DIY Sony VFET Builders thread

#45 is up and running... this was my first diy amp build but the kit and all the instructions were so awesome that everything came together very smoothly... a great way to spend a weekend... as everyone has already been reporting, the amp sounds pretty great right out the gate, but I’m going to let it burn in a bit before doing any critical listening / comparing... I have a First Watt F1J and Schitt Aegir to compare against... driving Omega SAMs and B&W 606s... thanks to everyone who made this possible, especially Nelson Pass for sharing his expertise and passion... this should be a fun next few weeks.
 

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#45 is up and running... this was my first diy amp build but the kit and all the instructions were so awesome that everything came together very smoothly... a great way to spend a weekend... as everyone has already been reporting, the amp sounds pretty great right out the gate, but I’m going to let it burn in a bit before doing any critical listening / comparing... I have a First Watt F1J and Schitt Aegir to compare against... driving Omega SAMs and B&W 606s... thanks to everyone who made this possible, especially Nelson Pass for sharing his expertise and passion... this should be a fun next few weeks.

What do you think of the Omega's? I'm currently using Klipsch Heresy III's, but they're a bit bright for my taste to be perfectly honest. However, they are just so "present" and fun to listen to live recordings. I've got a sub because they don't go low enough.

I wonder if a sub + Omega's would be like the perfect combination, or if it'd be too hard to integrate a sub with them?

Also, looking forward to your impressions!
 
@ Super_BQ
Yeah, I know.. but this is a different story..
I think Digi-Key and Mouser have long time commercial, professional contracts with official capacitors factories
they don't deal with " funny guys "
they care about reputation and are subscribed ont list of the official electronic components distributors
with adequate international laws regulations. Counterfeit electronic components - Wikipedia

I agree the supply chain relationship is important but with most of these components being made in China, the quality is only as good as someone from HQ watching their manufacturing facilities and quite often the products of varying quality are sent out in different doors. On the Toshiba JFet thread some in Europe have purchased fake JFets from reputable EU distributors.

I've managed to measure the capacitance of these Nichicons:

Ones that came with the OS-P boards, x 10 uF values [970 / 972 / 972 / 973] all with batch # B1732

Ones that came with the FE-P Edcor boards (with the font printing in question), x 10 uF values [902 / 917 / 924 / 946] all with batch # B1902

It's clear the OS-P batch (with the font print i'm familiar with) have much closer tolerance (and what I would expect from Nichicon).

All in all I doubt the difference in uF in the FE-P would make much difference? It could be the factory did quality runs for the same caps ; those that meet the standard would get the correct printing while the ones that fail (maybe be sold off for domestic market use) had the slightly different font printing.
 
Founder of XSA-Labs
Joined 2012
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The VFET is a very resolving amp capable of great soundstage. I swapped over to my Khadas Tone Board DAC which uses the top of the line ESS Sabre DAC from the whatever one is inside my Focusrite 2i4, and it makes a huge difference. Holy smokes, the clarity popped into focus and the soundstage widened and improvement in the placement of instruments was immediately noticeable. So give the VFET the best source you can and you will be rewarded. I am using my own OPA1642 based buffer with 14dB gain between the DAC and the VFET.
 
I agree the supply chain relationship is important but with most of these components being made in China, the quality is only as good as someone from HQ watching their manufacturing facilities and quite often the products of varying quality are sent out in different doors. On the Toshiba JFet thread some in Europe have purchased fake JFets from reputable EU distributors.

I've managed to measure the capacitance of these Nichicons:

Ones that came with the OS-P boards, x 10 uF values [970 / 972 / 972 / 973] all with batch # B1732

Ones that came with the FE-P Edcor boards (with the font printing in question), x 10 uF values [902 / 917 / 924 / 946] all with batch # B1902

It's clear the OS-P batch (with the font print i'm familiar with) have much closer tolerance (and what I would expect from Nichicon).

All in all I doubt the difference in uF in the FE-P would make much difference? It could be the factory did quality runs for the same caps ; those that meet the standard would get the correct printing while the ones that fail (maybe be sold off for domestic market use) had the slightly different font printing.

Named by some amateurs " reputable component's source " (small, cheap Reichelt ?)
don't mean they are on the list of official distributors with high industrial standards and regulations like Mouser and Digi-Key.
:) Best regards
 
#45 is up and running... this was my first diy amp build but the kit and all the instructions were so awesome that everything came together very smoothly... a great way to spend a weekend... as everyone has already been reporting, the amp sounds pretty great right out the gate, but I’m going to let it burn in a bit before doing any critical listening / comparing... I have a First Watt F1J and Schitt Aegir to compare against... driving Omega SAMs and B&W 606s... thanks to everyone who made this possible, especially Nelson Pass for sharing his expertise and passion... this should be a fun next few weeks.

Exciting! Tell us more about how it sounds with the Omegas, it is very interesting. And, if I remember correctly the 606s dips under 4 Ohms on some frequencies, so how is that working out?
 
First to post here with the chassis and... LOL, possibly the last one to receive the parts.

French Post was as usual a nightmare, but well, the kit is with me right now so all is good. I didn't have yet the time to investigate all its content but it is neatly packed with quality parts and boards, with all parts for OS, FE, filter and PS respectlively splitted into different bags or boxes. VERY NICE. May post pix so those that weren't lucky with the lottery can appreciate all the work put into the kit provided by DIYAUDIO. It is not the first kit I see from my beloved website and Papa, and yet I am still and again amazed by the quality ans simplicity...

I had yet no time to check contents deeply around all parts, but at first glance it appears I am on "one side" lucky as I have none of the prototype boards: neither FE, nor OS.

On the other hand, I am a tad unlucky to have for whatever reason a RED LED instead of the expected BLUE LED :-(

No disaster, but I love the BLUE touch on Pass products so I defo wouldn't want to miss on that one. OK, yes, I am biased, but what shall I say: after all this time waiting I raved on all the pix with the blue touch! Of course it can wait, and I won't order just a LED at Mouser's with their postage cost, but at some point I wish to replace my red LED with the correct BLUE one. Or get started with the right one if I find one easily.

Does anyone know the exact part reference of the original blue LED?

Many thanks for your help

Claude (hoping to get started for real)