Amp Research

ieatdirt · 10-03-2006, 08:51 AM

I'm doing a research report on amps, and I need some resources. Books, magazine articles, websites, etc. Mostly what I'm looking for is things on how amps work.

Also, although this is somewhat unrelated, I am interested in building amps. Not any time soon, but I would like to read into it, so any information would be helpful. Thanks.

bobthecockroach · 10-03-2006, 09:15 AM

Part of a research report is doing your own research, but to give you a basic idea:

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/amplifier.htm

**thesteve** · 10-03-2006, 09:33 AM

There's also some great stuff on wikipedia and harmony-central.

bobthecockroach · 10-03-2006, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesteve

There's also some great stuff on wikipedia and harmony-central.

But if you turn in a report with Wikipedia as a source, you're just asking for an F.

telecasting · 10-03-2006, 09:48 AM

Check out www.ax84.com for amp kits.

**thesteve** · 10-03-2006, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobthecockroach

But if you turn in a report with Wikipedia as a source, you're just asking for an F.

Well those external links are always handy. In college they might be a bit hard on wikipedia, but I don't think they really care in high school. most teachers are going to be happy you turned something in, and aren't going to understand what your paper says in general if you write aobut amplification.

bobthecockroach · 10-03-2006, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesteve

Well those external links are always handy. In college they might be a bit hard on wikipedia, but I don't think they really care in high school. most teachers are going to be happy you turned something in, and aren't going to understand what your paper says in general if you write aobut amplification.

Ah well, I always think in terms of college standards.

ieatdirt · 10-03-2006, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobthecockroach

Part of a research report is doing your own research, but to give you a basic idea:

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/amplifier.htm

Well, I was just looking for some places to find some information, since I can't seem to find much. I looked on HowStuffWorks for that article but I couldn't find it. Thanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobthecockroach

But if you turn in a report with Wikipedia as a source, you're just asking for an F.

This is a homeschool class; the teacher recommended Wikipedia as a starting point, which isn't an especially great idea, I think. Anyone can write Wikipedia articles, right?

Thanks for the other advice, Steve, and for the link, telecasting.

bobthecockroach · 10-03-2006, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ieatdirt

Anyone can write Wikipedia articles, right?

Interestingly enough, there's a page of the reliability of Wikipedia on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliability_of_Wikipedia

**thesteve** · 10-03-2006, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ieatdirt

This is a homeschool class; the teacher recommended Wikipedia as a starting point, which isn't an especially great idea, I think. Anyone can write Wikipedia articles, right?

Indeed. There are some articles on there that I've read that are horrible, but most of the time, I get pretty decent summaries and explanations. Normally I don't throw wikipedia out there as a source, but I've read through one of their amplifier articles several times (the one explaining Class A...A/B...etc. amps) and have found it to be a pretty good article. (this one here is the one I am referring to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_A_amplifier)

More importantly, often wikipedia articles have external links and references at the end of the article, so if you find something that sounds good, you can dig deeper to find out where it came from.

ieatdirt · 10-03-2006, 10:14 AM

Those seem pretty good. I'm supposed to try to use books as sources as much as possible, though. Are there any books that I might be able to get at the library that have to do with amps?

bobthecockroach · 10-03-2006, 10:15 AM

Almost certainly. And your librarian should be able to help you find them.

Ax · 10-03-2006, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ieatdirt

Those seem pretty good. I'm supposed to try to use books as sources as much as possible, though. Are there any books that I might be able to get at the library that have to do with amps?

it depends on your library.. also is it about amps in general.. because that's a really broad topic, i'd focus it to either SS or Tube and then maybe focus it even more to "Why most professionals prefer tube amps" or "Why Solid State amplifiers may one day replace tube technology" or something like that... pick a side and debate it.. that's the way to get an A...

ieatdirt · 10-03-2006, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AXguitar

it depends on your library.. also is it about amps in general.. because that's a really broad topic, i'd focus it to either SS or Tube and then maybe focus it even more to "Why most professionals prefer tube amps" or "Why Solid State amplifiers may one day replace tube technology" or something like that... pick a side and debate it.. that's the way to get an A...

It will mostly be about how amps work. It'll probably be about mainly tube amps, as well.

Ax · 10-03-2006, 10:39 AM

what kind of class is it for? if it's not for some kind of technical class you'll bore the reader to tears... you don't wanna do that...

one of my greatest inlfluences used to say "write with the reader in mind"