Sony TA-N7 beats 5 other V-fet amplifiers

[@chrisbondio2394]

OnTheBlitz here. Great stuff!

[@atelier_HiFi]

welcome to the channel Chris!

[@МаксимМаксимов-з1с]

Привет дядька 🤝! Аппаратура на 5*. Просто мечта!

[@AN-hz1fo]

Hi, definitely a prime vfet channel ! Thanks for all shared information and experiences. On your videos of Sony collections, I think having seen a TA-N9 (lateral mosfet?), would appreciate if you could give your opinion on vs TA-N7 Thanks, and kudos for great videos

[@atelier_HiFi]

Stay tuned. I will at some point make a TA-N9 video as well. Will try to touch upon the SQ of the N7 and N9.

[@salvadorrodenas3071]

The best review I've ever seen of a hi-fi piece in internet, bravo! Are you American? I mean, from the US of America?

[@atelier_HiFi]

Presently in California USA

[@salvadorrodenas3071]

@@atelier_HiFi a bit too far apart 🤣

[@atelier_HiFi]

@@salvadorrodenas3071 Units I restored sing in Australia, Hong Kong, Europe...nothing is too far :)

[@roms4277]

I own this amp, it's the best for me ! Better than Accuphase A-47 or gryphon diablo !

[@maxchau8558]

Excellent sound! how does SONY TA-N7 compare to your Yamaha B2 sound quality wise?

[@atelier_HiFi]

The clarity on both is stunning. One would be like an excellent Bourbon and the other like a refined French Cognac. Both very refined but not the same. I do not see one better than other. Just slightly different. I am now speaking of well restored units that work as new or better, and not of original 40+ years old condition units where the condition plays a major factor.

[@salvadorrodenas3071]

Fabulous! BTW, you changed the fusible resistors but did you put fusible resistors also? Which brand? An a last question, could happen something bad if I changed a fusible resistor of 1/2 Watt for one of 1/4 Watt? I think it's more important to observe the warnings from the engineers regarding security than putting a regular resistor. The sound is awesome!!!

[@atelier_HiFi]

Salvador, thank you for joining the channel, for your kind comments and for the good questions. Here is my response to the fusible resistor question: There are different schools of thought around fusible resistors. The personal opinion I have is that fusible resistors would not be able to open up quickly enough to save the transistors in case of catastrophic failure. There is very little newly designed equipment today that uses fusible resistors for this purpose. I service lot's of equipment from the 70s that used fusible resistors and on occasions where vfets were fried, the fusible resistors were still OK, so no, they do not do the job they are supposed to do in theory. In the case of the Sony, the fusible resistors are an actual source of vfet failure when they drift too much from the original value, but that is not because of the design of the amp, but due to the quality (or lack thereof) of the parts. I replace fusible resistors with high quality, very low noise metal film resistors that would open just as fast as a fusible resistor, but are much less affected by thermal runaway or from disintegration over time. As far as wattage / power rating, YOU MUST ALLWAYS REPLACE WITH SAME WATTAGE, so a big NO NO to replace a 1/4w resistor with a 1/2w. I hope this helps.

[@salvadorrodenas3071]

@@atelier_HiFi I'm very thankful for your detailed and frank response and for the time spent writings this to an unknown. Thanks a lot. You know? I asked that question of the fusible resistors because I fryed one channel of my sony TA-N80ES doing the asshole, moving the amp still on with exposed loudspeakers cores cables and as a result, shorting it. Bang and smoke, fortunately, the protection saved my loudspeakers at least. The fact is that I think that these light blue kamaya fusible resistors make an important role in the security of the amp and aren't sourced anymore from Sony technical assistance (I must let clear that the catastrophic failure was not to blame Sony design but me because the amp warned me a few times before the big band and the smoke but I was totally stupid) well, the case is that after great search I found those Kamaya original 100 and 10 Ohms 5/% fusible resistors but only in 1/4 Watts. Now you advise me that it would be more dangerous than to use a 1/2Watts metal film resistor instead? Uff...I'll see what I can do. Are you from USA? I'm Spanish and I live in Barcelona, that's all. Have a nice time listening those marvels you own.

[@salvadorrodenas3071]

@@atelier_HiFi I just noticed that you warns against putting 1/2 Watts over a 1/4 Watts but I planned to do the other way around 😃

[@atelier_HiFi]

Actually the engineers I work with will tell otherwise. As far as the resistors, you must keep the same rated values. There is a reason for it as the load calculations for that circuit are made for those values. If you are using 1/4w instead 1/2w, those resistor might go open just under typical use load. If you are working with vfet amplifiers, I strongly suggest you do not experiment there. Stick with original rated values for those resistors, is my advice.

[@salvadorrodenas3071]

@@atelier_HiFi I thought you would like to know that I followed your advice about putting resistors of the same wattage, not less. This is a short video of my resurrected Sony TA-N80ES 😉kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHOZd2Bmq9Z5mtk

[@Stelios.Posantzis]

Is the rack anything special? It looks very much like what I have in mind to build.... i.e. iron L sections or square tubes with thick(ish) wooden shelves. Any particular features to note on this one?

[@atelier_HiFi]

The rack is visually pealing but is nothing special. I need a much sturdier one for my big amps.

[@ladronsiman1471]

Is this really a VFET amp... in the circuit those transistors only regulate current.. Any mosfet can do that job

[@thomashoppe893]

Yes, the circuitry is different from the other V-FET Amps by Sony. So you can find defective TA-N7, where the V-FET's survived. But when they're gone, they are gone forever. In the TA-N88ES they only do switching. That can do MOS-FET's too.

[@atelier_HiFi]

I finally found the opportunity to do an ALL SONY VFET video. I am touching on the high level details for each of these units.

[@sema22D]

Nice amp it is for sale

[@atelier_HiFi]

the one demoed here is a friend's unit. But one of those amps will eventually go for sale as soon as I restore it to the same standard as the unit in the video. If you are seriously interested, you can contact me at [e-mail].

[@roms4277]

It's the best power amp to japan !!! Better than Accuphase, gryphon, krell, tubes power amp, classe D etc... The ta-n7b is more natural and realistic!!! I have compared the sony ans the Accuphase A-47, no match... No emotions with Accuphase compared to Sony...

[@atelier_HiFi]

fantastic amp for sure, but "best out of Japan" might be challenged...there are other vfet amps that came out of Japan, you know... :) So I would say that the TA-N7 can only be matched by the best of the very best of all times and from anywhere, not just Japan.

[@roms4277]

It's considered again as the best power amp transistors to Japan

[@mr.hitachi797]

@@roms4277 Have you heard of the HMA-9500 MKII from Hitachi ? ;)

[@mr.hitachi797]

@@atelier_HiFi The Mosfet Hitachi HMA-9500 MKII is also pretty well regarded.

[@roms4277]

@@mr.hitachi797 Yes. It's a good amp, smooth, dynamic but it's incomparable! The hitachi can compare with the Sansui au-999 but not with the ta-n7b. The financial means were considerable, It's the best of Sony in 1979! Just combo Sony ta-er1 and ta-nr1 is maybe better but the price is monstrous!!!

[@VoltLover00]

Totally concerned about audio quality Runs low level signal wire right next to power cable You can't make this shit up

[@atelier_HiFi]

did you have an issue with audio quality on your N7?