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FIRST WATT SIT5 MONOBLOCK AMPLIFIER PAIR- SILVER or BLACKMSRP $11,000Brand new sealed in box - Shipped directly from Pass Labs!Fly Hifi Stereo is First Watt/Pass Labs' hometown dealer here in Auburn California.Feel free to call the shop with any questions or special requests.The SIT-5 is the most recent amplifier produced by First Watt, and is the fIfth to use a Static Induction Transistor (SIT) as the power amplifying device. In 2011 we introduced our first SIT amplifier using a custom Silicon Carbide (SiC) transistor part made by SemiSouth. The amplifier also used a single power device, operating without feedback in single-ended Class A Common-Source mode to deliver 10 watts of power emulating the characteristic of a Triode, but operating at voltage and currents directly needed by loudspeakers, eliminating the output transformer.Summary of the nominal specifications: Measured at 120 V AC and an 8 ohm load: Distortion @ 1 watt 0.07% Input Impedance 100 Kohm Gain 19 dB Damping Factor 25 Output power 35 watts @ 1% THD, 8 ohms Frequency response 5 Hz to 200 Khz (-3 dB) Noise 30uV unweighted, 20-20 KHz Power consumption 200 watts Weight 32 lbs Dimensions 17” W x 15” D x 5” HWarranty: Parts and labor for 3 years, not covering shipping costs or consequential damages. Warranty work is provided by authorized distributors outside of the U.S. And by First Watt within the U.S. Amplifiers under warranty outside of the U.S. not purchased from an authorized distributor can be serviced in the U.S. by First Watt at the cost of freight and customs charges.FREE SHIPPING WITHIN THE LOWER 48!PLEASE NOTE - ALL PASS LABS AND FIRST WATT UNITS ARE BUILT TO ORDER! PLEASE ALLOW FOR BUILD TIME PRIOR TO SHIPMENT. FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT FOR BUILD TIME ESTIMATES PRIOR TO PURCHASE.INTERNATIONAL BUYERS - PLEASE CALL OR MESSAGE.The item is also available for pickup at Fly Hifi Stereo Store in Auburn CA.
Generating expert take…
First Watt emerged from the visionary mind of Nelson Pass, the renowned American audio engineer and founder of Pass Labs, in the early 2000s. Established as a boutique extension of his primary enterprise, it was conceived not as a conventional company but as a personal laboratory for experimental amplifier designs. Pass launched First Watt to delve into unconventional territories overlooked by mainstream hi-fi, drawing on his decades of expertise in single-ended triode and solid-state innovations, much like the legendary early Marantz and VFET amplifiers that inspired him.
The brand specializes exclusively in low-power Class A solid-state power amplifiers, typically delivering 10 to 25 watts per channel into 8 ohms—modest outputs by modern standards. Models like the SIT4, F1, and F7 employ zero-feedback topologies, JFETs, Static Induction Transistors (SITs), and even current-source architectures that prioritize purity over brute force. These handcrafted units eschew preamps, phono stages, or speakers, focusing instead on driving efficient, high-sensitivity loudspeakers with exceptional transparency and musicality.
First Watt commands a cult following among high-end audiophiles as a niche boutique icon, revered for its heretical yet revelatory sound that challenges voltage-source norms. Positioned at the pinnacle of purist amplification, its amplifiers—often priced around $4,000—appeal to discerning buyers seeking "a handful of quality watts" over high-power generality, cementing Pass's legacy in the vanguard of innovative, speaker-specific hi-fi.
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