The Ton Giesberts Collection: Practical Analog and Audio Projects

If you've been reading Elektor for a few years, chances are you've come across a project by Ton Giesberts. Maybe it was a high-end audio amplifier, a test instrument, a Raspberry Pi board, or one of his many analog circuits. Now you can explore decades of his work in one place. The Ton Giesberts Collection gives you access to hundreds of projects, articles, and design notes on a single USB stick. 

What I noticed almost immediately is that this isn't just another collection of audio projects. Yes, audio is a big part of it, but after browsing for a while, I found myself jumping from amplifiers to Raspberry Pi hardware, then to test equipment, USB interfaces, and even design articles. That variety is what makes the collection so enjoyable to explore.

 

The Ton Giesberts Collection: High-End Audio Highlights

Audio is one of the main themes throughout the collection, so it's no surprise that some of its highlights are audio amplifiers. Two projects immediately caught my attention: the Q-Watt Audio Power Amplifier from 2013 and the Fortissimo-100 High-End Amplifier, published almost a decade later.

It was interesting to see how those designs reflect different stages of Ton's work. The Q-Watt is a semi-discrete amplifier capable of delivering more than 200 W into a 4 Ω load with very low distortion, while the Fortissimo-100 features a fully symmetrical output stage and was designed for DIY audio enthusiasts looking to build a high-performance analog amplifier.

 

 

Beyond Analog Audio Projects

What surprised me most while browsing the collection was how quickly it moves beyond audio. A few clicks later I was looking at Raspberry Pi hardware, USB interfaces, measurement equipment, and practical workshop projects.

One project that stood out was the Buffer Board for the Raspberry Pi 400. Designed to protect the Raspberry Pi's GPIOs during development, it also allows interfacing with both 3.3 V and 5 V logic, making it a useful addition for anyone building their own hardware.

Another interesting project is the USB-to-Multi-Protocol Serial Converter, which supports several communication protocols from a single interface. It is the kind of project that reminds you how broad this collection really is.

I also enjoyed coming across the DDS Function Generator. It is a nice reminder that the USB isn't only about building circuits, but also about creating the tools needed to test and develop them.

 

Useful Projects for the Workbench

Some projects are ambitious builds, while others are practical tools that many electronics enthusiasts will appreciate.

The AC/DC Power Meter combines galvanic isolation with Arduino-based processing to measure voltage, current, active power, reactive power, and power factor. It is a good example of the kind of measurement projects included throughout the collection.

Another project I liked was Charge-a-Phone, which uses standard AA NiMH batteries to charge phones and tablets through a USB connection. It is one of those simple ideas that solves a practical problem with an elegant circuit.
 

Getting to Know the Engineer

The USB also includes an interview with Ton Giesberts, where he looks back on his career at Elektor and shares his thoughts on analog design, lab equipment, and how electronics has changed over the years.

When asked where he finds inspiration, Ton explained that older designs are often worth revisiting. With a few improvements and modern components, they can still become excellent projects today. After spending some time exploring the USB, that way of thinking starts to appear throughout the collection.

Final Thoughts

What I enjoyed most about the Ton Giesberts Collection was the variety. I expected plenty of audio projects, but I didn't expect to move so naturally from amplifiers to Raspberry Pi hardware, USB interfaces, measurement equipment, and analog design articles.

Whether you are looking for your next project or simply want to explore years of practical electronics published in Elektor, The Ton Giesberts Collection offers plenty to discover. From analog amplifiers and Raspberry Pi hardware to measurement tools and practical workshop designs, the collection rewards curiosity. Chances are, once you open the first project, you'll end up browsing a few more before closing the USB.