Bottlehead Forum

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: herberk on September 02, 2022, 02:37:36 PM

Title: Reading / Watching material
Post by: herberk on September 02, 2022, 02:37:36 PM

I am REALLY enjoying learning about amplifiers as I build kits. I have found resources to understand things like what the tube actually does and how capacitors and inductors work together to create DC from AC and the basics but I am keen to understand more. Looking at the designs of what I build and the actual build process has been very helpful in visualizing how it all works.

Any recommendations on books or other resources ? I am a in software engineering / design as a career so I am fairly technically minded but only electronics training I ever had was in high school (many years ago LOL)

Title: Re: Reading / Watching material
Post by: 2wo on September 02, 2022, 05:33:18 PM

There is a lot of online references out there. For something you can hold in your hand Morgan Jones, Valve Amplifiers 3 edition is an excellent choice for the technically minded. Also get a copy of the RCA receiving tube manual,  not just for the tube specs but it is amazing just how much practical info is packed into the first few chapters...John

Title: Re: Reading / Watching material
Post by: Larpy on September 03, 2022, 07:06:20 AM

As someone whose background is about as far from engineering and math as it gets, I found Merlin Blencowe's Designing High Fidelity Tube Amps very illuminating.  Blencowe also has posted a lot of useful information on his website, https://www.valvewizard.co.uk/ (https://www.valvewizard.co.uk/).


 

Title: Re: Reading / Watching material
Post by: Tom-s on September 03, 2022, 07:24:54 AM

https://wtfamps.com/
Great website imho

Title: Re: Reading / Watching material
Post by: caffeinator on September 03, 2022, 08:06:24 AM

For fundamentals of electricity, electronics, and tubes, I have really gotten a lot out of the NEETS (Navy Electricity and Electronics Training Series) modules, available here (https://www.hnsa.org/manuals-documents/2575-2/) and other locations on the web.

For understanding amplifier operation, a book I found helpful is "Design of an Integrated Push-Pull Tube Amplifier Made Easy" by Giuseppe Amato. There is a companion (or maybe twin) website: https://www.vtadiy.com/book/ .

There are myriad books, websites, and YouTube channels; so many it's hard to choose. I have gotten a lot out of the Blueglow Electronics YouTube channel - there are many, many videos there that cover various aspects of tube amplifiers as well as new amp builds and repairs or rebuilds of vintage amps.

Title: Re: Reading / Watching material
Post by: herberk on September 04, 2022, 06:00:29 AM

I am going to be BUSY appreciate everyones input will be sure to check them all out!