JMON 430 Posted February 26 I haven't seen a thread dedicated to First Watt amplifiers so thought I would start one here. For those of you that own or have owned First Watt amps, please indicate the model and share you impressions here. Thanks! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rplace 3310 Posted February 27 First Watt J2. Sold my VRDs and George Wright 2A3 mono blocks. That good. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JMON 430 Posted February 27 5 hours ago, rplace said: First Watt J2. Sold my VRDs and George Wright 2A3 mono blocks. That good. I've owned the Wright 2A3 Monos (still regret selling them), so I consider that to be very high praise! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
richieb 7342 Posted February 27 Currently the F3 and J2, both using JFET power transistors. Even producing less power, 15 vs 25 watts, and having less gain I’m leaning to the F3. It’s a damn special amp and like Rich said, very much a single ended signature but more so than the J2 to my ears. A short period with the M2 but for me it was nothing special. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Schu 5035 Posted March 2 On 2/26/2021 at 4:25 PM, rplace said: First Watt J2. Sold my VRDs and George Wright 2A3 mono blocks. That good. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
richieb 7342 Posted March 13 On 2/27/2021 at 9:40 AM, richieb said: Currently the F3 and J2, both using JFET power transistors. Even producing less power, 15 vs 25 watts, and having less gain I’m leaning to the F3. It’s a damn special amp and like Rich said, very much a single ended signature but more so than the J2 to my ears. A short period with the M2 but for me it was nothing special. I have been fortunate to find another of the scarce F3’s so the F3 vs J2 comparison has come to an end. The J2 was sold to a forum member and the two F3 are being run as monoblocks. Very satisfied with the outcome and being able to prove my ambition to run monoblock F3’s with special thanks to Nelson Pass and Forum buddy MikeB. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VDS 32 Posted Sunday at 11:45 PM I think a First Watt thread is a great idea for Klipsch forum. I have a Pass labs xa 25 and I’d love to learn peoples impressions of First Watt. I’d love to try one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
richieb 7342 Posted Monday at 01:26 AM 1 hour ago, VDS said: I think a First Watt thread is a great idea for Klipsch forum. I have a Pass labs xa 25 and I’d love to learn peoples impressions of First Watt. I’d love to try one. As you may have noted I’m a fan of FW, the F3 in particular. I actually sold the XA25 in favor of the F3. For the money invested I enjoyed the F3 over the XA and sold while they were the latest and greatest from Pass. Fast forward to today and I sold a FW J2 after finding a second F3 to run as monoblocks. I did own an M2 for a short time and found it too didn’t live up to the F3. All my opinion of course - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VDS 32 Posted Monday at 12:02 PM From what I’ve read in several places, the F3 sounds like a stand out. I’ll be looking for one from now on. I notice the F3, J2, and F8 are all jfets. That may be too simplistic of a connection on my part. Anybody have experience with the F8? Supposedly a “updated J2” according to NP. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
richieb 7342 Posted Monday at 01:27 PM If memory serves the F3 is the only single ended And single gain stage “F” series. It’s single gain stage is part of its secret sauce. Keep in mind it is a 15 watt amplifier. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
