[mattattnet]

SOLD

For sale is a First Watt F4 clone I have personally built using the recommended signal boards from DIY audio and a generic bipolar power supply board. I have built 7 of the Nelson Pass DIY amplifier offerings over the years, and am thinning my collection to what works the best with my present system setup. First Watt amps are all amazing iterations of audio amplification, and each have their niche in the audio world. If you are unfamiliar with this amp, it works best in the present stereo configuration at driving efficient speakers. It is unique in that the amp has no gain, and requires a preamplifier to drive it that delivers 12dB of gain and at least 10 volts audio output. Read the manual at the First Watt site for some great information.

Power output is about 25 watts /channel into 8 ohms and about 50 watts into 4 ohms.

I used the HiFi 2000 4U audio chassis which works quite well for these FW clone amps. Plenty of heatsink, and a reasonable footprint. The anodization on these chassis is not quite to the quality of a commercial offering, but still very nice. No major scratches or dings noted. See the photos. Dimensions are 18 x 13 x 8 inches.

Quality parts used include: Antek shielded power transformer, Panasonic power capacitors, mil-spec silver plated copper wiring for most of the amp, with some heavier gauge tinned copper wiring used as needed. 35amp/200v Vishay bridge rectifier diodes, 1% precision 1/4 and 1/2 watt resistors in the signal sections and 5% metal oxide or wirewound power resistors. Precision matched MOSFET power transistors and matched JFET input transistors. Neutrik rca jacks, Vampire plated 5-way binding posts.

The amp weighs about 34 pounds, and will run hot, about 20 degrees C above room temperature, as all Class A amplifiers do.

The sound is engaging, crystal clear, not etched, and can be moulded to your likes with various preamplifiers or other tricks like using the F4 clone to boost the output of your low watt SET amp.

I will ship to the lower 48 States only, shipping is INCLUDED in the asking price. It will take me a couple of days to get this boxed up safely once sold.

I am just a listener, not a manufacturer, and sell my gear as I rotate through different equipment.

Asking $750 including ground insured shipping to the Continental USA, shipping from Minnesota, zip 55110.

Functions perfectly, but sold AS IS. No returns.

[poseidonsvoice]

Extremely clean - Very nicely done - I like the way you used a riser over the power transformer and diodes - elegant piece - well worth the money asked 

Best,
Anand.

[mattattnet]

thanks!

[gbeard]

Extremely clean - Very nicely done - I like the way you used a riser over the power transformer and diodes - elegant piece - well worth the money asked 

Best,
Anand.

WAAAAAY too clean. It is just not Fugly enough...What fun is that?    (Nice job. I wish I'd used a chassis like that on mine! Somebody is getting a very nice amp!)

[Wind Chaser]

Extremely clean - Very nicely done - I like the way you used a riser over the power transformer and diodes - elegant piece - well worth the money asked 

That's exactly what I thought when I looked at it late last night, except I didn't see the transformer.

I wonder if a gain control could be added so it could be used without a preamp?

[mattattnet]

SOLD, thanks all!

One more amp likely for sale soon either a First Watt Aleph J, or a Pass inspired VFET amp, after a few more weeks of comparison listening with a newly built BA-2 amp.