Stop!! Stop!! Stop!!

[fscarpa58]

try this
http://www.tscm.com/NEETS-v07-SolidState.pdf

bye

Federico

[peranders]

Co-Driver, do you need a certain amp?

Maybe you should start something small. AKSA55 or maybe a Gainclone if you know what that is? Maybe you should start with a headphone amp? A CMOY maybe?

[till]

New question. What types of begining tools should I staet collecting (soldering iron, multi meter, hand tools)????

Thats what you should start to collect. + computer with soundcard for measurements, if you can find someday a oscilloscope, and some m^2 shelfspace with electronic parts - resistors, transistors, caps etc. And read everything on www.passdiy.com And build some of the pass amps for educational purposes.

http://www.passdiy.com/projects/zenlite2.htm

[jan.didden]

I would recommend taking a tour on www.audioxpress.com , they have everything: parts, books, articles, magazine, all devoted to audio in the broadest sense. Very good resource.

And I agree Jay, there is no substitute for education. Knowing what you are doing always helps.

Jan Didden

[mwh-eng]

Being so young, think about trying to get accepted into MIT's EE undergraduate program. One of the best! At least go for a 2 year electronics technology degree somewhere. Learning practical electronics design at home from any number of books will be very difficult. It can probably be done, but you will have to be super motivated.

Good Luck!

[PRR]

> "NO". The more I read posts here on this forum..., the more stupid i seem to feel...

Then stop reading this forum.

There are a lot of people here, of different interests and experiences. Nobody knows everything. A few people know a lot about something. And of course there are some people who "know" things that are wrong. You need a BS filter. And it takes a long time to grow a good BS filter.

> I thought that these 2 books would contain enough information

I don't think I've ever read a book that covered even 1% of the audio field. It is just too big.

I've been working with audio for 40 years, employed in the field for most of 30 years, constantly reading and tinkering, and there is more I don't know than I do know.

If you look at "sucessful designers": they all specialize in some fairly narrow field. Mr Pass could probably sketch a tube AM radio, if you hit him with a stick, but he's worked the last few decades on FET hi-fi preamps and power amps (and a few speakers). There are media-audio designers who are wizards at DSP and 5.1 etc, but don't dabble in discrete design; and chip designers who are gurus of "discrete" (parts on a chip) but don't try to design systems.

> I wanted to combine #1 & #2 into a 5.1 HT amplifier

Ah, it was much easier to get started before 1959, when you could be proud of a mono system. Stereo more than doubles the work. 5.1 just blows my old mind.

> What types of begining tools should I staet collecting (soldering iron, multi meter, hand tools)????

Teeny iron for ICs and probably a 1/8" tip on a 35W-45W heater for power terminal strips and fuseholders. Don't fool with $10 irons, but don't spend $100 to start. I still do almost all my work with several $35 irons. (In part because my aging eyes can't see parts small enough to justify getting a teensy iron.) Name-brand rosin-core solder in 0.032" size.

Standard $2 pliers for big nuts. Several $3 screwdrivers in different sizes. Be fussy about your phillips screwdrivers: most are the wrong shape. Needle-nose pliers or forcepts. Actually sticking electronics parts together is not that tool-intensive. You will want nut-drivers etc when working on polished panels, but leave that expense for later when you decide you "need" them and your wallet agrees.

Drills, saw, hammers for modifying or making cases. This is where you need BIG tooling.

Meters: I have everything from a pre-WWII Boonton AC millivoltmeter to an LCD "scope" (and a real scope too). I do 99% of basic checking and check-out on the equivalent of a $20 digi-meter (it was $80 when I got it, and I thought it was a bargain then). The main "flaw" of these $20 meters is the AC Volts frequency response: often limited to "power frequencies" 50Hz-400Hz and drooping badly far before 20KHz. Oh, and the Resistance function is sometimes very upset by high-inductance transformers (sampled auto-ranging never settles). I keep a genuine Vacuum Tube Volt Meter around for purely-analog measurements.

Get a decent signal generator! IMHO, you can't do decent checking with CDs and sound cards. They have a place, but when you get funny results it is often hard to know why. While I have 3 or 4 low-distortion oscillators, my favorite first-check source is a Function Generator (Global 2001). Sure the Sine is ugly. But it is stable, settles quickly, has wide range, a choice of waveforms, and is compact.

Scopes are expensive and I don't trust the affordable digital LCD scope as far as I can throw the Tektronic. But I do think you want a scope. A 5-inch 5MHz is plenty. Dual-channel is a real plus. Used Heathkits and Leaders of this class sell for $100.

> Com on guys some help please? Everybody is viewing this thread but, no posts!

You got four good responses in three hours, at a time when most of the world is sleeping-- are your pants on fire?

[dmfraser]

I live in Costa Mesa. Call me on my cell at 714-420-7535. I design large amplification for Renkus-Heinz and could give you a hand.

However, I have to mention that to become good at this you have to start small and build your way up. I find the books just don't tell you enough but I can help you learn the 10 tricks that allow you to do 2/3 of the work.

You do realize that any profession has maybe 10 tricks that allow you to do 2/3 of the job?

For example:

Rule 1. If its too dry, make it wet.
Rule 2. It it is too wet, make it dry.

You are now a dermatologist.

Anyway, since you're in my neighborhood, give me a call. Also, I have a garage full of electronic parts and materials I'm itching to give away to anyone who can use them.

Or e-mail me at dmfraser@sbcglobal.net

Dan

[till]

I have a garage full of electronic parts and materials I'm itching to give away to anyone who can use them.

... what a pity i don´t live in Orange County....