I learned to remember diode polarity like this: the stripe on both the symbol and the actual part resembles a "minus", which indicates the negative (-) side of the diode (=cathode)^^^ silly picture, the diagram shows cathode on the right then the actual diodes are oriented the other way. As this is meant to be educational, you'd think that they would have the diagram and and the actual diodes facing the same way. Could be confusing to someone learning this for the first time
I had a 5550 that I recapped and so on. It sounded very sweet compared to my Quad 909, but I eventually dumped the 5550 because of its very weak bass response. Hopefully I will get my hands on one of the more powerful models in the future...I read on a 3rd party web site that suggested that Sony posited that their vFet amps had the sonic attributes of a 2a3 amplifier. Is that even remotely true, or pure marketing hyperbole, in your opinion?
I had a 4650 that I recapped and so on. It sounded very sweet compared to my Quad 909, but I eventually dumped the 4650 because of its very weak bass response. Hopefully I will get my hands on one of the more powerful models in the future...
Since my last post, I've taken possession of a 4650. It will need a recap, but so far, I am favorably impressed. The lean bass output somewhat tempers the fat low end of my ADS speakers. Gotta love synergy. Of course, I too will be on the lookout for something more powerful in the vFet line, but only if occasion should present itself.
I have a Sony TA-8650 amp with 80 watts per channel. I love the sound but why Sony used such a stupid speaker wire connector is beyond me... It does not hold the wire firmly and I such an obscure design you cannot use anything other than plain 16 gauge speaker wire....
I got my soldering stations and am up and running again. I soldered in the big caps and the new wires that will go to the speaker terminals (I ordered new 5 way terminals that I will install once they arrive).
I will not be able to use the cool lock down that the old caps used as the new Nichicon's are skinny in comparison- but the contacts fit in through where the old ones screwed in & I soldered them in place.
Is it the pinch/squeeze connector?
I have a Sony TA-8650 amp with 80 watts per channel. I love the sound but why Sony used such a stupid speaker wire connector is beyond me... It does not hold the wire firmly and I such an obscure design you cannot use anything other than plain 16 gauge speaker wire....
No... It's a design that was only on the TA8650 and TA8550 amps. You stick a 1.5" bare lead into a hole and a lever clamps a metal bar down on the bare wire. I have always thought about removing the connectors and replacing them with banana types.