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
These are just a few of the secrets you will learn:
• 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 get true high-end sound from you iPod
• How to join the high-resolution digital revolution
• How to find the one speaker in 50 worth owning
• Why all «100W» amplifiers don’t sound the same
Part One:
• What is High-End Audio?
Part Two:
• Choosing a High-End Audio System
Part Three:
• Becoming a Better Listener
Part Four:
• Preamplifiers
Part Five:
• Power and Integrated Amplifiers
Part Six:
• Loudspeakers
Part Seven:
• Digital Source Components, Part One: Disc Players, DACs, and Interfaces
Part Eight:
• Digital Source Components Part Two: Music Servers
Part Nine:
• Turntables, Tonearms, and Cartridges: The LP Playback System
Part Ten:
• Cables and Interconnects
Part Eleven:
• Audio for Home Theater
Part Twelve:
• Multichannel Audio
Part Thirteen:
• Personal Audio: Headphones, Desktop, and Mobile Audio
Part Fourteen:
• System Set-Up Secrets Part One: Loudspeaker Placement and Room Acoustics
Part Fifteen:
• System Set-Up Secrets Part Two: Expert Tuning Techniques and Audiophile Accessories
Part Sixteen:
• Specifications and Measurements
Appendix A:
• Sound and Hearing
Appendix B:
• Audio and Electronics Basics
Appendix C:
• Digital Audio Basics
Glossary
Index