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Sunvalley SV-Pre1616D DIY Build

CohibaJoe

CohibaJoe

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
I was watching a review of Herb Reichert (stereophile) his home setup. With all the gear he reviewed what caught my eye was a Sunvalley SV-EQ1616D Phono Amp that is Herb's main Phono Amp...then a Light Bulb came on to check this out. I headed over to https://www.vkmusic.ca/ Sunvalley distributor (in Canada) and saw a Pre-Amp (SV-Pre1616D) DIY kit. Sunvalley gear is a division of the Toyota Corporation Japan. SV-EQ1616D is base on Marantz 7 circuit. I mailed Victor Kung (vkmusic) and ordered the SV-EQ1616D ($840 shipped). Shipped on 2/1 and delivered 2/4. I will be ordering the SV-EQ1616D Phone Amp in a week or two.
Looking over the part's (which are good) I am going to Lexus this Pre-Amp. PartsConnexion order going in.

https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/elekit/330663-sunvalley-sv-pre1616d-prject.html

Parts Upgrade:
Caps: Nichicon PW
Resistors: Takman REX Carbon
Films: Mundorf MCap EVO Oil
Volume: Alps RK27 100kOhms
Balance: Bourns PDB182
Selector: Grayhill 71BS30 or C&K A403
Terminal: Tag Strips Gold Plated
Hook-Up Wire: DH Labs SH18, OFH20,14,12 PTFE Silver-Plated, AG23,18 Solid Silver
Tube Socket: Audio Note Ceramic 8 Pin UX8 Gold Plated, ConneX 9 Pin Ultra-Premium Ceramic Gold Plated
Testing Tubes: "1" GOLD LION U77/5AR4, "3" PRIMALUNA 12AU7
Main Tubes: PSVANE WE274B or/and PHILIPS 5R4GYS, Bugle Boy 5AR4, GE 6189W, BRIMAR CV4003 and many more
Solder: Cardas Silver Solder


SunSVa.png SunSVb.png
 
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Ordered the parts from PartsConnexion, Mouser, Dig-Key, Hificollective UK...Parts shortages so needed to source World Wide. Heck..I'm still waiting for Speaker Jacks for Luxman M-02 from
Germany (65 day's) and counting. I ordered Alps Blue Velvet (100k Volume) and also saw the motorized version which I also pickup. Remote Kit from Hificollective. Also going to order Auricap XO
Films as I am still deciding either the Mundorf MCap EVO Oil...I have used both Brands in "2" Marantz 7T's and they sound close...Maybe the Auricap has wider sounding space. I would be happy with either.

I also put in a order for Sunvalley SV-EQ1616D Phono Amp...April shipping time frame.
https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/elekit/345254-eq1616d-phono-amp.html
 
If you really want to turn your kit into the Lexus of preamps then get on the DIY forum and order the parts (<$100) to add the remote controlled digital volume control.

Once you get to the phono-preamp, from either Victor at VK Music or from K&K audio you can purchase the proper SUT to replace the IC's that make up the MC gain portion. The K&K SUT has the provision to easily swap out resistors to vary the loading to match your MC cartridge. Then you will have the Lexus of both.

Here is the Sun Valley power amp. Wish they also offered it as a 300b amp rather than just 845/211.
https://www.audioasylum.com/forums/triode/messages/59.html

BTW - I purchased the Elekit TU-8500 preamp kit with all the bells & whistles from VK Music (also in Canada) and Victor, the owner, could not be better to deal with. He is also the NA importer of the Sun Valley kits.
 
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Can I purchase parts and factory authorized accessories at my local Toyota parts dept?
No?
Then it is neither a Toyota nor a lexus.
However it still looks like an interesting piece if kit.
Obviously I kid.
 
My daily driver Toyota is 27 years old.
Wouldn't sell it, theres not a damn thing wrong with it, and it doesn't leak or burn oil.
Couldn't replace it for what I've got in it.
Did I mention it gets 30 miles to a gallon at 80mph, pretty good for a pickup.
Now give us a workhorse Tube Amplifier.
Seriously.
With Toyota proudly displayed on the grill.
Tubes available at your dealership, and enough raw power to make you try and find the intercooled turbodiesel which must be hidden somewhere inside.
 
I owned my '73 911E Targa for 20yr. My 2nd place daily drivers generally hang around for 3-4years.

More important, I've talking to Victor Kung (VKMusic - the Sun Valley importer for NA) about sourcing the Sun Valley amp with 300b tubes rather than the currently offered 845/211 tubes. Victor tells me he needs orders for 20 amps in order to get Sun Valley to make the needed changes for NA voltage.
 
MX117.MC7150 said:
If you really want to turn your kit into the Lexus of preamps then get on the DIY forum and order the parts (<$100) to add the remote controlled digital volume control.

Once you get to the phono-preamp, from either Victor at VK Music or from K&K audio you can purchase the proper SUT to replace the IC's that make up the MC gain portion. The K&K SUT has the provision to easily swap out resistors to vary the loading to match your MC cartridge. Then you will have the Lexus of both.

Here is the Sun Valley power amp. Wish they also offered it as a 300b amp rather than just 845/211.
https://www.audioasylum.com/forums/triode/messages/59.html

BTW - I purchased the Elekit TU-8500 preamp kit with all the bells & whistles from VK Music (also in Canada) and Victor, the owner, could not be better to deal with. He is also the NA importer of the Sun Valley kits.
Click to expand...
Thanks....Digital Volume chips sound digital and adding this in a analog unit :idea:..I will look for the link as it's easy to compare both. I purchased both units from Victor and he is very easy to work with.
 
Power Supply Board done. PartsConnexion and Hificollective parts order will be in today and this will complete the orders.

SunVac.png
 
Nice & neat. :thumbsup:

BTW - where are you putting the silver wire in place of the silver plated?

I've tried using silver wire and have always had a very difficult time stripping the insulation off the end in order to solder in place. So much so that I've not been successful in using silver wire.
 
MX117.MC7150 said:
Nice & neat. :thumbsup:

BTW - where are you putting the silver wire in place of the silver plated?

I've tried using silver wire and have always had a very difficult time stripping the insulation off the end in order to solder in place. So much so that I've not been successful in using silver wire.
Click to expand...
The kit uses 24-20 awg copper wire(To thin for my liking)...So I will be replacing with 22, 18, 14 awg PTFE Silver Plate Stranded. The solid Sliver 18/23 awg will be used from/to Input Selector to RCA jacks.
 
MX117.MC7150 said:
How do you strip the insulation on your pure silver wire?
Click to expand...
Parts Connexion has Silver Wire insulated and uninsulated. I use a Utility knife or wire stripers and I also have seen wire that has a clear plastic wrap under the insulation but I am using DH Labs and Connex
wire which does not have that clear plastic.

Update:
I am waiting for another order from Parts Connexion, TubeDepot and Upscale Audio...needed to add more wire, Auricap XO Films, Test Tubes. The stock parts that are shipped are of fine
quality(Victor said the stock parts are very good). Reading over the assembly from other threads...the stock 9Pin Tube Sockets grip's to much and the Hookup wire is too thin. 16 and 18AWG PTFE Silver-Plated to be used, Audio Note 8/9 Pin
Tube Sockets and see thread #1 for the parts list. Still thinking either Mundorf MCap EVO Oil or Auricap XO Films. In the "2" Marantz 7T upgrades I have used EVO Oil in 1 build and Auricap XO in another. Auricap's do have
more of a Open space and I would be happy with either.

For the 9Pin Audio Note I will need to ream out the socket holes just a bit in the chassis.

SunSVc.png
 
Good luck with your silver wire. I've yet to be successful stripping the ends for soldering with DH Labs wire.
Looks like you are going to have a great preamp. Waiting for the Sun Valley companion 300b amp.
 
Shipping is SLOW worldwide...waiting for my last order from Parts Connexion (these guy's are fantastic!!) on the films to get in. Started to put things together and also waiting for a DC Blocker (trap, filter) & EMI/RFI/Common Mode Filter(package is in Chicago) that I will try on the SunValley. I pickup 2 models of Alps Motorized Stereo Volume Potentiometer. Boards should be here next week.

DCPW.png SunSVe.png SunSVd.png SunSVf.png
 
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