Vfet / SIT Amplifiers

Do you have a B-1 and / or N7?

Your findings and comparison with the Accuphase do not surprize me and others reported similar expereinces.

Enjoy your vfet amps. They are true treasures.

I would not be surprized if we see an Accuphase A-47 coming up for sale soon :)

@sonetduo 

I still haven't found any B-1 for a reasonable price and the N7B is being refurbished. So, I hope I'll find out soon, if I'll keep using the B-3s or switch them for the Sony.

It's really odd that the contemporary top of the line amplifier sounds worse than 45 year old piece. 

re: "It's really odd that the contemporary top of the line amplifier sounds worse than 45 year old piece."

Not add at all and your expereince is not unique. I withnesed various astute audiophiles having similar reaction and favoring Vfet amps over some TOTL equipment of the likes of Accuphase, AR, Merrill, etc. The vfet amps of the 70s were build with parts that were some of the most linear amplification defices ever conceived. Unfortunately, they prooved too expensive to produce and were ultimately detroned in favor of Mosfets, BJTs, etc, due to cost of production advantaged.

Nelson is the last amp designer that offically worked with new vfets in his FirstWatt series, which are also great sounding amplifiers, but due to limited supply of vfets, the production of theose units stopped as well.