They are but hidden!
Does anyone know what happened to the chinese attempt to produce new VFETs?
Acronman has no stock left and will never have new stock.
On the internet (Ebay, Aliexpress, Alibaba) only fakes can be found... (I know, bought from different sellers, all fakes or relabelled 2sk60) so no, there are no sources for our precious VFET's anymore.
Sometimes in the DIYAudio 'Swap Meet' they are offered by members who are not going to finish their VFET project.
You may want to consider the upcoming V-Fet design from Nelson, soon to be released PCB's. It can use a number of different V-Fet types apparently. This seller has two types of V-Fet available, they seem genuine too. (see his other listings).
1pc 2SK182E TOKIN Hi-Power Hi-Voltage V-FET(SIT) NOS Original, Made in Japan | eBay
1pc 2SK182E TOKIN Hi-Power Hi-Voltage V-FET(SIT) NOS Original, Made in Japan | eBay
You will be happy to know that this is a reliable seller, and he also has the
Tokin THF-51S, which is a similar part.
With this push-pull design with single VFETs (no devices in parallel) you do not need to match devices across polarities (P-N) and you do not need to match devices across channels (N-N and P-P). So, no matching per se is required.
What you do need to know though is the VFETs' Vgs for Id=0.5A with Vds=19V to set the appropriate bias voltage. Otherwise your VFETs might burn up when you first switch on the amp. Here's how:
As some of this might be taken for granted (and Thanks giving is not an anuall celebration in the Netherlands), I’d like to express my thanks and gratitude to Nelson Pass & the DIYAudio store team, for making this design & VFET’s available and to all of you for your support and enthusiasm for this project.
Yesterday, after a few days burn-in, I had a first proper listening session with the newly build Sony VFET amp. The amps is behaving well, staying at about 23C above ambient, low DC offset & is very quiet. I was blown away by the improvements over my old F5. These might be subjective superfluous, but to me the sound is much more spacious, with much better separation and there is so much more natural tonal richness their too. The whole listening experience left me feeling in awe, completely satisfied and relaxed. Hard to believe a “good” amp can make this much difference and that myself and so many others have been/are missing out on so much goodness.
Here's one lucky owner's impression:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/pass-labs/276711-sony-vfet-amplifier-2-a-217.html#post4864355
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/pass-labs/276711-sony-vfet-amplifier-2-a-217.html#post4864355
VFET Amp vs. SIT-2
I have both amplifiers and:
- I "absolutely love" the SIT-2
- I "love" the VFET amp
I also own 4 the original Sony VFET amps and have collected them since 1978, always loved them but the SIT-2 is entirely different. For lack of better expression, the VFET amp has an ultrasonic characteristic that is unlike any other amp I own or have listened to, the SIT-2 may be slightly less detailed but it is simply magical with my Altec Valencias!
Armin
I have both amplifiers and:
- I "absolutely love" the SIT-2
- I "love" the VFET amp
I also own 4 the original Sony VFET amps and have collected them since 1978, always loved them but the SIT-2 is entirely different. For lack of better expression, the VFET amp has an ultrasonic characteristic that is unlike any other amp I own or have listened to, the SIT-2 may be slightly less detailed but it is simply magical with my Altec Valencias!
Armin
