Do you actually reckon, that the B-2 or the B-1 is better than the B-3? I've read quite the opposite, that's why I went for the B-3 in the first place. |
@sonetduo,
Cheers for that, but I have a bloke who serviced my B-3s and he seems very capable. He's going to enjoy working on the Sansui as well :)
BTW, there is also Yamaha C-1 on my wishlist, do you have any experience with that? |
@sonetduo
You're right about the B-2, I'm not sure what condition the amp was in. I need to get her properly restored and redo the test. As for the TA-N7, the C-1 and the B-3s, I was told they were fully restored by my tech bloke, so I believe they really were restored. I can't be sure, of course, but I have no reason not to believe him.
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There's no 'maybe', there is an enthusiasm in that statement :)
However, an enthusiasm or not these amps are amazing. I wouldn't call them exactly cheap, but you can hardly find anything better in their price range, or any price range really.
The only problem is, if the transistors go, you won't find a replacement, only another working amp (maybe). |
Well, both B-3s and the TA-N7 are fully restored, so I reckon they're in their prime. If I was to rate all V-FETs I've tested so far, it would be like this:
1. Sony TA-N7
2. 2x Yamaha B-3 in BTL
3. Yamaha B-2
4. Yamaha B-3
5. Victor JM-S7
6. Hitachi HA-500F
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Well, I guess I'll resurrect this thread. I've recently bought Victor JM-S7 and two Yamaha B-3s. I found this forum looking for some info about Victor's amp for my review. Unfortunately, it's practically impossible to find any.
I've recently reviewed the Yamaha B-3 amps and it was a delight. Sure, I haven't heard all the amps in the world, but I can say one thing, Yamaha B-3 is the best sounding amp so far (at least to my ears). |
If that's the virus, I'll gladly stay unvaccinated :) That's why I bought third B-3 to make sure I've got a backup in case of some fatal failure, they are on 24/7 :)
And Sansui BA-1000 is on its way and I'm looking for Sony TA-N7. |
Now you've done it! I have to go now and get the B-1 and the B-2 to make sure I am not missing on anything :)
What do you think of TA-N7 and TA-N88? |
Does the N-7 suffer from the diode issue as the Sony's intergateds did? |
It looks like it. I used to reckon, that Victor JP-S7 is also V-FET, but after I bought one, I found out it's not :) |
Well, I've played about with the Victor for couple of days now and I need to share my findings. Since it's a V-FET, it sounds very similar to Yamaha's B-3. Very detailed, perfect imaging, deep bass, but it's not exactly on par with the B-3. Something was a little bit off. I don't know how to describe it, but the Victor sounds a bit dry and not so "musical". Still better than almost anything on the market today, though. |
I've got completely restored C-1 about a fortnight ago and I've been playing around with her since.
I always reckoned that the best preamp is no preamp, but the C-1 convinced me I was wrong. Before the C-1 I was using Sony TA-E88. I was using it mainly because of the MC head amp and an input for my reel to reel deck. TA-E88 is a good preamp, she does what she's supposed do, adds volume control and some additional inputs and doesn't cock up the sound in any way but she didn't add anything either. However, when I replaced the Sony with the C-1, I've noticed two major differences. Better instrument separation and better detail reproduction. I had my mate come over to assess the sound, if it's not just my imagination or wishful thinking. He heard exactly the same thing as I did, and he also fancied a deeper bass (which I didn't notice). Nevertheless, the difference wasn't that big to justify steep prices of hi-end pre-amps.
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Well, I just want to share my latest experience with the V-FET.
My mate just bought two Starkrimson monoblocks from Orchard, which are supposed to be one of the best amps out there, at any price level. So, we pitted them against the B-3s.
Weeeeeeeeeeell..... I have to say, it was really interesting. Before he came, I was wondering if I'll get rid of the B-3s and buy a new amps.
1. The Starkrimsons were certainly a bit cleaner. Nothing I'd kill for, but they were.
2. There were more details. Again, nothing to kill for, but I heard some details I couldn't with the B-3s. Which was pretty good.
3. Instrument separation was on par.
4. The imaging was miles better on the B-3s.
5. The B-3s have a bit deeper and nicer bass.
6. And the most important thing... The Starkrimsons sound so boring, it was almost painful. With the B-3s, the sound is so nice, you don't want to turn the music off, you just want to keep listening whatever you're listening.
So, the conclusion is, I am not getting rid of the B-3s anytime soon. If these two were combined, the clarity and details from the Starkrimsons and the imaging and the warmth that's coming out of the B-3, I'd get that for sure.
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@sonetduo
Since the last time, I've bought C-1, B-2, Hitachi HA-500F and Sony TA-N88.
I reckon, that the Hitachi and the Sony won't be any better than the B-3s, but I wonder if the C-1 will somehow enhance the sound.
The Hitachi and the C-1 are on the way. The B-2 and the Sony don't work, but they should soon. |
Well, it's time for an update.
The B-2 is fixed and working like a charm. Sound-wise, it's very similar to the B-3. I fancy the B-2 more than one B-3, but two B-3s are definitely better than the B-2. Two B-3s have a tad better soundstage and are a tad warmer.
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It's been a while since I've posted something here. I've got my TA-N7 restored and the results are quite interesting.
I'm going to compare the Sony with my two B-3s in BTL. Of course, it may be just my lying ears but it's something like this:
1. Sony resolves more detail
2. Sony's got a bit more air
Otherwise they are rather similar in every way.
When I pitted the B-3s against the Accuphase A-75, the B-3s were clearly better and I reckoned that the B-3 is a pinnacle of sound design. However, the TA-N7 just proved that it can always get better.
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@thebiglebowski, sonetduo is right, it's not a vfet preamp, at least according to the official specs
I just got the Hitachi working. Well, she's not a bad amp, but she's not even close to the B-2 or the B-3. Sure, she's an integrated amp and wasn't even hi-end at the time of the release, but I soft of expected more. Every possible aspect of the sound is worse, except maybe for the bass response, which is quite good.
C1 is still under repair, as well as N7B. I hope it's going to be done soon.
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@sonetduo
Today, my mate is bringing the Accuphase A-47, which should be one the best amps today. I wonder if it sounds better, than 40 year old B-3s.
Don't worry, the C-1 is going to turn out just fine. I am not sure about the Sony though. |
Soooo, the test results.....
Let's start from the beginning. We tested both amps with Infinity Kappa 9.2 loudspekers.
First, we listened to some tracks on the B-3s, then we connected the Accuphase, but since it was couple of minutes later, we didn't remember perfectly how the B-3s sounded, and it seemed pretty much the same, except for the bass, where the B-3s had more kick. It's that sort of bass you feel inside and that's what the A-47 lacks.
Then we had decided we want to do an A/B listening test. Since I've got only one pair of loudspeakers, we put the source into a mono mode, connected one B-3 in a BTL mode to the left channel, the A-47 in a bridge mode to the right channel and corrected the volume for both channels, so the both channels were ballanced. Then we played some tracks. We were turning off and on channels in random to listen just to one amp at a time.
Well, to my ears hights were pretty much the same, however, mids on the B-3 were clearly superior, the A-47 sounded a bit "veiled" to me and again bass was superior on the B-3. It's got more punch.
But my room is not perfect and the speakers are not perfectly centered, one is closer to a sidewall and the other one is a bit farther. So, we reversed the channels and did the test again. This time, the highs and mids sounded pretty much the same to me, but the bass was still much better on the B-3.
So, the conclusion is, if I average the last two tests, the B-3 has the same hights, a tad better mids and a lot better bass. I am quite happy with these results, I don't need to buy new amp to upgrage the sound. But what is quite funny or maybe sad, is that new amp, that is supposed to be the top of the line, can't compare to a 45 year old crap.
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@sonetduo
BTW, I still haven't heard what are the B-1 and N7B capable of. Maybe I will just toss the B-3s aside and keep using either the B-1 or the N7B.
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@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.
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