Al, the xa25 is also an amp that hit my radar, perhaps for a future purchase. It would be appreciated, I think by more than a couple of us, if it wouldn’t be inconvenient, if from time to time you might provide progression reports of how it acquits itself in your system. Thanks, George
Get your First Watt SIT-3 now?
I am just saying this because I found it very interesting. I just purchased (ordered) a new First Watt SIT-3. I was hoping to save to upgrade my speakers but love my F7 and read so many great reviews on the SIT-3 that I thought, 'with only 250 being made, maybe I should pull the trigger'.
Well, looks like the right choice. I trust my dealer, he has always been fair and truthful. Anyway, he said when he contacted Pass, he was told I got the last one they are producing. I had already paid for the Amp. I heard they were making 250 only anyway, but mine is reportedly number 107. What about the other 143? Is it numbered in an odd way? none of that matters.
I only write this because if it is true and you are seriously looking at getting one, I would jump on it before it is no longer possible.
Well, looks like the right choice. I trust my dealer, he has always been fair and truthful. Anyway, he said when he contacted Pass, he was told I got the last one they are producing. I had already paid for the Amp. I heard they were making 250 only anyway, but mine is reportedly number 107. What about the other 143? Is it numbered in an odd way? none of that matters.
I only write this because if it is true and you are seriously looking at getting one, I would jump on it before it is no longer possible.
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- 46 posts total
Lwin, thanks for providing the additional perspective. George (Jetter), I've owned my XA25 for about five months now, and the early impressions you've probably seen me mention in other threads continue to apply. Basically, I've found Teajay's review to be absolutely spot-on, and for that matter to be more accurately focused than Herb Reichert's comparably positive review in Stereophile. The bottom line IME is that I don't miss the 300B-based VAC Renaissance 70/70 MkIII I had been using during the previous several years at all. The XA25 comes remarkably close to the VAC with respect to dimensionality, imaging, liquidity, and other traditional fortes of high quality tube amps. It’s a bit less rich sounding than the VAC, but I interpret that as an increase in accuracy, which is fine as far as I am concerned. I should add, though, as you're probably aware, that my speakers (Daedalus Ulysses) are extremely easy to drive, having an unusually flat and benign impedance curve as well as high sensitivity (rated at 97.5 db/1W/1m). Also, in case it matters (which it probably doesn't), most of my listening is to classical music. Finally, I'll mention that as it happened I didn't have an opportunity to do much critical listening during the week I gave the XA25 the 120 hour breakin that was recommended by Mark at Reno HiFi (from whom I purchased the amp; he was wonderful to deal with, btw). So I can't comment on how its sonics might have changed during that period. Best regards, -- Al |
Hi Al, You should ask Mark if he has any SIT-3 amps left. Your speakers would be a good match with the amp, if your preamp has enough gain. He is great to deal with. It sounds wonderful with my Horning Eufrodite Ellipses and I have no desire so far of putting back my Frankenstein 300b mono's. It almost sounds like an SET amp with much better defined bass and more extension in frequency response. |
Thanks, Joe (Snopro). But the SIT-3 wouldn't work for me, as the DEQX HDP-5 I use as my preamp provides essentially zero gain from its analog inputs to its analog outputs. (And in fact the default positions of some internal jumpers result in negative gain). Basically, it can be thought of as driving an amp directly from the output of a volume-controlled DAC circuit, with no intervening preamp. And in any event, as I indicated I'm very satisfied with the XA25. Best regards, -- Al |
- 46 posts total