I'm trying to decide if I want to build the VFET kit I won in the lottery, 2nd round. I'd like to know if anyone has compared the characteristic sound of the M2 with the VFET amp. I've built 2 M2s and this amp has become my every day amp driving my horns, even replacing my DHT amps. I just don't know for sure if I want to build another low wattage amp. Any experience is appreciated.
Regards,
Milkduds
Regards,
Milkduds
The answer probably depends on your speakers, and how much power you need to fill your listening space with music. I have one of the 1st round VFET amps, and it is a pleasure to listen to in a large space with moderately efficient speakers. The amp hits well above its weight class. Besides, it’s all kinds of fun to collect and build the other front end cards that are available. 🙂
Is M2 low wattage? 40W in 4 ohm?
It is probably expected that winners of VFET amps build them?
ZM also won one?
I have built my (2SJ28 version) and use it in the moment as daily amp.
I have two large M2X mono blocks taking up a lot of space in my small office room. They were too nice just to use as bass speaker amps. Use class D for that.
It is probably expected that winners of VFET amps build them?
ZM also won one?
I have built my (2SJ28 version) and use it in the moment as daily amp.
I have two large M2X mono blocks taking up a lot of space in my small office room. They were too nice just to use as bass speaker amps. Use class D for that.
M2:
25W@8R, all Class A
50W@4R, 12W5 in Class A
ZM won one VFet, passed it to next ballot under the line
everyone ought to build M2
VFet amps are for Weaklingsessss
When you already are owner of a VFET kit, my advice: of course, build it asap!
Not a lot of work. Should you not like the result, I think it will be no problem to sell the completed amp!
Happy ears
Franz
I have compared.
...Are you seriously sitting on this kit? 😉
In my humble opinion VFET (barebone original) beats the M2 every day of the week with unparalleled musicality. The various turbo versions now offered may be even better but I don't know.
Of course the new 5W ACA mini beats both of them (with the distortion canceling on). The music presence is unheard of, and it sounds more powerful than either the 10W VFET and 24W M2x.
The power consumption of the ACA mini is a joke too, and so it's a totally green amp.
So there is probably room to go even lower power and build a 2.5W that is even better and a 1W amp for horns that is better still. 😀
...Are you seriously sitting on this kit? 😉
In my humble opinion VFET (barebone original) beats the M2 every day of the week with unparalleled musicality. The various turbo versions now offered may be even better but I don't know.
Of course the new 5W ACA mini beats both of them (with the distortion canceling on). The music presence is unheard of, and it sounds more powerful than either the 10W VFET and 24W M2x.
The power consumption of the ACA mini is a joke too, and so it's a totally green amp.
So there is probably room to go even lower power and build a 2.5W that is even better and a 1W amp for horns that is better still. 😀
It's a great hobby that you can definitely fall in love with.
You won a SONY VFET amp that sparked the interest of nearly every diyaudio.com member for weeks. You have the VFET kit with the real Nelson Pass initials. Just go and build it and test it. What is the worst that can happen? You might like it.
It might have a place for certain music too. I like my SE tube amps (George's tubelab SSE is so easy to listen to and put together that my first one was sold to a friend of mine who wanted a tube amp) but mostly for vocals and jazz. It can push around harder stuff, but I make the change when required.
When I want to listen to some faster harder rock and roll or a full on orchestra, I switch out to a PP amp -- the bigger Baby Huey is clean and easily edges out the Bob Latino ST70 my friend had me build for him (the Bob Latino parts and chassis are all top notch).
I don't have an ACA mini yet (when it lands in the store, I will be there with card at the ready). I did like my ACA (a friend has borrowed it indefinitely). The MoFo was a surprise with a low parts count and great sound. The SONY VFET lottery amplifier part 1 is a keeper; it is pleasant and transparent, can play any type of music and it will push around any speaker cone with ease (imagine what it will do to your horns).
I am in the middle of an Aleph J build and starting the research into a full range speaker build.
Did I mention that I also have a pair of matched SITs ready for the next Nelson Pass design that I can barely wait for to come out?
Geez, I hate this hobby so much...
😀
You won a SONY VFET amp that sparked the interest of nearly every diyaudio.com member for weeks. You have the VFET kit with the real Nelson Pass initials. Just go and build it and test it. What is the worst that can happen? You might like it.
It might have a place for certain music too. I like my SE tube amps (George's tubelab SSE is so easy to listen to and put together that my first one was sold to a friend of mine who wanted a tube amp) but mostly for vocals and jazz. It can push around harder stuff, but I make the change when required.
When I want to listen to some faster harder rock and roll or a full on orchestra, I switch out to a PP amp -- the bigger Baby Huey is clean and easily edges out the Bob Latino ST70 my friend had me build for him (the Bob Latino parts and chassis are all top notch).
I don't have an ACA mini yet (when it lands in the store, I will be there with card at the ready). I did like my ACA (a friend has borrowed it indefinitely). The MoFo was a surprise with a low parts count and great sound. The SONY VFET lottery amplifier part 1 is a keeper; it is pleasant and transparent, can play any type of music and it will push around any speaker cone with ease (imagine what it will do to your horns).
I am in the middle of an Aleph J build and starting the research into a full range speaker build.
Did I mention that I also have a pair of matched SITs ready for the next Nelson Pass design that I can barely wait for to come out?
Geez, I hate this hobby so much...
😀
To me:
DiyAudio V-FET (P channel) = more detail in the mids and highs.
M2 = more warmth in the mids and highs...slightly less detail.
Bass sounds good to me with either amp.
PS. On first listen the V-FET amp it was a touch too bright for my taste (Oh Sh*t am I going to be the only one that doesn't love their VFET). after that I played background music through it constantly for a couple days. When I came back to it after those couple days it sounded more relaxed but retained all the detail. something changed...either me or the amp, but something is different.
DiyAudio V-FET (P channel) = more detail in the mids and highs.
M2 = more warmth in the mids and highs...slightly less detail.
Bass sounds good to me with either amp.
PS. On first listen the V-FET amp it was a touch too bright for my taste (Oh Sh*t am I going to be the only one that doesn't love their VFET). after that I played background music through it constantly for a couple days. When I came back to it after those couple days it sounded more relaxed but retained all the detail. something changed...either me or the amp, but something is different.
There's high power Aleph J... see attached.
Or, (the antichrist in me saying...) a class D amplifier... maybe...?
Or, one of the Pass Labs amplifiers (make sure your private health fund covers hernia surgery)
Attachments
Are you talking original M2 or M2x? If M2x, what input buffer is in use?
I never noticed any brightness in the VFET. The amp took a couple off days to burn it, or my ears to adapt. I find the VFET bass very sloppy and flat out distorted compared to the push pull amps but I am driving 15in high eff woofers so mileage may vary.
I have built 2 M2s from Teabag's boards. I love this amp on my horns. I've compared to a F5 and F6 which are both great amps as well. Details are there in spades but the M2 although warmer is a better match for my horns. I also use a transformer coupled 4P1L pre in front of all my amps.
Nelson's First Watt designs are a godsend to the audio community. I've been building for almost 50 years now and have never been so enthusiastic about the sound I'm getting.
My only reason for the original question in this tread was that I'm navigating retirement and I have so many tasks on my list...... just feeling a little overwhelmed in a good kind of way of course!
The SONY VFET is an all in one solution that doesn't require drilling and tapping and figuring which size heatsink do I need. It will take you less time than an M2.
If you have horns and were using flea powered DHTs, I am guessing these are quite sensitive and you probably aren't driving 15 inch cones also. So might as well build it, give it a try, burn it in, and see what all the SIT amp talk is about. Granted, it isn't a First Watt SIT-3 but was designed and the SITs were matched, so this is as close as you can get at this point in time.
Don't like it? Gift it to a relative who wants to start this hobby up. It is a great first step for anyone.
If you have horns and were using flea powered DHTs, I am guessing these are quite sensitive and you probably aren't driving 15 inch cones also. So might as well build it, give it a try, burn it in, and see what all the SIT amp talk is about. Granted, it isn't a First Watt SIT-3 but was designed and the SITs were matched, so this is as close as you can get at this point in time.
Don't like it? Gift it to a relative who wants to start this hobby up. It is a great first step for anyone.
VFET: Precise sound stage, spotlighted imaging, brief but deep, sweet and natural tonality
M2: Organic, wholeistic, flow and integration as opposed to more absolute spotlighting
Both already depart from each other at a high order of amplifier quality so it is horses for courses. A nice DHT preamp will move M2 a bit toward VFET affect.
One note about my sample of M2: VFET sounds good pretty quick out of the chute, but M2 really needs hours of warmup to optimize. I think some of the 'mixed' reviews of M2 are due to the fact that people begin and listen to it before it is properly warmed up.
When you start M2 from scratch, it goes through its iterations of class B to Class AB to Class A. It's initial Class B and Class AB to me sound pretty good in a transistory kind of way, but early Class A sounds kind of dull and wonky (20-30 minutes or so). Around two hours or so, wonkiness settles out, upper midrange tunes in very nicely, and it begins to sound very good indeed. I would suggest always turning it on at least two hours before intended listening session.
When warmed up, M2 has some of the best sounding burnished string tones around.
M2: Organic, wholeistic, flow and integration as opposed to more absolute spotlighting
Both already depart from each other at a high order of amplifier quality so it is horses for courses. A nice DHT preamp will move M2 a bit toward VFET affect.
One note about my sample of M2: VFET sounds good pretty quick out of the chute, but M2 really needs hours of warmup to optimize. I think some of the 'mixed' reviews of M2 are due to the fact that people begin and listen to it before it is properly warmed up.
When you start M2 from scratch, it goes through its iterations of class B to Class AB to Class A. It's initial Class B and Class AB to me sound pretty good in a transistory kind of way, but early Class A sounds kind of dull and wonky (20-30 minutes or so). Around two hours or so, wonkiness settles out, upper midrange tunes in very nicely, and it begins to sound very good indeed. I would suggest always turning it on at least two hours before intended listening session.
When warmed up, M2 has some of the best sounding burnished string tones around.
I don't know what the chemistry is. With fewer active devices, M2 does not get as hot as VFET, so maybe heat equilibrium for all components takes longer????
To me, VFET sounds good right away and gets better. M2 doesn't have the grace period as much.
To me, VFET sounds good right away and gets better. M2 doesn't have the grace period as much.
M2 is push pull ; VFET is single ended
M2's total supply is approx 46 volts ; VFET's total supply is 36 volts
M2's chassis includes a power transformer, two bridge rectifiers, and two CRC filters -- which collectively dissipate 10-20 watts of heat into the interior. VFET's runs from a 160 watt SMPS and has no in-chassis power transformer, bridge rectifiers, etc.
M2's total supply is approx 46 volts ; VFET's total supply is 36 volts
M2's chassis includes a power transformer, two bridge rectifiers, and two CRC filters -- which collectively dissipate 10-20 watts of heat into the interior. VFET's runs from a 160 watt SMPS and has no in-chassis power transformer, bridge rectifiers, etc.