After having gone through several books, magazines and articles to learn a little more on this hobby of ours, here is what I would recommend as a good read before someone starts spending hard-earned money in building a system:
(1) The complete guide to high-end audio by Robert Harley --- It gives a comprehensive coverage of all equipment and aspects involved including a bit on surround sound. Not the final authority but still the best to understand what we are talking about.
(2) Get Better Sound by Jim Smith --- A recent entry but with lot of tips and tricks and many sound workable and convincing. This may be useful for all those who have equipment but are also inclined to experiment a bit.
(3) Audio Perfectionist journals --- Richard Hardesty's writings are somewhat controversial and often repetitive and sometimes do not make sense. But several of his observations and suggestions are spot on and though he is a big proponent of time and phase accurate speakers like Vandersteen and Thiel, hates negative feedback in electronics and takes on establishments like Stereophile, his writings are not very expressive. I will easily recommend his journals 9, 10, 11, 12 and 16 (14 if you have vinyl) dedicated to sources, amps and speakers and cables and stands where he reviews specific equipment.
(4) And finally, an elementary Physics book on Sound. Though many a time we read about the art-form in design of equipment, let us never forget that the physics of sound never changed. Often you will find people ignoring this fundamental truth.
(5) If not enough, a beginner's guide to basic electrical engineering and electronics. It is very easy to talk about crossovers and filters without even knowing what is a capacitor or inductor.
Total damage: < Rs 10,000 in my estimate. Justified if you are going to spend Rs 1L or more.
Good luck and happy listening.
murali
(1) The complete guide to high-end audio by Robert Harley --- It gives a comprehensive coverage of all equipment and aspects involved including a bit on surround sound. Not the final authority but still the best to understand what we are talking about.
(2) Get Better Sound by Jim Smith --- A recent entry but with lot of tips and tricks and many sound workable and convincing. This may be useful for all those who have equipment but are also inclined to experiment a bit.
(3) Audio Perfectionist journals --- Richard Hardesty's writings are somewhat controversial and often repetitive and sometimes do not make sense. But several of his observations and suggestions are spot on and though he is a big proponent of time and phase accurate speakers like Vandersteen and Thiel, hates negative feedback in electronics and takes on establishments like Stereophile, his writings are not very expressive. I will easily recommend his journals 9, 10, 11, 12 and 16 (14 if you have vinyl) dedicated to sources, amps and speakers and cables and stands where he reviews specific equipment.
(4) And finally, an elementary Physics book on Sound. Though many a time we read about the art-form in design of equipment, let us never forget that the physics of sound never changed. Often you will find people ignoring this fundamental truth.
(5) If not enough, a beginner's guide to basic electrical engineering and electronics. It is very easy to talk about crossovers and filters without even knowing what is a capacitor or inductor.
Total damage: < Rs 10,000 in my estimate. Justified if you are going to spend Rs 1L or more.
Good luck and happy listening.
murali
