------------------------------ From: ristau@mprgate.mpr.ca (Gerhard Ristau) Subject: Re: Amplifier kits Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1993 17:04:28 GMT Brock Hannibal writes: : Since rejoining the quest for the holy grail of sound after many years of : imprisonment in a dungeon, I haven't heard much about high quality kits : such as the Dynaco and Hafler types. Are there any and are they any good? : And if there aren't is there a potential market that is not being addressed? : One source of high quality kits that I'm aware of is Old Colony Sound Lab in Peterborough NH, USA. They have a 70 page catalogue that has about 10 pages dedicated to pre-amps and power amps, power supplies, X-overs, etc. You can reach them at (603) 924 6371, or fax (603) 924 9467 good luck! ------------------------------ From: vanveend@cgsvax.claremont.edu Subject: Amplifier Kits (Warning, this post mentions TUBES!) Date: 26 Oct 93 13:52:57 PST Brock, Try the kits that are listed in the back of Hi-Fi World ($5.00 U.S., available at Barnes & Noble [along with TAS, Stereophile, Audiophile, HFN&RR, The Audio Critic, and $ensible $ound--way to go B&N!!] Bookstores). Currently (in the 10/93 issue, on pp 94-5) they have listed: K5881 Kit (395.00 pounds)-------Class A 20W Triode input stereo amplifier 300B Valve Kit (750.00 pounds)--Class A 28W Triode amplifier (stereo) designed by Tim de Paravicini with special TdP sourced transformers--as good as Ongaku at a much lower price! Valve Line Amp (295.00 pounds)--Just a tube line stage, a la Sonic Frontiers. Looks really nice, too (anodized aluminum with machined brass knobs). You can also try Old Colony Sound Labs, which carry several Borbely mosfet designs, the Lang 20W Class A solid state amp, and the Pass A-40 Class A solid state amp (the one that people have been raving about). OCSL's phone number is available on the net, I'm sure tjk has it in an archive somewhere (sorry, I don't know where my copy of the catalog is) Good Luck! -Derek p.s. has anyone tried the Dyna ST-70 mods that are advertised in Welborne Labs' catalog (designed by Alan Kimmel)...oops, here's the OCSL catalog... Old Colony Sound Labs (603) 924-6371 or 924-6526 ------------------------------ Date: 25 Apr 1994 15:22:39 +0000 (GMT) From: Kevin.Nakano@hacgate2.hac.com Subject: Re: Does Hafler still make kits? others? In article t1o@introl.introl.com, jhesse@netcom.com (John Hesse) writes: >I have a 15-year old Hafler DH-200 amp that has served me well. And it's >still working as good as when new. > >But it does not have enough power to comfortably drive my Magneplanars. I >would like to upgrade to more power than the 200 watts that my Hafler >provides. > >I'm looking for a good kit. High-end audio prices are too expensive. I >realize that the $200 price (yes, two hundred dollars) of the DH-200 is no >longer a reasonable goal, but I'm hoping that there is a good amp in the >$500-800 range. > >I figure a kit will be more economical. Suggestions? Hafler got out of the kit making business some time ago. The reason many companies are no longer offering kits is the cost to manufacture the assembled units has greatly decreased over the years. The companies can not sell the kits for a substantially cheaper price anymore. There are still kits available from some places, yet they are becoming less common. Audio Ameteur Magazine has some Erno Borbely Designs that are available in kit form. Old Colony Sound and Welbourne Labs have kits for these amplifiers. There are also kits available from Sound Values, most of which are tube designs. However, this company bought out some of the old Hafler components. The Hafler gear that they do sell is not in kit form, but is reasonably priced. - Kevin nakano@tcville.es.hac.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 25 Apr 94 22:14:25 CDT From: "Christopher G. Adams" Subject: Kit amplifers (was RE: high-end means denial Bruce Goldberg commented that no kit electronics are availible in the US. Take a look at a current issue of Glass Audio. There are several amplifer kits, both tube and solid state, currently available. Sound Values, for example, offers a 120 wpc MOSFET amp that has been commented on in this forum recently. The also offer tube amp kits. Most of the amplifiers that Cary sells are available as kits direct from Cary. I think Sonic Frontiers even offers an amplifier kit, though I'm not sure it is current. You probably won't find 'em in stores, but kit amplifiers are out there for the having. __Christopher G Adams__ ------------------------------ From: ssoderst@cuppa.curtin.edu.au Subject: Valve Amp Kits - High End Date: Wed, 27 Apr 94 02:22:47 GMT I previously left a message regarding single-ended valve amps. Since then I have heard the Audio Note OTO SE and was bloody impressed. I'm a bit of a cynic and refuse to believe things until I have heard them. Anyhows, I phone Audio Note UK and they currently have 3 valve amp kits available which use the same quality parts as in the OTO SE. 300B Triode SE/Class A kit - 9/10 Watts ~ 640 pounds ex-VAT 6550WA Tetrode SE/Class A kit - 17 Watts ~ 500 pounds ex-VAT Twin // 300B's SE/Class A kit - 16/17 Watts ~ 1230 pounds ex-VAT Also... people have mentioned in other messages that Sonic-Frontiers etc may have some sort of valve amp kit ? any details ? any other companies ? Lastly.... what is Glass Audio ? I take it that it is a magazine ? Regards All, Daniel Soderstrom Curtin University Western Australia. ------------------------------ From: wccho1@MFS05.cc.monash.edu.au (WEARN CHONG) Subject: Re: Valve Amp Kits - High End Date: Thu, 28 Apr 1994 00:38:01 GMT In article <2plp5u$seb@introl.introl.com> ssoderst@cuppa.curtin.edu.au writes: >From: ssoderst@cuppa.curtin.edu.au >Subject: Valve Amp Kits - High End >Date: 27 Apr 1994 08:26:22 -0500 >I previously left a message regarding single-ended valve amps. Since then I >have heard the Audio Note OTO SE and was bloody impressed. I'm a bit of a cynic >and refuse to believe things until I have heard them. Anyhows, I phone Audio >Note UK and they currently have 3 valve amp kits available which use the same >quality parts as in the OTO SE. The Audio Note Oto SE is indeed a great amp. The description of it in the equipment guide in Hi-Fi Choice goes "Transparent, very dynamic, excellent clarity and subtlety". I can verify that since I own it too. Anyway, I think the Oto SE is one of the best buys in Australia. In UK it sells for 1,599 yet you could buy it for A$3,000. Based on a currency conversion basis the Oto SE is a "steal". > 300B Triode SE/Class A kit - 9/10 Watts ~ 640 pounds ex-VAT > 6550WA Tetrode SE/Class A kit - 17 Watts ~ 500 pounds ex-VAT > Twin // 300B's SE/Class A kit - 16/17 Watts ~ 1230 pounds ex-VAT > >Also... people have mentioned in other messages that Sonic-Frontiers etc may >have some sort of valve amp kit ? any details ? any other companies ? Absolute High End in Melbourne imports a specially made version of the 9 watt 300B Triode kit. It comes fully assembled and costs $4,000 retail. This version offers better parts quality and is improved in several ways over the kit e.g. it is hard-wired. But it isn't a very pretty amp though. My Oto SE looks much, much better. Sonic Frontiers did use to sell valve amp kits but then added a range of fully built amps. Don't know if they still supply kits. Anyhow, check out the Jan '94 issue of Hi-Fi Choice (I think) where they tested several integrated valve amps - the Audio Innovations, EAR 834, Audio Note Oto SE and Sonic Frontiers. According to the mag, the Audio Note came out tops whilst the Sonic Frotiers took bottom line. >Lastly.... what is Glass Audio ? I take it that it is a magazine ? > >Regards All, > >Daniel Soderstrom >Curtin University >Western Australia. - John. ------------------------------ Date: 28 Apr 94 05:12:33 EDT From: Jamil Gandur <70734.475@CompuServe.COM> Subject: Valve amp kits- high end ssoderst@cuppa.curtin.edu.au asks about high end valve amp kits. Well, apart from the Audio Note kits you've noted, there are the World Designs kits, the latest of which - a 300B 28W PP job - was designed by Tim de Paravicini, ex- Luxman, ex- Musical Fidelity, of E.A.R fame. That kit doesn't come cheap (about 700 Pounds with no valves) but is supposed to be way up there with the very best. I understand that it approaches the liquidity of the best SE amps and sounds better that the Audion Silver Night. I beleive if you get in touch with Tim at E.A.R., he may supply you with schematics for various designs, but I don't know if he/they supply kits. Maplin also offer some basic valve amp kits, not in the same league as above. In France, La Maison de l'Audiophile supplies 300B based kits designed by Jean Hiraga. We're talking 9W SE big bucks here - only the best components used. I'm not 100% sure, but I think Cary (or a subsiduary of Cary) supplies kits based on Cary designs. If anybody needs more precise info, please drop me a line. Jamil ------------------------------ From: marc@viper.es.ele.tue.nl (Marc Heijligers) Subject: Re: Valve Amp Kits - High End Date: 29 Apr 1994 07:16:16 GMT In article <2poceo$nlo@introl.introl.com> wccho1@MFS05.cc.monash.edu.au (WEARN CHONG) writes: | Sonic Frontiers did use to sell valve amp kits but then added a | range of fully built amps. Don't know if they still supply kits. | Anyhow, check out the Jan '94 issue of Hi-Fi Choice (I think) where | they tested several integrated valve amps - the Audio Innovations, | EAR 834, Audio Note Oto SE and Sonic Frontiers. According to the | mag, the Audio Note came out tops whilst the Sonic Frotiers took | bottom line. According to the Dutch importer of both Audio Innovations and Audio Note, Audio Note currently offers a better price versus quality product. They describe the differences as follows: - Audio Note SE: Better live performance More involved - Audio Innovations 500/700/Classic 25 Grand sound image More powerfull Rather vague terminology, but this may give a hint when people go and compare those amps. I bought and built the Audio Innovations Classic 25 last year, and I'm very satisfied with it. I did some modifications which greatly improved the amp: - Replaced all caps in the signal path by Jenssen paper-in-oil caps. - Replaced the volume control with a Noble closed volume control - Replaced the Panasonic/Tungram tubes by Golden Dragon tubes (yes, they are reliable, yes they give a much better sound performance) - Removed the overall feedback (*) - Changed the ultra-linear stage into triode mode (*) In a nutshell the results were: - Better soundstage (3D-image, placement of instruments) - Improved dynamics (despite the decrease in power, the dynamics seem to be increased because of the elimination of the feedback) - Richness (strings, voices, brass sounds more crisp and 'warm') - Incredible detail in mid and treble, which never become shrill - Strong bass performance Care should be taken when applying the last two modifications (*). The results strongly depend on the characteristics of your loudspeaker. Some loudspeakers benefit by switching from 8 ohm to the 4 ohm taps. If you are a self builder, the price-performance of the Classic 25 is very good. I don't know how it compares to the Audio Note kits using the 300B. Are there more Classic 25 owners in this news group? Regards, Marc ------------------------------ From: ajb@pcsi.com (Ajay Bawale) Subject: LIST: DIY Amplifier Kit Suppliers Date: 2 May 1994 17:43:58 GMT Since there are quite a few posts about DIY amps, I thought I would summarize all the suppliers I could think of. No flames please, since I am sure this list is incomplete. Also, I do not have experience with any of these suppliers. The information has been culled from the various mags like GA, TAA etc. If you know of other suppliers, please e-mail me the info. If I get enough responses, I will publish an updated list. It would be good to get responses from our international friends since the current list consists mainly of North American suppliers. Mark V Electronics ------------------ In California: 1-800-521-mark Outside : 1-800-423-five Catalog/Info : 213-888-8988 Mark V offers a variety of Solid State amp kits ranging from 36 Watt class A amps to 200 Watt Mosfets. They also have preamp kits and misc. parts. The kits do not include chassis. Chassis are sold separaetely, but I am not sure if they come pre-punched etc. Audio Electronic Supply ----------------------- Phone: 919-460-6461 Fax: 919-460-3828 * All Tube Preamplifier Kit, complete with hardware etc. for $449.00 * 7 WPC, 300B, SE Stereo Amp, complete with xformers, hardware etc for $549.00 w/o the power tubes. They also sell tubes, capacitors, o/p xformers, pre-punched chassis etc. The Parts Connection (Canada) -------------------- Phone: 905-829-5858 Fax: 905-829-5388 This is the parts division of Sonic Frontiers, Canada. I still haven't recieved their catalog, but their ad claims complete kits as well as modification kits. Catalog costs $5.00 Borbely Audio (Germany) -------------- Phone: From US: 011-49-8105-5291 Fax: From US: 011-49-8105-24605 I was not interested in ordering parts/kits from Germany so I don't have their catalog. However, their ad claims they have SS & Tube kits as well as parts etc. Welborne Labs ------------- Phone: 303-470-6585 Fax: 303-791-7856 Catalog costs $10.00, so I don't have it. They also advertise audiophile SS & Tube kits along with the usual audiophile parts. They might be a US source for the Borbely kits mentioned above. Angela Instruments ------------------ Phone: 301-725-0451 Fax: 301-725-8823 Audio Note (UK) output transformers are available from them. Also, exotic parts like Black Gate electrolytic caps etc. Sound Values ------------ Phone: 614-279-2383 Fax: 614-279-0368 * 40 Watt, Tube Monoblock, $399.00 * ST-70 Replacement board, $89.00 Audio Note (UK) ---------- Phone: +44 0273 220511 Fax: +44 0273 731498 Sales: +44 0273 885511 * 9 WPC, 300B, SE, stereo kit, complete, #750.00 including VAT. * 17 WPC, 6550WA, SE, stereo kit with, complete, #600.00 including VAT. * Various exotic parts including pure silver o/p xformers. Audio Innovations (UK) ----------------- Phone: 0305 761 017 Fax: 0305 761 492 * 25 WPC integrated amp, complete kit, #699.00 including VAT. World Audio Designs (UK) ------------------- Phone: 071 266 0461 Fax: 071 289 5620 These kits are base on the HiFI world DIY circuits. * Tube pre-amp kit, complete with chassis, #250.00 w/o VAT. * 20 WPC, 5881, PP, stereo amp kit, complete, #350.00 w/o VAT. * 28 WPC, 300B, PP, stereo amp kit, complete except tubes, #650.00 w/o VAT. Ajay Bawale Pacific Communication Sciences, Inc. ------------------------------ From: lynno@teleport.com (Lynn T. Olson) Subject: SE Kit Info Date: Thu, 05 May 1994 23:56:37 -0800 I didn't expect to get deluged the way I did, so here's a compilation of the answers I've given to folks all over the world: 1) The harsh and shrill SE amps I heard were NOT built from any articles in Sound Practices magazine. Don't blame Joe. They were built-from-scratch 211 SE projects using odd front ends and idiosyncratic parts selection. All I learned from them is the 211 is very difficult to use, a point later confirmed in phone conversations with Herb Reichert (who ought to know). I agree 100% with him that the 300B is the best all-around power tube for *most*, not *all*, SE and PP applications. Yes, I know, the 45 has its admirers, the 211 likewise, and so on. I simply talking about the best overall choice in terms of least design effort & happiest results, that's all. Fortunately, the Chinese 300B sounds quite good (that's what I heard when I reviewed the Reichert 300B Silver monoblock), and the QC is pretty decent. I also hear persistent rumours of a Sovtek 300B (anyone listening in St. Petersburg, hint-hint?) 2) Topology? Pretty simple. Use the circuit of the Audio Note Kit One if you like SRPP drivers, just use 2 cascaded 6SN7 sections if want to keep it even simpler. Naturally the driver tube needs 9mA or more if want a smooth entry into the A2 region (translation: smooth clipping), not a small point in a 8W amplifier. From all accounts cathode biasing sounds better in the output tube (possible connection to stability criteria here). 3) Parts quality is *very important* with these single-ended critters. To quote Joe Roberts and Arthur Loesch, "Believe nothing, forget everything you *think* you know, and LISTEN!" P.S. Hints don't hurt, though. Herb likes Teflon caps, silver wire, tube rectifiers with pi filters, and Tango transformers. He also passed on the info that it's a real good idea to avoid using one type of cap or resistor throughout the whole amp ... the colorations add up, with metal film resistors everywhere being one particular offender. 4) Sources for this kind of stuff: Peter Qvortrup Audio Note UK Ltd. Unit 1, Block C Hove Business Centre Fonthill Road Hove, Sussex, BN3 6HA Tel: (0273) 220511/731498(fax) --- Send US$15 to get the schematics on a whole collection of amps, including the interesting Kit One. Joe Roberts, Editor Sound Practices Magazine Box 180562 Austin, TX, 78717 (513) 339-6229 (voice/fax) --- Subscribe or be square. Joe isn't driving a Mercedes yet, so don't just copy it from your friends. Be sure to ask for all of the back issues of Vol. 1 with your new subscription. David Robinson, Editor Positive Feedback Magazine Oregon Triode Society 4106 NE Glisan Portland, OR, 97232 (503) 235-9068 (503) 254-3866 (fax) david@agora.rain.com --- What can I say? The delicate little art journal where I publish my pearls of wisdom has managed to offend some big-time dudes in the world of Audio. Gee, we didn't mean to, Mr. ** ****, after all, they were just harmless drawings of Brutus doing his doggie thing. (See for yourself on pp. 25, 39, and 75 of Vol. 3, No. 5.) The full review of the Ongaku and the Reichert SE amps will appear Real Soon Now in Vol. 5, No. 1 along with Sheldon Stokes' first-rate DIY DAC using Burr-Brown PCM-63K 20-bit 8X DACs combined with a all-triode no-feedback 12AT7 analog stage, and my uh ... *unique* view of the Winter CES will appear in Vol. 5, No. 2. The OTS is a non-profit association, so don't expect 4-color issues right away, just 100+ pages of 9-point Palatino and lots of bizarre cartoons. (Kondo-san laughed at them at the CES, which proves something, maybe that high-end audio is weird wherever you go.) I hope that answers most of the questions I've been getting. No, I don't have GIFs of Brutus doing the "doggie thing". That's another newsgroup. -- Lynn T. Olson ------------------------------ From: V5306E@VM.TEMPLE.EDU Subject: Cary Audio SE amp kit Date: Thu, 12 May 94 23:27:07 EDT Here are some initial impressions garnered from my receiving the SE 1 kit from Audio Electronic Supply in Cary, NC. As everyone probably knows AES is the parts and DIY subsidiary owned by Cary Audio. The SE 1 is a complete kit consisting of chassis (with all holes punched), transformers, all necessary caps and resistors, hardware (all nuts and bolts), tubes, tube sockets, wire, everything's here folks. Just pop open the box and lay out all the goodies. If your like me you'll wonder what quality can I possibly get for a measly $500 or so dollars. What about all Kimber Kaps, Dale 1% metal films, the best 4 pin jumbo ceramic sockets that I've seen, a decent size power trans (not appearing to be wimpy in size), a beautiful chassis which exhibits good work- manship (even silkscreened legends in a gold color) complete with solid oak end caps. Meter jacks (for setting bias), gold-plated RCA's, nice rocker type on-off swithches. Don't mean to create a commercial here for the folks at Cary but I'm sure that if your like me you must have been wondering what this is all about and if it is worth exploring. I was really, well almost, shocked at the overall parts quality. The only things I replaced were the nine pin sockets for the 6SL7 tube (the units supplied were nice ceramic ones it's just I had in my parts bin even nicer ones with a better mounting arrangement), and I ordered the unit sans output trans so I could use a pair that I make myself (MagneQuest DS-025). The 025's are a drop in exact fit for the mounting holes already provided. So I haven't heard the unit yet. Still building and taking my sweet ole time. Rome ya' all know by now took more than a night or two to build. And I'm having some fun customizing it a bit. Had to go out and buy all solid brass hardware to match that rich looking lettering on the chassis. The brass makes the unit look another $200 richer. Wonder if the folks in Cary could offer this slight cosmetic upgrade for a few more bucks over the normal kit price? Awe...I might throw some Kimber Kable at it on the inside for the point to point wiring. The supplied EE mil-spec wire is darn good as well but... gotta be different ya know. I know I haven't heard it yet and the proof is in the listening. But I enjoy seeing quality and wanted to pass along my initial impressions because I know at least one other soul out there in netdom must of been thinking of this kit as a potential buy. I really don't know how they do it folks. Seems like a lot of decent raw mats for the bucks. Jadis league? Probably not (or rather NO). But based on what I could see it is actually much more refined in apparent parts quality than the Audio Note kit amp which I saw at the Single Ended Symposium in Wayne, Pa. If your thinking about a kit you should probably check this one out. And yes there are other cool domestic SE kits coming along from the likes of Welborne Labs and Handmade Electronics. But this AES unit may be the most bang for the buck kit so far in the nineties. Makes me reminisce about the glory days of Dyna when newspaper delivery money could get you into a respectable kit. No flames here folks or I'll have to put on my flame deflector. I'll try to report back after the soldering iron cools down. Till then happy tunes. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 May 1994 10:12:00 -0400 From: "henry (h.) pasternack" Subject: Cary Audio SE amp kit. V5306E@VM.TEMPLE.EDU writes: >Here are some initial impressions garnered from my receiving the SE 1 kit >from Audio Electronic Supply in Cary, NC... I was interested in this kit. I would probably build my own amplifier from scratch, but I was wondering if they were cutting corners to put out a low-priced product. I'm glad to see the overall quality is quite high. >The only things I replaced were the nine pin sockets for the 6SL7 tube >(the units supplied were nice ceramic ones it's just I had in my parts >bin even nicer ones with a better mounting arrangement)... I ordered some ceramic-silver sockets from AES. They seem well made, but I hate the ground post in the middle of the nine-pin chassis-mount unit. If you look carefully, you'll realize that removing the ground post will cause the socket to fall apart. Does anyone know a source of quality ceramic-silver nine-pin sockets that don't have the central connection? >...I ordered the unit sans output trans so I could use a pair that I make >myself (MagneQuest DS-025). The 025's are a drop in exact fit for the >mounting holes already provided. You might want to introduce yourself more thoroughly, dude! I was wondering if you'd care to answer a couple of questions about your single-ended transformers. First, what are the sonic tradeoffs between the DS-025s and the FS-030s? Also, I was thinking that the power output from a SE amplifier is 0.5 * Ibias^2 * Rl. For the FS-030, with its maximum rating of 60mA DC, that gives 5.4W. Seems a bit low; did I put in that factor of 0.5 erroneously? >I know I haven't heard it yet and the proof is in the listening. I think someone was saying a few days ago that he's heard a few single-ended amplifiers inspired by "Sound Practices" that sounded quite raunchy. No doubt, you've listened to quite a few single-ended amplifiers using your outputs. Do you have any suggestions on circuit and component configurations that work well? What's the chance, in your opinion, after putting up a load of dough for transformers and tubes and parts, that a single-ended amplifier is going to sound BAD? Enquiring minds need to know! -Henry ------------------------------ From: V5306E@VM.TEMPLE.EDU Subject: Cary Audio/AES kit info Date: Mon, 16 May 94 13:45:33 EDT Thanks everyone for the e-mail on the Cary/AES SE 1 kit. There were so many letters I could not respond individually. Sorry folks. But I'll try to answer the questions posed. First the easies. Adress is Audiophile Electronic Supply 111A Woodwinds Indus. Court, Cary SC 27511. Phone # 919-460-6461. No fee for catalog. Is the kit a preamp? No! Although they also have a preamp kit available. Several respondents asked about power level. Depends on what tube you use. 300B tube in this circuit is claimed to deliver 7 watts. You can also use the 2A3 tube ---power level will be about 3 to 3.5 watts output. Can also use the 6A3 if my memory serves me right. Will a novice screw it up? Don't know yet. How complete are the instructions? Don't know yet. But all kidding aside I suspect that most novices will be able to complete this kit. It's not like the circuits published in the DIY mags in the respect of you have to plan everything out, acquire all the parts, and so on. I'm currently about 60% through the process---things are getting a little tight (regarding the physical layout) so I decided to take a breather for a day or so. The instructions are adequate, not great, but again with care and diligence and the willingness to take more than a night or so to build the kit most people are going to do alright. You might need to ask one of your audio buds a question or two, e.g. "Does the arrow on the electrolytic point to the positive or negative end?" The manual is silent on this great question. But my bud helped me out. A side note here. I ordered the kit with the vitamin Q caps (thirty bongo- congos each) and stole them out of the kit and put them into my Wavelength Audio Cardinal amp (7.5 watt 300B SE). Joe-pa from Sound Practices is right. These are phenomenal caps. Liquid, smooth, natural (not hi-fi) imageing, fast but not high-end burn your ears. Like'em a lot. Embarassed I did not believe Joey earlier. Sorry Joe. And your right Joe I won't miss that overly etched high frequency zap or the ghostly images which many of the popular caps so aptly produce. Haven't tried the Audio Note copper and oil jobbies yet. One other neat cap is the oil cap that Handmade Electronics in allentown, Pa. have made for them. Extremely good construction and sound quite good (and only $12 each). Try them if you can't afford the vit Q's. Back to answering the questions. Is the iron any good on the stock AES kit? Can't say for sure since I haven't heard them and I ordered the kit sans out- put trans to use my own. AES will knock $100 off of the kit price if you order it sans output trans. Sorry I can't answer this one better for you. Am I Michael LaFevre? Yep. So when I decided to do this kit I simply grabbed a pair of my DS 025's off the shelf since these will fit the mounting holes of the kit to a tee. Last question---or rather a comment from a letter I received. Thought I'd have to get out my flame deflector---but, alas, it was a kind soul who simply commented that the Jadis was not to his liking (mine either my good friend)and that he was hopeful that the SE 1 would be sonically better. Now this gets to the heart of the greatly developing debate---namely what's better SE or PP. I suspect that this question will give rise to flames as great as the other perrenial debate of solid shit (oops! just a typo, folks) vs. vacuum tubeys. Not likely to be settled soon. And actually I'm not rigidly dogmatic and could live with (in some degree of bliss) an amp like the Classe DR-3B. What I was really trying to get across in saying that the SE 1 was not a Jadis was that the SE 1 is a relatively inexpensive amp. Don't expect a no-holds- barred performance capability out of an amp that costs circa $500. Be realistic in your expectations and then maybe you will be pleasantly surprised with what you get. Suffice it to say no one should have the expectation that the SE will slay Ongaku's for breakfast just as the beloved Stereo 70 was not a ready match for a Marantz 9. Enjoy anyway. Hope I answered all the questions and did not raise any new ones. ha! Till next time happy tunes to all and to all a good night.