Solid State Power Amp Reviews

First Watt J2 power amplifier Associated Equipment

Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment

Analog Sources: Technics SL1200GAE turntable, Hana EL MC cartridge; Roksan Radius 7 turntable & Nima tonearm & Corus Silver MM cartridge.
Digital Sources: Schiit Audio Yggdrasil DAC, Integra DPPS-7.2 DVD-A player.
Preamplification: Lounge Audio Copla MC step-up transformer; Dynavector SUP-200 & P75 Mk.III, Lounge Audio LCR Mk.III, Parasound Halo JC 3+, Tavish Design Adagio phono preamplifiers; Pass Labs HPA-1, PrimaLuna ProLogue Premium, Rogue Audio RP-1, Simaudio Moon Neo 350P preamplifiers.
Power Amplifiers: Line Magnetic LM-518IA, PrimaLuna Prologue Premium, Simaudio Moon Neo 330A.
Loudspeakers: DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/93, Dynaudio Excite X14, Falcon Acoustics LS3/5a, KEF LS50, Konus Essence, Technics Premium Class SB-C700, Zu Audio Soul Supreme.
Cables: Digital: AudioQuest Cinnamon, Kimber Kable D60 Data Flex Studio (coax). Interconnect: AudioQuest Red River (balanced) & Cinnamon, Auditorium 23, Kimber Kable Silver Streak. Speaker: AudioQuest GO-4, Auditorium 23. AC: AudioQuest NRG-2.
Accessories: AudioQuest Niagara 1000 Low-Z, PS Audio PerfectWave PowerBase power conditioners; Dr. Feickert Analogue Protractor NG and Adjust+ software; Acoustical Systems SMARTractor cartridge-alignment protractor; Moongel stylus cleaner—Herb Reichert

COMPANY INFO
Pass Laboratories
13395 New Airport Road, Suite G
Auburn, CA 95602
(530) 878-5350
www.passlabs.com
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
noelberkowitz's picture
Submitted by noelberkowitz on September 21, 2016 - 5:37am

I have been listening to a J2 with Audio Note AN-J HE speakers for a couple of years now and my findings are very similar to yours. the amp creates a very strong emotional connection to the music.

Joe Roberts's picture
Submitted by Joe Roberts on September 21, 2016 - 2:03pm

Herb,

I should point out to readers that you were the first writer to popularize the later-to-become-iconic term "first watt" about 25 years ago.

Perhaps you are too humble to mention this...or, more likely, you totally forgot!

Ktracho's picture
Submitted by Ktracho on September 21, 2016 - 3:31pm

Anyone know how this amp compares to First Watt F7 amp? In general, I'm not sure how one would go about picking between the different models, other than to guess how well it matches the impedance of one's speakers, but if the speakers are sufficiently high in impedance and sensitivity, then what would you gain for the extra $1000 that the J2 costs over the F7?

FritzSpeakers's picture
Submitted by FritzSpeakers on September 22, 2016 - 3:29pm

Hi Ktracho- For more info regarding the difference between the J2 & F7 (and the Pass SIT-1 mono blocks), check out the write up by John Richardson on all three amps with 3 different loudspeakers including Zu's Druid Mk. V, ATC's SCM 19 version 2 and my own Carbon 7SE's.
https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2016/09/09/review-j2-sit-1-and-f7-first-watt-amplifiers-by-nelson-pass/

Allen Fant's picture
Submitted by Allen Fant on September 22, 2016 - 4:37am

Nicely done! HR.
this amp is on my must-demo list. I would have subtracted Charlie Hansen (a flake) and added Dan D'Agnostino to your list as above.

Otherwise a very good article. Happy Listening!

Les's picture
Submitted by Les on September 22, 2016 - 6:54am

My guess is you have never listened to any Ayre products (nor even D'Agostino's for that matter). If you have, would you describe the sound as "flakey" too? Actually, logic dictates that you must, since you want him off the "Chi Masters" list. Can I safely assume that you dislike the sound of Ayre amps? Or do all designers have to align with your personal beliefs, despite the fact that they produce amazing products...

Allen Fant's picture
Submitted by Allen Fant on September 22, 2016 - 8:27am

Sure, I have auditioned both D'Agostino and Ayre amps. Nothing inherently wrong w/ the products per se. I have seen many of CH 's comments in the various forums and he has always presented himself as a flake.

Those of us who have been in the hobby for 20+ years understand that it is "flake" laden.

rockdc's picture
Submitted by rockdc on April 26, 2017 - 6:39pm

it's listed as 101 dB on the website. Are yours really 96 dB?

John Atkinson's picture
Submitted by John Atkinson on April 27, 2017 - 4:14am
rockdc wrote:
it's listed as 101 dB on the website. Are yours really 96 dB?

The specified sensitivity is, shall we say, "optimistic." My estimate of our review sample's voltage sensitivity was 91.5dB/2.83V/m.

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

rockdc's picture
Submitted by rockdc on April 27, 2017 - 8:39am

I'm surprised. In the measurements for the Soul speaker review, you state "My estimate of the Zu Soul Supreme's voltage sensitivity was 91.5dB/2.83V/m, which is lower than the specified 97dB/W/m but still much higher than average". Zu states 101 dB. Where does the "specified 97db/W/m" number come from? And has Zu had any response to this?

Steve Tag

hifiluver's picture
Submitted by hifiluver on June 8, 2018 - 5:35pm

does this amp have a built in equaliser (Fig.1)?

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