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Title: Audio Reality: Myths Debunked Truths Revealed by Bruce Rozenblit, Karla Schiller, John Summers ISBN: 0-9669611-0-2 Publisher: Transcendant Sound Inc. Pub. Date: 01 February, 1999 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.71 (7 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: If you can get past the author's ego, this is a great book.
Comment: This book is controversial, but from what I can tell Bruce likes it that way. The first half of the book is the section where "myths" are debunked and "truths" are revealed. Now, I'm an audiophile and I disagree with him on many things, but there's merit to some of the things he says. He's paricularly vitriolic against the snake oil salesmen of the high end audio world. I read the section, agreed with some things, disagreed with many, absorbed what was useful and moved on.
My other complaint is that a good part of the book is spent by the author patting himself on the back and mentioning again and again (and again) that he's an ELECTRICAL ENGINEER and that he's been AWARDED A PATENT for his OTL circuit. Now don't get me wrong, these are admirable acheivements. But the way he goes about it gets annoying at times, almost to the point of self congratulatory gloating.
But... BUT! Bruce is to be admired for having the guts (and the generosity) to put the schematics of his very high performance designs out there for anyone that buys the book to use. Heck, he even has his own website and forum where he helps people with their projects! The projects are explained with great detail, complete with parts lists.
What makes this all the more remarkable is that Bruce is also an audio equipment manufacturer and some of the designs in the book are products that he still sells today. The OTL (output transformerless) tube amp has been very positively reviewed by some of the most "snooty" of the high end magazines. This is his bread and butter and he still puts it out for you to build yourself if you wish to.
I may disagree with Bruce, but I respect him. I recommend this book highly.
Rating: 5
Summary: 6 Great Projects Plus a Good Read
Comment: Audio Reality is a worthwhile investment for anyone interested in DIY valve audio. Half of the book is devoted to an examination of 6 amplifier designs created by the author, and includes construction and testing advice, parts lists and schematics. The most interesting of the 6 projects featured are the author's well-known "grounded-grid" preamplifier and his 80W/channel output transformerless power amplifier. Any DIY enthusiast who is looking for something a bit more challenging than usual would find these designs fascinating.
The first half of the book is a series of articles which set out to debunk some commonly held opinions amongst audio enthusiasts. Whilst the author is not totally dismissive of these ideas he is clearly sceptical about most. He does, however, provide sound electrical and engineering justification for his views and confines his harshest criticism for the more extreme "myths".
The only fault I found with the book is the author's style, which is a little self-congratulatory and indulgent at times, however that does not detract from the sound advice and excellent designs.
Rating: 5
Summary: Real-World Magic
Comment: The book is for anybody who is in search for the "audio-truth" and is willing to make the journey with his/hers own feet, with a nice bag of solid tools to exorcise magicians and witches along the way. The author strives to make you aware of three things: 1) You and you only is the one who has to judge your equipment and be happy with it. 2) You need clear, unambiguos, real-world informations to sharpen your critical mind and be able to choose equipment free of myth and magic. 3) High-end audio does not necessarily mean high-end cost. To me, he made all his points. You may believe that a extraordinary expensive cable is an audio revolution, but if you are honest with yourself, after reading this book you have to ask yourself WHY... Knowledge in the audio arena helps you to have more fun, less fears, and a fuller pocket. The second half of the book is devoted to several tube projects that are interestingly detailed with design choices, but near to impossible to realize if you are not skilled to translate an electric scheme into real parts and wire routings; definately not for the beginners. I would have much liked a wiring and components layout to complement the circuit analisys. These projects are not theorical, Rozenblit actually commercially builds and sells what is detailed in the book, so in more than a way he publicly expose his ideas, engineering style and convinctions to anybody who cares to check... in my opinion much more than can be said of the great majority of competitors. See for yourself.
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Title: The Audiophile's Project Sourcebook: 80 High-Performance Audio Electronics Projects by G. Randy Slone, G. Randy Slone ISBN: 0071379290 Publisher: McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics Pub. Date: 30 October, 2001 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
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Title: Valve Amplifiers, Third Edition by Morgan Jones ISBN: 0750656948 Publisher: Newnes Pub. Date: June, 2003 List Price(USD): $44.99 |
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Title: High-Power Audio Amplifier Construction Manual by G. Randy Slone ISBN: 0071341196 Publisher: McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics Pub. Date: 01 May, 1999 List Price(USD): $34.95 |
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Title: Valve and Transistor Audio Amplifiers by John Linsley Hood ISBN: 0750633565 Publisher: Newnes Pub. Date: 23 December, 1997 List Price(USD): $52.95 |
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Title: Tab Electronics Guide to Understanding Electricity and Electronics by G. Randy Slone ISBN: 0071360573 Publisher: McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics Pub. Date: 21 July, 2000 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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