Title: Small Signal Audio Design or Audio Power Amplifier Design Author: Douglas Self
In short: This book is a nostalgic circuit cookbook best suited for hobbyists with a basic understanding of electronics who enjoy experimenting. It is not a textbook, not for learning theory, and largely obsolete for professional design—but it remains a fascinating reference for simple, discrete component circuits.
The “More” edition focuses heavily on circuits that were cutting-edge for the late 70s: CMOS logic, phase-locked loops (PLLs), switched-capacitor filters, and early single-chip timer applications (555). Here is a typical breakdown:
| Section | Example Circuits | |--------|------------------| | Power supplies | Variable regulated supplies, crowbar overvoltage protectors, battery chargers, DC-DC converters (using 555 as oscillator) | | Audio & RF | Preamps, graphic equalizers, VU meters, simple AM/FM transmitters, active filters, noise gates | | Digital logic | CMOS flip-flops, shift registers, pulse generators, touch switches, missing-pulse detectors | | Timers & oscillators | 555 astable/monostable variations (dozens), crystal oscillators, voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) | | Test & measurement | Logic probes, capacitance meters, frequency counters (with 7-segment displays), transistor testers | | Alarms & sensors | Light-activated relays, temperature switches, smoke detector circuits (ionization type), ultrasonic motion detectors | | Hobby & games | Electronic dice, LED roulette, tone-burst generators, simple digital clocks |
Each circuit is presented as:
Beginners will struggle to transfer the schematic to a real board. There’s no guidance on grounding, decoupling, heat sinking, or parasitic effects. Many circuits as drawn will work poorly on a solderless breadboard (especially RF or high-gain audio).
| Book | Better for... | |------|----------------| | The Art of Electronics (Horowitz & Hill) | Learning real design & theory | | Encyclopedia of Electronic Circuits (Graf) | Even more circuits (but equally terse) | | Practical Electronics for Inventors (Scherz) | Learning from beginner to intermediate | | 1001 More... (this book) | Quick analog/555/op-amp ideas on a budget |
Platform: Falstad Circuit Simulator (Online) or LTspice (Software)
The word "Practical" in the title is key. This isn't a textbook filled with mathematical theory; it is a cookbook.
I have found that the book’s best use isn't just copying a circuit verbatim, but using it as a starting point. For example:
You can take these building blocks and modify them. Because the circuits are explained clearly, it is easy to see where to tweak a capacitor for a longer delay or swap a resistor for a different gain. It teaches the modularity of electronics.