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Angeboten wird „First Watt SIT 5 Nelson Pass“ von Pass als Gebrauchtgerät aus der Kategorie „Endverstärker“ bei audio-markt.de - dem Online-Marktplatz für High-End. Das Inserat mit der Nummer 5760910710 endet am 01.07.2026 um 13:43 Uhr.
This is a fairly ambitious ask for the market, and timing matters a bit because this is a proven older-generation First Watt design rather than a current-production halo piece. Against your own comp set, €7,999 sits well above the 75th percentile of €5,723, so it is not priced like a normal used buy; it’s a clear premium over the recent EUR market.
That said, the SIT-3 has a strong reputation for the things people buy First Watt for: very refined single-ended Class A sound, excellent low-level texture, and a distinctive match with efficient speakers. If the listing is genuinely clean and complete, the upside is owning a sought-after amp with limited churn in the used market. At this level, I’d want strong condition, original packaging, and proof it’s been cared for; otherwise the premium is hard to justify.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
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.
See all First Watt listings on RADAR.
