The Complete Guide to High-End Audio

An updated edition of what many consider the “bible of high-end audio”
 
In this newly revised and updated fifth edition, Robert Harley, editor in chief of the Absolute Sound magazine, tells you everything you need to know about buying and enjoying high-quality hi-fi. With this book, discover how to get the best sound for your money, how to identify the weak links in your system and upgrade where it will do the most good, how to set up and tweak your system for maximum performance, and how to become a more perceptive and appreciative listener. Just a few of the secrets you will learn cover high-end sound on a budget, how to do it cheap and still do it right; five system set-up mistakes and how to avoid them; how to make your speakers sound up to 50% better, at no cost; how to choose and set up a computer-based music system; how to find the one speaker in 50 worth owning; and why all 100-watt amplifiers don't sound the same. Since the first edition's publication in 1994, The Complete Guide to High-End Audio has been considered the essential reference on high-quality music reproduction, with more than 150,000 copies sold in five languages.

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The Complete Guide to High-End Audio

An updated edition of what many consider the “bible of high-end audio”
 
In this newly revised and updated fifth edition, Robert Harley, editor in chief of the Absolute Sound magazine, tells you everything you need to know about buying and enjoying high-quality hi-fi. With this book, discover how to get the best sound for your money, how to identify the weak links in your system and upgrade where it will do the most good, how to set up and tweak your system for maximum performance, and how to become a more perceptive and appreciative listener. Just a few of the secrets you will learn cover high-end sound on a budget, how to do it cheap and still do it right; five system set-up mistakes and how to avoid them; how to make your speakers sound up to 50% better, at no cost; how to choose and set up a computer-based music system; how to find the one speaker in 50 worth owning; and why all 100-watt amplifiers don't sound the same. Since the first edition's publication in 1994, The Complete Guide to High-End Audio has been considered the essential reference on high-quality music reproduction, with more than 150,000 copies sold in five languages.

44.95 In Stock
The Complete Guide to High-End Audio

The Complete Guide to High-End Audio

by Robert Harley
The Complete Guide to High-End Audio

The Complete Guide to High-End Audio

by Robert Harley

Paperback(Fifth Edition, Fifth edition)

$44.95 
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Overview

An updated edition of what many consider the “bible of high-end audio”
 
In this newly revised and updated fifth edition, Robert Harley, editor in chief of the Absolute Sound magazine, tells you everything you need to know about buying and enjoying high-quality hi-fi. With this book, discover how to get the best sound for your money, how to identify the weak links in your system and upgrade where it will do the most good, how to set up and tweak your system for maximum performance, and how to become a more perceptive and appreciative listener. Just a few of the secrets you will learn cover high-end sound on a budget, how to do it cheap and still do it right; five system set-up mistakes and how to avoid them; how to make your speakers sound up to 50% better, at no cost; how to choose and set up a computer-based music system; how to find the one speaker in 50 worth owning; and why all 100-watt amplifiers don't sound the same. Since the first edition's publication in 1994, The Complete Guide to High-End Audio has been considered the essential reference on high-quality music reproduction, with more than 150,000 copies sold in five languages.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780978649364
Publisher: Acapella Publishing
Publication date: 03/01/2015
Edition description: Fifth Edition, Fifth edition
Pages: 578
Product dimensions: 7.00(w) x 9.90(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

Robert Harley is the editor in chief of The Absolute Sound, the world's most respected magazine on high-performance audio. He has written more than 1,200 product reviews and articles on high-quality music reproduction. His books on home audio have sold more than 300,000 copies in five languages. He lives in Albuquerque, NM.

Table of Contents

Contents
Foreword xvi
Preface to the Sixth Edition xviii
About the Author xx

1 What Is High-End Audio? 1

2 Choosing a High-End Audio System 7

3 Becoming a Better Listener 27

4 Preamplifiers and Phono Stages 57

5 Power and Integrated Amplifiers 81

6 Loudspeakers 117

7 Digital Source Components: DACs, Music Servers, Streaming,
Disc Players, Interfaces 173

8 Turntables, Tonearms, and Cartridges: The LP Playback System 255

10 Audio for Home Theater 317

11 Multichannel Audio 345

12 Personal Audio: Headphones, Desktop, and Mobile Audio 361
13 System Setup Secrets, Part One: Loudspeaker Placement and Room
Acoustics 381

14 System Setup Secrets, Part Two: Expert Tuning Techniques,
Accessories, Equipment Racks, and AC Power Conditioners 425

15 Specifications and Measurements 451

Appendix A: Sound and Hearing 463

Appendix B: Audio and Electronics Basics 479

Appendix C: Digital Audio Basics 503

Glossary 519

Index 559
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