These books are the best source of information about stereo and home theater systems.
1. The Complete Guide to High-End Audio by Robert Harley
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Robert is a highly respected industry veteran whom I’ve had the pleasure of knowing for many years. As he states in the preface: “This book is for anyone who enjoys music. It is about enriching our lives through the joy of high-quality music reproduction in the home.” His passion for music is evident throughout the book as he discusses everything from how to become a better listener, how to get the best sound from your room and a detailed look at the components that make a good audio system. His knowledge has helped me grasp some of the concepts, products and technologies that makes home audio so enjoyable. The book is still in print and I highly recommend it.
2. Introductory Guide to High-Performance Audio Systems by Robert Harley
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In this book, a follow-up to his book The Complete Guide to High End Audio, Robert Harley adds his knowledge of surround sound and home theater technologies. It's packed with valuable information that's easy to read and understand.
3. The Compact Disc Handbook by Ken Pohlmann
If you want to thoroughly understand digital technology, especially the compact disc, this book is for you. It starts with a conceptual overview of the differences between analog and digital then quickly jumps into the deep end with the fundamentals of digital audio – sampling rates, Nyquist’s theorem, aliasing, quantization, dithering and other mind-bending concepts that are presented logically with good examples. This is a must read if you want to know more (a lot more!) about those amazing, shiny five-inch discs that store your music.