[Rclark]

I often find myself at a loss in many of the more technical discussions here in regards to the insides of the gear and what various parts actually do, opamps and triodes and output stages and the like.

Describe in as detailed a white-paper format as possible, an audio signal, from inception at the wall socket, to voicecoil. Separate descriptions for both a solid state and tube system please. Describe each part as the signal passes through, what each part does, and how varying qualities of said part can affect the sound. Please describe each part as the signal passes through.

I asked a lot. Hopefully others will find it helpful too.

[Occam]

Buy yourself a copy of John Lindsey Hood's 'The Art of Linear Electronics' or his 'Audio Electronics' and it will give you exactly what you want, but it will require effort on your part.

[poseidonsvoice]

I know it's probably not what you want, but if you want to get the background, you've got to shovel some poop. Here are the books I would start with to get my feet wet:

My first and foremost recommendation if Audio is completely new is this:

Audio Reality



Then to dig deeper:

John Lindsey Hood's Art of Linear Electronics





Bruce Rozenblit's Beginner's Guide to Tube Audio Design





High Performance Loudspeakers by Martin Colloms





Sound Reproduction by Dr. Floyd Toole





There are others that are more detailed like Vacuum Tube Amplifiers by Morgan Jones, Earl Geddes' Audio Transducers but that's like learning how to fly the space shuttle without even knowing how to fly a Cessna...It will also seriously influence your purchase and buying decisions for your audio future, hopefully, for the better  .

Best,
Anand.

[satfrat]

This sounds like the perfect thread topic for The Starting Block Circle. 
 
Cheers,
Robin

[Rclark]

Sounds good! I'll hit up Amazon with those recommendations.

[JohnR]

I often find myself at a loss in many of the more technical discussions here in regards to the insides of the gear and what various parts actually do, opamps and triodes and output stages and the like.

Describe in as detailed a white-paper format as possible, an audio signal, from inception at the wall socket, to voicecoil. Separate descriptions for both a solid state and tube system please. Describe each part as the signal passes through, what each part does, and how varying qualities of said part can affect the sound. Please describe each part as the signal passes through.

I'd be interested in taking on the challenge, with the exception of "how varying qualities of said part can affect the sound," provided that you (and/or others) would be willing to put in a bit of work as reviewers. It couldn't be done in one article, but could probably be done in a reasonably limited series.

Those are great recommendations by wushuliu, don't get me wrong. Personally I'd put Morgan Jones on the list if you are interested in tube amps. Regardless, the challenge (as I interpret it) is whether the most relevant knowledge can be distilled into a shorter form suitable for audiophiles. Yet not so short as to be just another source of hearsay and "design by superstition/supposition."

[eclein]

I'd love to read the resulting work so I could see how far from the truth my current thinking actually is...lol. Being from the crowd in school that wished for shorter reading assignments and a lot more pictures than actual reading I could even see myself reading a mini series.

[Rclark]

That would be great John, I'm sure it would be a very well read piece. I'm excited to see what you come up with!

[jtwrace]

Those are great recommendations by wushuliu

Where?

[srb]

I think he meant the recommendations by poseidonsvoice (Anand).
 
Steve

[Steidl Guitars]

I like this idea:  "relevant knowledge can be distilled into a shorter form suitable for audiophiles." 

A suggestion for JohnR. 

Instead of taking on the entire task yourself, consider taking the lead on writing an outline of topics that should be covered.  Post the outline here for others to expand on or to critique.  When that's settled, individuals can volunteer to write sections (or to collaborate with a few others on that section) that you can then organize into a single document. 

I do a fair bit of collaborative writing at my day job, and that's often how we approach longer pieces.

Just my two cents.

Bob

[wushuliu]

I recommend the following:

I know it's probably not what you want, but if you want to get the background, you've got to shovel some poop. Here are the books I would start with to get my feet wet:

John Lindsey Hood's Art of Linear Electronics





Bruce Rozenblit's Beginner's Guide to Tube Audio Design





High Performance Loudspeakers by Martin Colloms





Sound Reproduction by Dr. Floyd Toole





There are others that are more detailed like Vacuum Tube Amplifiers by Morgan Jones, Earl Geddes' Audio Transducers but that's like learning how to fly the space shuttle without even knowing how to fly a Cessna...It will also seriously influence your purchase and buying decisions for your audio future, hopefully, for the better  .

Best,
Anand.

 

Thanks Anand! Think I'll start with the first two myself...

[wushuliu]

I like this idea:  "relevant knowledge can be distilled into a shorter form suitable for audiophiles." 

A suggestion for JohnR. 

Instead of taking on the entire task yourself, consider taking the lead on writing an outline of topics that should be covered.  Post the outline here for others to expand on or to critique.  When that's settled, individuals can volunteer to write sections (or to collaborate with a few others on that section) that you can then organize into a single document. 

I do a fair bit of collaborative writing at my day job, and that's often how we approach longer pieces.

Just my two cents.

Bob

The tough part will be curbing the infinite digressions and tangents both technical and otherwise that immediately follow these kinds of attempts.

[JohnR]

Oops yes I meant poseidonsvoice   

The tough part will be curbing the infinite digressions and tangents both technical and otherwise that immediately follow these kinds of attempts.

I was thinking it would be a magazine article rather than a forum thread. The forum (well, this thread) would be good to get feedback etc. I've been thinking about it a bit, it will be a challenge to keep it concise. If it's a series then others might be interested in writing some of the articles. I'll think about it some more...