Has anyone upgraded from an AudioTechnica ART9?

@rauliruegas Firstwatt amps are not a good match for Magico speakers. They are meant for high efficiency speakers. Even though the power rating of some the firstwatt amps and XA amps are same the actual current capabilities are very different.

It may have seemed that I was touting the ART7 as the "best" cartridge.  I was merely bringing it up as a very very good cartridge for relatively modest cost.  I would hazard a guess that it is competitive with others that cost up to $5K, which was the upper limit for the OP, I think.  Also, I am resistant to the notion that you always get what you pay for, and nothing more, in audio equipment.  I think sometimes very expensive equipment can fall short of one's personal expectations.  On the other hand, you can put a modest priced cartridge into a fine tonearm and be very pleasantly surprised.  I also keep in my mind that I would be using the potentially $10,000-cartridge in many cases to play used LPs that I bought for $5 to $10 with an unknown prior history.  (Yes, I only buy mint used LPs with zero visible blemishes, and I often buy new releases, but still...  About a third of my LP collection is made up of records I bought new over the course of time since the mid-60s.  The rest is either from the collection of my close friend, who bought all his LPs new, or used LPs that I bought in Tokyo or at various audio shows.  I don't buy from eBay or from second hand stores.)
Raul, you cannot really say you've heard THE First Watt amplifier, since there are many different versions with different intended uses.  In some cases, he is experimenting and puts out the product for others to critique. As NP says, it's his playground.
Also, I have no doubts that the Etna is good, should be superior to the ART7 based on cost alone.

Dear @pani  : I think the Magico stays around 90db-92db that's a friendly sensitivity, of course is not a horn design.

In the other side we were listening at around 85db-87db SPL.

I did not been aware of something that could told me a problem with the FW handling the Magico.

Lewm it had to be the " rigth " FW amp because the audio distributor target was to shows its very high quality performance on the FW, the FW just can't achieved that target at least no contest vs the XA. As I said part of the mediocrity/average and if you ask me I can't live with satisfaction audio level  with FW  but I can do it with the XA ones.

The XA "  should be superior to the FW based on cost alone..."  

From NP I would like to listen  his XS series.

R.

Sure.  The "Pass" amplifiers ought to be superior to the FW amplifiers, based on the vast differences in cost.  You don't say what was the power rating of the FW.  I wonder because I would bet that the sensitivity of the Magicos is over-rated, meaning I would bet they are less efficient than advertised.  Moreover, I would bet they have impedance issues around the many crossover points which would affect a low power amp more than more powerful ones.  Which FW amp was it; do you recall?

Each First Watt amp is different, each amp has unique design, Nelson made 15 different models with absolutely unique topology for each of them ! They are entirely different from each other, they are not the same. 90-92db speakers are NOT high efficient at all, the high efficient speakers is 95db and higher. I’m using current source F2J with 101db speakers - this is a high efficient speaker (without crossover). And this amp, for example, designed ONLY for the full range speakers without crossover.

Anyway, when anyone is here to criticize FW amps at least add the exact model of the amp you owned (and speakers), there are 15 completely different models of First Watt amps on the market today. If some of you tried one FW model and does not like it for some reason it means nothing, because the next model is entirely different from the previous model. This is why people collect different FW amps and willing to try them all to find what they really like with certain speakers. These amps can blow your bind with the right preamp and speakers and they are always reasonably priced, maybe the price tag is too low for posh people, but i am happy about the prices for First Watt on used market, amazing value! And these amps does not made to impress by the way it looks, only by the sound quality!

Regarding the cost: First Watt SIT-1 mono blocks are very expensive compared to any other FW amps anyone can get for $1500-3000 used. But the majority of the classic FW models made ONLY in 100 quantities (assembled 100% by Nelson Pass himself), so they are very hard to find. While the stuff from PASS LABS brand is commercial product, many thousands made by the manufacturer.

sorry for the off topic