak.UUCP (barry ornitz)
Followup-To: rec.audio
Organization: Eastman Kodak Co, Rochester, NY
Lines: 30

In article <1075@gethen.UUCP> abostick@gethen.UUCP (Alan Bostick) writes:
>Because I fundamentally distrust snake-oil sellers in both the
>dealerships and the magazines, I am interested in building my own audio
>equipment.   ...
>
>Can anyone on the net give me some clue as to how hard or easy this
>might be?  Are there good references (either how-to books or solid
>engineering texts) available for audio amplifier design?  

Good for you Alan.  You will learn a lot, have fun, and end up with an amp you
can be proud of!

My suggestion is that you start out with a conventional bipolar junction
transistor design.  Parts are cheap, the important concepts are there (and you
are less likely to fry yourself with high voltages!).

If you can find it (look in a large public library or an engineering college
library) a good book is: RCA Designer's Handbook: "Solid-State Power Circuits"
Technical Series SP-52, RCA Solid State Division, Somerville, NJ 08876 (1971).
This book has an excellent chapter on audio power amplifiers.  The chapter
begins with the basics and ends with a "Universal-Amplifier Design Approach."

After you have mastered the techniques discussed in this book, you can move up
to power MOSFETS.  You need to master such things as heat sinking and good
power supply design (which is more than just getting a big transformer and the
biggest capacitors you can find).  I wish you lots of luck with your project.
If I can be of help, please ask.  BTW, find some local amateur radio operators
and ask them about local hamfests and electronic flea markets.  With some luck
you can likely find most of what you need surplus for less than $50.

                                              Happy Homebrewing, Barry