I learned using a bunch of old books written for electronics instruction at the vo-tech level. Specifically for the service industry. And a biga$$ thick green book on the Code and basic electrical wiring…. I was in middle school in the late 70’s. Before then I could make simple circuits, but real (non IC, and >1 transistor) amps eluded me. Pretty much all that information is on the internet now. Used book stores are luck of the draw as to what you can find. Even the Self, Cordell, and God Forbid Slone books are still a step or five above the level you need now. They already assume knowledge of basic electronics. The only real problems with the internet are separating fact from fiction, and the price of digging for information is that every company in the world is doing the same, from every user.
College level engineering texts are only intended to teach theory - I already knew “electronics” by then, but going through the hard core math DOES improve your understanding of things.
This type of amplifier is not the ideal starting point for learning to diagnose typical amplifier troubles. Floating power supplies complicate things - you can’t make a lot of the normal assumptions, like center tap being a good place to clip the ground lead to. I started with old 5-15 watt per channel “stereos”, then to 30-70 watt receivers. My first big one was a Phase Linear (which, for better or worse got me labeled a local expert - and the fact that I wasn’t charging 3X markup on parts and $100 an hour went a long way). By then I had the habits of checking the outputs, drivers, associated resistors, op amp supply, and the bias stack - eliminating problems there unpowered - before it ever sees power thru a dim bulb.
College level engineering texts are only intended to teach theory - I already knew “electronics” by then, but going through the hard core math DOES improve your understanding of things.
This type of amplifier is not the ideal starting point for learning to diagnose typical amplifier troubles. Floating power supplies complicate things - you can’t make a lot of the normal assumptions, like center tap being a good place to clip the ground lead to. I started with old 5-15 watt per channel “stereos”, then to 30-70 watt receivers. My first big one was a Phase Linear (which, for better or worse got me labeled a local expert - and the fact that I wasn’t charging 3X markup on parts and $100 an hour went a long way). By then I had the habits of checking the outputs, drivers, associated resistors, op amp supply, and the bias stack - eliminating problems there unpowered - before it ever sees power thru a dim bulb.
