The Audiophile's Project Sourcebook - ISBN 0-0713-7929-0 / ISBN 0071379290
LAST MODIFIED:
The author of "The Audiophile's Project Sourcebook" © 2002, is the very talented and experienced Electronics Engineer, G. Randy Stone. The book is published by Mc Graw-Hill who kindly provided me with my review paper back copy.
This is a book which comprehensively covers the topic of audio, provides 80 high-performance audo electronics projects. I think this book would be particularly welcomed by audio electronics professionals, hobbyists and technicians keen to get a thorough understanding of audio.
"The Audiophile's Project Sourcebook" comprises 350+ pages packed with easy to digest theory, schematic diagrams, printed circuit board layouts and artwork. It's all here folks, produce your very own audio gear at a fraction of the cost of the commercial, mass-manufactured gear of equivalence!
Read on dear reader, the news gets even better...
The Audiophile's Project Sourcebook - ISBN 0-0713-7929-0 / ISBN 0071379290
Quoting from the back page, "The Audiophile's Project Sourcebook" covers:
The really good news is that most projects covered by the book are available in various kit forms from the author's own company SEAL Electronics. More on that later.
Having read this book I must borrow another quote from the back of the book:
"The Audiophile's Project Sourcebook is devoid of the hype, superstition, myths, and expensive fanaticism often associated with 'high-end' audio systems. It provides straightforward help in building and understanding top quality audio electronic projects that are based on solid science and produce fantastic sound!".
That summarises this book just so elegantly for me.
The Audiophile's Project Sourcebook comprises 10 chapters with appendices on Audio Electronics Terminology (comprehensive), Sources of Information and Materials, and concludes with PC Board Artwork and overlays. How cool!
Unless you are already an Electronics Engineer, I recommend you don't follow the usual trend of readers by skipping the first two chapters, so as to just jump in at the deep end with a smoking soldering iron in your hand.
These chapters cover too much basic ground essential to your proper understanding of this fascinating and absorbing subject.
Chapters 1 and 2 cover "Establishing the Basics" and "Beginning at the Beginning". In particular, there is a great deal of analytical discussion on the 'ins and outs' of manufactured equipment and why "you can do it better!" than the larger, highly diversified, commercial manufacturers.
Also a lot of hype and urban myths get debunked... About time!
The following chapters in the book thoroughly treat the various topics I have listed up above. They are dealt with in a thorough and comprehensive manner with a lot of circuit diagrams provided and discussion on the merits of each including pitfalls in audio electronic project designs.
I particularly want to draw attention to Chapter 7, "Power Supplies" because in my opinion it is worth the price of the book alone. This chapter comprises about 35 pages packed full of good guidance and advice, makes my own power supply pages pale in comparison.
Some of these can be real "heavy duty" power supplies and PC Board artwork is of course provided. Well done!
Again I'd like to single out another chapter because I'm impressed by the rich content.
Randy addresses many of the questions he regularly receives from audiophiles. These topics are often applicable to many other areas of electronics beyond audio electronic projects and are worthy of discussion.
Randy covers:
Each of these topics is given a good going over, a real treat!
My Rating?: 
I'm sort of bemused that I couldn't think or find anything to even mildly criticise because traditionally, a reviewer usually finds something to disagree with. Makes it look like I haven't done my job.
Would I buy the book? If I were still into audio projects as I was in my younger head-banging days of yester year I certainly would. Did I learn anything? Yep, bet that surprised you.
Overall, an excellent treatment of the subject of audio electronic projects, every important topic is well explained in a clear and concise manner, you may finish up an audio engineer.
The thing which really stokes me up is that all the bits 'n pieces are readily available in various kit forms from the author's company SEAL Electronics.
If you have EVER, EVER, tried to do D.I.Y. projects from books, magazines or wherever the greatest bugbear is sourcing parts. It's a real pain in the you-know-what but here, no more...
I quote from the kit section page of SEAL Electronics"
"A few general notes about our kits - All of our kits are complete, meaning they contain the etched and drilled PC board, heatsink(s), all electronic components, and detailed instructions. It is assumed the builder has the necessary basic construction tools, such as small hand tools, soldering iron, solder, etc.
All of our kits are designed to be adjusted using a common voltmeter (i.e. DVM, DMM, VOM, etc.).
They are all "modular," which means that the finished amplifier project is a "block" that can be easily installed in a variety of enclosures, retrofitted into existing systems, or multiple units can be incorporated into a single enclosure.
All of our designs have very high PSRRs (power supply rejection ratios), so multiple units can share the same power supply without any concerns of audible crosstalk. The input sensitivity of all of our designs is standardized at approximately 800 millivolts RMS for 0 dBm into 8-ohm speaker loads - proportionally less for lower impedance speaker loads".
[reprinted with permission]
In case you're wondering about the value of your book reviews, I read the one on Randy Sloanes Audiophile Project Sourcebook. What you wrote appealed to me and considering the integrity of your reputation, i.e. "good", I went out of my way to find a copy. Well, it was all you said, and then some, so I bought it.
This came at a good time because I've recently been plunged, sort of, into the world of solid state audio electronics and I have no background in that field. Come to think of it, I have no formal background in electronics at all.
Recently in a local guitar store I opened my mouth about having electronics as a hobby. Since then I've been getting 2 or 3 guitar amplifiers (solid state) a week for repair. I've actually fixed them all but, being a valve type guy, I felt that I really didn't know what the hell I was doing. I had a lot of questions about this circuitry and that book has a lot of answers and a lot of good projects.
His other book on Power Amplifiers looks really good too but one $55 book purchase is enough for this month.
Thanks for the great review.
Phil
PARTS EXPRESS: 725 Pleasant Valley Drive, Springboro, Ohio U.S.A. I have an affiliate program with Parts Express. They stock an extensive range of speakers and other gear. Speaker building, car stereo, pro sound, home audio and even mobile video!
Finally, you DO NEED an understanding of basic electronics, oh!... that's what my tutorials are for!
Randy Slone wrote to me recently - March, 2002 and, was very kind enough to say:
"Of course I liked your book review - how could I not like it? I sincerely appreciate the kind remarks, and I offer any assistance that I can provide in the future".
Randy went on to share with us these details of his biography as well as a photograph. He spends much of his time working in his state-of-the-art home electronics laboratory.
I can only tell you what I think of this book in a hopefully unbiased fashion. To buy or not to buy is of course your personal decision.
I think it represents excellent value for money to hobbyists, professionals and technicians. Comes very highly recommended from me, and with very good reason.
In the book stores look for The Audiophile's Project Sourcebook by G. Randy Stone - mine was the 2002 edition paperback. ISBN 071379290
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Created 7th January, 2002
Updated 27th March, 2002
