[HPower]

Hey guys... and you to Jeff,

I have been thinking about changing things up a bit and am wondering if a First Watt F3 (or maybe a Rawson clone)
would work well with my Klipschorns.
Has anybody compared one of Tim's clones with an original Pass unit?

I am currently using a Jolida JD-300B integrated with a JD-100A CDP in a 15' x 24' room.

The sound I am getting is very good, with the only real complaint being the slight hum that I am getting
from the amp while at idle... I understand that this can be a nasty bi-product with the 300B design.

The F3 has been compared favorably with the SET amps and also described as being very quite.

If I was to mate a F3 with a JM Peach or Modwright 9.0... Hmmm?

[TONEPUB]

Hey there:

The F3 is a great match with the Modwright 9.0, did that with great success.
It's also a killer match with the Khorns.  95% of the sweetness you'll get from
a 300B amp, way more bass and bass control and DEAD quiet.

No offense to the SET lovers here, but when I heard the F3, I lost interest
in tube SET amps.  The F3 is an SET solid state amp, with only one
output transistor per channel. 

While it's not quite as magical as say a 2A3 amp or one based on the 45
tube, it's still damn close with none of the issues. 

Highly recommended!

[HPower]

Hey Jeff,

Your comments seem to echo what I have read in the couple of reviews that I have seen.
After doing some F3  googling, I also came across a lot of people that have given Tim Rawson's
DIY clones rave reviews.

Tim's units sound like a very ecenomical way to try the First Watt sound.

Has anyone here tried one of Tim Rawson's clones?

[dweekie]

HPower, I sent you a pm.

[HPower]

Hey dweekie,

I just sent a  PM back to you.

[Plink]

Does one absolutely need a high gain preamp with the F3?  Or can a preamp with 12-16 db work?  Does high efficiency speakers help with such an arrangement?

[TONEPUB]

12-16 db should be just fine...

Let me know how you like the pass F3 sound!

[Plink]

Will do Tonepub.  I'm not sure if I want to try it out.  If all I have to cover is shipping cost to and from Nevada then it's certainly *very* tempting.

I certainly like tubes but to be honest, I'd get rid of them if I thought they could be replaced by chips.  Maybe a flavorful tube preamp would add enough distortion to Mr. Pass' First Watt creations.   

[TONEPUB]

It's not about the distortion, it's really about the lack of crossover distortion in an SET
design.  The Pass amps run the output transistor single ended Class A just like a tubed
SET amp.

That's why they have a very similar sonic signature.  Except the First Watt amps have
better bass control.  If the person in question followed the circuit design correctly, I think
you will be very surprised at the sound.  It's the most un-SS like you will ever hear.

[sts9fan]

Nelson states the LU1014D was chosen by him because of its triode like voltage characteristics.  I use my homemade clone with a ARC pre with ~18db of gain. I would not want anything less then 10db as the amp only has 13

[Plink]

It's not about the distortion, it's really about the lack of crossover distortion in an SET
design.  The Pass amps run the output transistor single ended Class A just like a tubed
SET amp.

That's why they have a very similar sonic signature.  Except the First Watt amps have
better bass control.  If the person in question followed the circuit design correctly, I think
you will be very surprised at the sound.  It's the most un-SS like you will ever hear.

Point well taken.

I was more referring to the overall euphonic distortion that I admittedly hear in my 300B system and in lots of SET systems to varying degrees.  I love it!  But, I also like solid state-like bass. 

I contacted Renohifi about a demo today.  If it's for the main system, might as well go for the real thing.  If not or one simply wants an extended audition, then the clones seem the way to go.  (don't want to get into controversial ethical debates but I want to respec HPower's comments)

We built a secondary system of Naim equipment and it's got me back to remembering how good SS bass sounds.  Btw, I should have listened to you and VA a few years ago and bought some Naim gear.

[TONEPUB]

No worries.  Tell the guys at Reno Hifi we sent you.

let me know what you think, I predict you will really enjoy
the NP amp!  It's one of the most musical solid state amps I've ever
heard...

good luck.