Many makers and engineers got into engineering through audio. Whether it be building a guitar pedal or modding the power amp in your home theater, working with audio components is a fun way to use your engineering skills.
This wishlist presents some of the tools and parts you need for working with audio. Audio is a broad topic, so this wishlist is a general overview of analog audio components. We'll get specific in later articles.
Giveaway
What's in your home theater or music setup? Better yet, show us a picture of your home theater, stereo, or studio setups!
Our five favorites will receive a pair of Koss wireless headphones.
Tools
For audio related building, here are some handy tools to have on your bench!
Oscilloscope
An oscilloscope is your best friend for audio work. They can be used to check frequency response, distortion characteristics, and everything other specification that is important to an audio signal.
F: 3107569
N: 10AH2393
Function Generator
Audio work is all about frequencies. A function generator sends different kinds of waves at different frequencies so you know if your build is responding the way you want it to.
F:3130266
N:73AH0060
Multimeter
Multimeters are essential for every kind of electronics work; audio is no different.
F:3107585
N:49AJ4896
Speaker Dummy Load
Since we can't use speakers for our testing, all that power needs someplace to go. A dummy load simulates a speaker in your circuit without blowing your head off with volume. A dummy load can be built with a high wattage resistor at the desired resistance, usually 4, 8, or 16 ohms for speakers.
F: 1703816
N: 41K9137
Contact Cleaner
If you're repairing equipment that has scratchy pots, many times, a bottle of contact cleaner is all you need. Drip a little bit into the pot and exercise it; your noise issues will often disappear.
F: 800946
N: 49H8606
Helping Hands
You've probably already got a nice soldering station, so we won't get into soldering equipment, but with any soldering project, because we don't have six arms ourselves, a set of helping hands is very valuable.
F: 3617678
N: 23AJ6202
Components
Audio circuits use a wide variety of analog components to keep that audio sounding good.
Transistors are typically used to amplify audio signals, and sometimes distort. Different types of transistors have different characteristics, whether they are BJT, MOSFET, JFET, or even silicon or germanium.
F: 1574382
N: 04X5932
Potentiometers
If you're putting any kind of analog controls on your new creation, you'll likely need pots or faders.
F: 2100098
N: 76T0417
Opamps
Opamps (operational amplifier) designed to amplify signals and there's a wide range, from large and discrete, like the vintage API 2520 (and its descendants), to surface mount. Opamp design has come a long way and newer opamps boast near zero distortion and noise, although classic opamps like the TL072 and 5532 still offer great sounds in the right circuit.
F:3117310
N:33AH4547
Transformers
Transformers do a whole lot of things in an audio circuit; impedance matching, balancing, stepping up or down, etc. Because they only transmit audio signals, transformers also provide an important benefit: isolation.
F: 2302188
N: 24B5914
DC Power Supply
Your opamps and transistors need to be powered, so chances are you'll need a good DC power supply. Op amps typically take somewhere in the range of +/-16V, while a discrete transistor based circuit might require a 24V supply. If you're making a microphone preamp that supplies phantom power, you'll need to supply 48V.
F:3798487
N:69AJ1611
F:3595762
N:52AH7468
Connectors?
F: 9991778
N: 33K3998
F: 2309484
N: 72W1866
Speakers, headphones, etc. mic???
Now the fun part! The most important tools for testing audio devices are your ears. Speakers, speaker drivers, and headphones are the most important tools once you're ready to test your design. Fingers crossed that you don't get a blast of loud feedback when you flip the switch!
F: 3409390
N: 92AH2181
F: 2815144
N: 79X3820
Microphone
There are several different types of microphones – large diaphragm condensers, small diaphragm condensers, dynamics, ribbons, and more, all designed for specific purposes. We’ve selected a lavalier because it’s a tiny inexpensive mic that is convenient for testing on the bench.
F: 3370760
N: 84AJ0826