[Jaytor]

Thank you.

Yes, this is my own design but there are various parts of the design that I borrowed from other people’s designs.

[BrandonB]

Thank you.

Yes, this is my own design but there are various parts of the design that I borrowed from other people’s designs.

I want to say it again.  You and everyone else on here is making some awesome looking gear!

[poseidonsvoice]

Jaytor,

As I commented on diyaudio, phenomenal work! This is a $20K preamp through and through! The EML20A is a sleeper of a tube. Congrats on your hardwork!

Best,
Anand.

[Early B.]

The EML20A is a sleeper of a tube.

Yep. I have a pair of them driving my 300B amp. Well-built, too.

[Jaytor]

Thanks for the kind comments. So far, I've only listened to it for a little while in my workshop system. I'm hoping to install it in my main system sometime this week but I have to move some components around to make room on my rack. I'm looking forward to hearing how it sounds.

[jmimac351]

.

[mkrawcz]

jmimac351, congrats! You will love that little Sony amp.

[jmimac351]

jmimac351, congrats! You will love that little Sony amp.

Thank you for your helpful feedback! It is going to be very interesting to compare to the First Watt SIT-3... 2 different VFET amps.

It will not surprise me in the least if I like the Sony VFET better - and both still GREAT.

And one costs 5X the other...
 

[jmimac351]

.

[mkrawcz]

@mkrawcz, looking at the pics of your VFET amp, it looks like we have the same N-channel VFET setup.

Stuff I'm digesting about it:

Reading thru the writeup from Nelson, it appears our N-channel setup means normal hookup for input and speaker (no reversing +/-), and that will have NEGATIVE 2nd Order Harmonic, correct? 

The other thing that occurred to me... I suppose the VFET amp can pretty easily run on batteries?  36v input?

Yes, the N channel is normal. Mine is using some extra wire I had from Danny and I didn’t have enough red to do the positive side so it’s white. Can it run on batteries? Probably, the amp draws 1.6amps which isn’t too much on bigger batteries. I may give it a try at some point.

[mkrawcz]

Just got this little 20 watt class A amp that is allegedly a clone of the Musical Fidelity A1 without the preamp section. BRZHifi A1S, cost $225 on Amazon and I am shocked at how good it is. This beats all the cheap class D amps you will find on Amazon by a mile. I see some opportunity to tweak also. Playing it through the NX-Bravo Towers and it’s very much a high end sounding Class A amp. Still can’t believe this cost so little. Just the chassis alone is something that would cost about $200 for DIY.

[goggle1824]

But against the Zenductor II? 🤔

[mkrawcz]

But against the Zenductor II? 🤔

Zenductor II wins with slightly better imaging and more bass punch. This is mostly because they’re monoblocks. Both amps are actually similar sounding. Warm, vivid midrange.

[goggle1824]

Zenductor II wins with slightly better imaging and more bass punch. This is mostly because they’re monoblocks. Both amps are actually similar sounding. Warm, vivid midrange.

Interesting… remind me, did you do any “upgrades” on your Zenductor II or is it pretty much stock?

Thx!

[mkrawcz]

Stock. Not too much to upgrade. If it had twice the power it would be ideal.

[goggle1824]

Thanks. I’ve read that elsewhere as well.

I picked up a set of boards from Dan at DIYaudio because I saw you mention to Jim (different thread) how much you were liking yours and that he should check it out.

There are some builds over there that people are planning to have, and increased the power, though the choke needs to be bigger then as well, as I understand it 😬😅, and with bigger chokes comes bigger costs. Regardless… there are folks that are actively pursuing more output I believe. 🤔👍🏼

[jmimac351]

.

[BrandonB]

Just got this little 20 watt class A amp that is allegedly a clone of the Musical Fidelity A1 without the preamp section. BRZHifi A1S, cost $225 on Amazon and I am shocked at how good it is. This beats all the cheap class D amps you will find on Amazon by a mile. I see some opportunity to tweak also. Playing it through the NX-Bravo Towers and it’s very much a high end sounding Class A amp. Still can’t believe this cost so little. Just the chassis alone is something that would cost about $200 for DIY.

I think that is the same little amp that Steve McCormack with SMc Audio has taken and is starting to Hot Rod them. There is a YouTube video with Audiophile Junkie.

[mkrawcz]

I think that is the same little amp that Steve McCormack with SMc Audio has taken and is starting to Hot Rod them. There is a YouTube video with Audiophile Junkie.

I just bypassed the volume control which made a big difference. This amp is awesome.

[goggle1824]

mkrawcz, you have a nice little collection of amps, (mostly class A?), I’d be interested in a little pros/cons comparison 😇😎. Also, what are you listening on?