2. amps-preamps
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FirstWatt SIT-3 or Pass Labs XA25 for Avalon Indras?

Hi, I have a dilemma, SIT-3 or XA25 for my Avalon Indras that are 87db and 4ohms? 
I use to listen at night at low volume, mainly chamber music and opera, but also orchestra. I like the warmth and three-dimensionality and the reverb of music auditoriums.
The preamp is a Dissanayake custom tube and the speakers are the Avalon Indra, both wonderful.
Of the SIT-3 I read that it drives 4ohm well, that it has a warmer sound and has more soundstage than the XA25, all of which leads me towards this model.
Of the XA25 it struck me that it goes down to 2ohm and is very detailed.
Power is not the key point, if I listen to music during the day the knob never goes beyond half of the current power amp which is a 50W Bartolomeo Aloia Micropal.
The aim is to have magic and involvement at low volume.

Thanks in advance for suggestions!

Alberto 

128x128ulul
avanti1960
1,480 posts
 

Between the two hands down the XA25, not even close. I have heard a few SIT amps and they sound best with higher efficiency easy to drive speakers but they were too fast paced and uneven sounding as a system. The SIT3 only has 11db gain which is extremely low and may sound anemic with typical gain preamps. Even the XA25 sounds best with higher gain preamps- e.g. 20db or so.

The SIT3 only delivers 8 watts at 8 ohms before it starts to clip, unless you have a small room, listen close to the speakers and like moderate volume listening cross that one off of your list.

I have owned the XA25 and with my speakers which have a similar impedance and sensitivity to yours the sound was excellent, one of the best sounding amps I have heard or owned.

It has almost twice the gain as the SIT3 and starts clipping at 90 watts per channel despite it's 25 watt rating.  

psf4972
46 posts
 

In addition to suggestions above, if you still have interest in Pass design, look up reviews of the SIT 4, particularly a video of Steve Guttenberg (SG), a stereo unit, due for release in mono block --twice the power. SG suggests "notably more powerful sound than specs suggest". Of course there is only one way to find out. Enjoy the search.

whiteknee
49 posts
 

I own both the XA25 and SIT3 but can’t add anything meaningful to the conversation because I don’t know your speakers.  My speakers are all 8 ohm and high sensitivity and I use multiple subs so low level listening is very enjoyable.   These are quality amps when system matched properly. 
 

 

 

decooney
2,031 posts
 

@whiteknee "These are quality amps when system matched properly".

 

Exactly. And yet the OP keeps asking about the lower powered SIT-3, regardless. The more operative question would be has anyone heard SIT-3 paired with your 87db 4ohm Avalon speakers. I’d venture to guess most likely not as it would not be a recommended match and pairing. Proper amp-speaker matching makes a real difference.

vthokie83
877 posts
 

ulul

I've never heard any First Watt amplifier, so I'm no help there.

I bought a "lower" power solid state amplifier earlier this year (a CODA S5.5), if you can find a dealer near you to demo one, I think it would be worth your while.

50WPC pure class A, more in A/B; 100 amp current delivery, and in my system (Aric Audio Motherlode XL driving: vintage Infinty RS Kappa 7s, Buchardt S400 MKIIs, Clayton Shaw Caladans, and Thiel CS 2.3s. It is stellar with each speaker, and the Infinitys and Thiels are not easy speakers to drive. I also do not listen at loud volumes, and love the presentation at "reasonable" listening levels

As you may know, CODA's Doug Dale and Eric Lauchli were with Nelson Pass at Threshold, until Nelson left to form Pass Labs and later First Watt.

Worth a listen if you have a dealer within driving distance of you.

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