So, I've had my VFET amplifier since Thursday and it's now Sunday morning. It has cured my Audiophilia Nervosa (i.e. FOMO) but a worse complaint has set in. I have incurable insomnia! That's right, I've barely slept in days!!
I keep thinking about my music collection, most of which I haven't listened to in 15 years, and wondering how this album or that album will sound. So far I've gone through Michael Franks, Jennifer Warnes, Stanley Jordan, Bill Withers, Thomas Dolby, Ricky Lee Jones, Steely Dan, the Doobie Brothers, Ryuichi Sakamoto and all my test albums. I've started buying CDs again just to hear how they sound.
How can I make it stop?? Argh!!!!
I keep thinking about my music collection, most of which I haven't listened to in 15 years, and wondering how this album or that album will sound. So far I've gone through Michael Franks, Jennifer Warnes, Stanley Jordan, Bill Withers, Thomas Dolby, Ricky Lee Jones, Steely Dan, the Doobie Brothers, Ryuichi Sakamoto and all my test albums. I've started buying CDs again just to hear how they sound.
How can I make it stop?? Argh!!!!
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My cousin Ricky suggested getting some Abba. That might actually work, I've broken up relationships for less.
Better title might be that VFET amplifiers are an evil plot against audiophile nervosa, perhaps work a few good audiophile conspiracy theories into the mix for good measure.. 😀😀
I think I've found the solution: Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up (Official Music Video) - YouTube
I slept bad because I was up all night redesigning my horn speakers. My V-Fet inspired me to improve upon a few things. First I bought some luxury XO caps, and now I am redesigning my whole speaker, finally adding that last channel. Maybe I should have done that in different order.
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You think VFET amps are terrible? It is an eye-opener for sure.
But have I got news for you... wait until you discover single ended vacuum tube amplifiers with nothing but modestly priced components (relative to what exotic and esoteric selection is out there) and very good output transformers.
But have I got news for you... wait until you discover single ended vacuum tube amplifiers with nothing but modestly priced components (relative to what exotic and esoteric selection is out there) and very good output transformers.
Since we are at diyaudio.com, you'd have to DIY it yourself, and if you did, well then I would have recommended George's TSE boards as you want to use 45 tube types (I am not 100% certain but believe the TSE amp design was for 45 tube types; I've only built George's SSE amps myself). The final price point is all up to you if you choose boutique, esoteric, audio nervosa components as that is up to you. George has recommendations regarding this and through good design and choice, you can manage excellent with regular components.
The problem though is if you can locate the boards first as I believe George has laid the original TSE boards to rest, but there is word that TSE-II might be coming.
Check his subforum in the vendor's section here and his tubelab website. George is active on the website and he may have a few TSE boards still. George performance tests his designs and it is all well documented and furthermore, he stress tests his designs to the point of torturous failure where normal builders would only dream.
Personally, the sample of amps I will finish off this hobby with is a Baby Huey PP tube amp, a Tubelab SSE, an Aleph J, and the VFET amp. There is room for one last SIT build to...
The problem though is if you can locate the boards first as I believe George has laid the original TSE boards to rest, but there is word that TSE-II might be coming.
Check his subforum in the vendor's section here and his tubelab website. George is active on the website and he may have a few TSE boards still. George performance tests his designs and it is all well documented and furthermore, he stress tests his designs to the point of torturous failure where normal builders would only dream.
Personally, the sample of amps I will finish off this hobby with is a Baby Huey PP tube amp, a Tubelab SSE, an Aleph J, and the VFET amp. There is room for one last SIT build to...
Speaking of nervosa, I don't like the thought of having a component like a tube that has an expiring date and will take the rest of my system down with it once it does.
I might settle down with my V-Fets and pick up gardening.
I might settle down with my V-Fets and pick up gardening.
Hmpf, I trying to find a good example of a tube amp damaging speakers, but apparently OPTs are really good at protecting speakers if a component fail. It is actually dolid state amps that are one componet way from frying the speakers. But still, I don't like the thought of buying new tubes every decade or so, without knowing when it might fail.
I started with SE valve amps in 1967 so there's not much about those I don't know. And since I'm not quite ready to build a pair of horn enclosures or pay astronomical prices for iron, I won't be going back to them. Those 807's and KT88's I have stashed away will just have to stay cold and lonely for now. 🙂