Building the Audio Note Kit 1 SET amp...

We also discovered that I have four ceramic capacitors soldered in the wrong position on the driver board, although these are not in the signal path and would not be causing the symptoms we've been hearing. (Brian is going to send me a set of replacement capacitors.)

Rebbi, I don't quite understand that. The ceramic capacitors I see on the driver board in this photo from your blog are C1, C2, C3, and C4, and they all appear to be in the correct locations per the markings on the board.

Where is Brian saying they should be located?

Best regards,
-- Al

fwiw i had a defective input board on one of my ref1000m amps not long after i acquired them . The foil or conductive material on the board had separated from the board resulting in substantial distortion at all volumes. Replacing the board resolved the problem. So a defective circuit board is certainly a logical candidate assuming all else checks out properly. Am interested also in whats wrong with how those capacitors are installed. Looks good in the pic.

OK, I just noticed in this photo that there are printed circuit connections visible within the board forming a direct connection between what I (and you) had believed were the two pads/holes for C1, and likewise for C4. Given that, it becomes apparent that the uppermost ends of C1 through C4 should go to the pads at the top of the board that are adjacent to (and connected to) W20 through W23, respectively. And the reason you need replacements for the capacitors, of course, is that the leads on the original ones were trimmed for mounting in the more closely spaced holes, and will no longer reach the correct locations.

Wow! An understandable and easy to make error, if ever there was one.

Best regards,
-- Al

Eagle eye Al! 👏👏👏

You have just convinced me never to try this at home.