• WARNING: Tube/Valve amplifiers use potentially LETHAL HIGH VOLTAGES.
    Building, troubleshooting and testing of these amplifiers should only be
    performed by someone who is thoroughly familiar with
    the safety precautions around high voltages.

Tube Text books "Reich"

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Anyone familiar with, "THEORY AND APPLICATION OF ELECTRON TUBES", And, "PRINCIPLES OF ELECTRON VACUUM TUBES"?

The later is supposed to be an abridged version of the former. Is that the only difference? Is one an easier read than the other? Should a non engineer, layman take a pass on both? Looking to expand my current reference library!, But, have no interest in unusable Calculus killers. 😉
 
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Hi TubeMack,

I downloaded all the books on Peter's site and tossed the ones that were too much for me or irrelevant to my interests. The ones I like the best (by a MILE) are Volume 2 & 3 of Norman Crowhurst's Basic Audio series. They are great ones to start with, and only practical calculations are mentioned. Book 1 is pretty much too basic for anyone here I think.

Norman Crowhurst is an excellent writer and teacher, not just an engineer with lots of data to present -- like pretty much every other author on the subject seems to be.

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Basic Audio, Norman Crowhurst, 1959 - Thanks to Keith Carlsen!
This is a 3-volume set on, as the title implies, basic audio. The best introduction to tube hi-fi I've seen, the first volume starts with the nature of sound, and covers the basics of speakers and microphones. Volume 2 continues with amplification, covering the basics of amplifier design. Volume 3 covers a little more advanced topics like feedback, power supplies, and recording. If you're a beginner, READ THESE BOOKS!​
Volume 1 (114 pages) Download full text with index, 4.2MB PDF file​
Volume 2 (122 pages) Download full text with index, 4.1MB PDF file​
Volume 3 (113 pages) Download full text with index, 3.2MB PDF file​

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Thanks Taj. To be honest I have already downloaded the 3 volume set, and yes, they are some of the best i've yet seen for my level.

Taj, I ask you to check out "Inside the vacuum tube" at pete's site. I somehow overlooked this one, but wow! It goes into very very minute detail in plain language. I'm just half way through it, but it may be the best yet!

For example: Where most basic books may talk about the "space charge" for a short paragraph, this books goes on for many pages, and without using an equation!

As for the Reich texts, I was looking to add some classic hard copys to the book shelf to go next to the RDH4 I just got. A pristine mint unused copy! Don't ask about the $$$$$$$ 😱🙁
 
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Bruce Rosenblitt's Beginner's guide to Tube Audio design is a useful book for the beginner/layman IMO. I was just reading the section on LTP/phase splitters on the train from San Diego this evening.

My copy was courtesy of the 2nd annual Burning Amp Festival raffle.😀

The only thing a little wacky about the book is that practically every example uses the 12AU7.......................

I also recently picked up a tattered copy of RDH4 on ebay for $18.00

I'll have to check out the Crowhurst books.
 
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Bruce Rosenblitt's Beginner's guide to Tube Audio design is a useful book for the beginner/layman IMO.

I can second boywonder's recommendation. I'm a beginner with no prior electronics experience, and I found Bruce's explanations very easy to understand.

By coincidence, I have an extra brand new copy that I was going to list in the swapmeet for $15. Are you interested?

And no, I'm not recommending the book as a sales pitch. I really do think this book is a great beginner's book. Honest! 😀

Looney
 
Crowhurst and Cooper - High Fidelity Circuit Design (on Pete's site) is an excellent read, although not a beginner book.

There is a copy on Amazon for $310. A tad too high for me.

I'll kill a small tree and take my copy with me to visit my dad this weekend.
 
OMG!

Someone just bought a Pristine Mint RDH4 on the Bay for $20 "Buy it Now"! I think I'm going to be sick. I just paid several (and I mean SEVERAL times that) for an "almost" mint copy. I bet he was sweating while trying to confirm that bid!

Fess up. Who bought that?
 
Someone just bought a Pristine Mint RDH4 on the Bay for $20 "Buy it Now"! I think I'm going to be sick. I just paid several (and I mean SEVERAL times that) for an "almost" mint copy. I bet he was sweating while trying to confirm that bid!

Fess up. Who bought that?

Not me. I was glad to pay £60 (in the days when £1 = $1.80) for a reasonable condition (but faded) RDH4 ten years ago at a geekfest. That was the days before Internet book sellers.
 
Not me. I was glad to pay £60 (in the days when £1 = $1.80) for a reasonable condition (but faded) RDH4 ten years ago at a geekfest. That was the days before Internet book sellers.

Yeah, I'm still happy with mine. Even though my Morgan book is till my favorite. 😉

Well, I went ahead and purchased the "Reich, TAAOET". It was only $20 for a nice original hardcover, and they don't seem to come around that often. It will be another to grow into.
 
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