They will be the original Hitachi lateral mosfet's.
The amp circuit came from a Hitachi datasheet.
I bought the same kit a few years back unbuilt and built it up.
Like rocking horse poo to find now.
The amp circuit came from a Hitachi datasheet.
I bought the same kit a few years back unbuilt and built it up.
Like rocking horse poo to find now.
On the photo they show Exicons. And all the parts in the kit look modern.
This is not the original kit. It's modern copy of it.
This is not the original kit. It's modern copy of it.
Well spotted ! the circuit diagram shows Hitachi's.
They have replaced Hitachi's from original kit with Exicons !
That's a bit naughty for an "original" kit.
They have replaced Hitachi's from original kit with Exicons !
That's a bit naughty for an "original" kit.
I used to gig with four of those, happy memories.
"I used to gig with four of those, happy memories."
I just had the one but it wasnt loud enough on its own.
So I bought the Maplin disco amplifier which was 225WRMS.
See my 3 Maplin amps below.
I just had the one but it wasnt loud enough on its own.
So I bought the Maplin disco amplifier which was 225WRMS.
See my 3 Maplin amps below.

I asked the seller why there are Exicons in the kit.
The kit is from 1994 when Hitachi's were obsolete.
The kit is from 1994 when Hitachi's were obsolete.
Yes, Hitachi lateral Mosfets were introduced in 1977 and have been around much longer than just the original TO3 style 2SK133-135 and 2SJ47-50 series lasted in production. Those Hitachi types were already difficult to obtain by 1990, when they would have been past the usual 10 year EOL.
As I see it, Exicon/Semelab products are aftermarket parts that were sold a little cheaper, squeezing Hitachi out of their relatively small share of the audio power market. 'Pity that Exicon's principal source didn't then back up their product with literature that supported it just as well. If they had, perhaps Latfets would then have been more successful.
As I see it, Exicon/Semelab products are aftermarket parts that were sold a little cheaper, squeezing Hitachi out of their relatively small share of the audio power market. 'Pity that Exicon's principal source didn't then back up their product with literature that supported it just as well. If they had, perhaps Latfets would then have been more successful.
- Home
- Amplifiers
- Solid State
- A touch of nostalgia