2. amps-preamps
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First Watt SIT-3 preamp pairing advice

Hi There,

I have Nelson Pass's First Watt SIT-3 power amplifier. I am using a ~15 year old VAC (Valve Amplification Company) Standard Preamplifier with NOS Telefunken 12AU7 and 12AX7 tubes for the 2 stages. I am looking to upgrade the preamp and am considering the Passlab XP-12 or the Linear Tube Audio MicroZotl MZ3 preamp. My impression is that both preamps are fairly popular when pairing with First Watt amps. Anyone here have paired both these preamps with the SIT-3 and can provide impressions that might help me decide? If there is 3rd option that you like very much, I am all ears too. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Andrew
longinc

Showing 2 responses by cal3713

cal3713's avatar
cal3713
1,421 posts
 
I'll put another vote in for the Supratek.  Everything Tvad said is relevant and there are literally no bad reviews.  
cal3713's avatar
cal3713
1,421 posts
 
My advice would be that if you are looking to land on the cooler side of neutral rather than full-on classic tube bloom, the LTA would be the better choice.

@zm I have read this so many times from so many people that I take it as fact. 

The LTA is great, but falls "on the cooler side of neutral" as you state.  If you're looking for warmth, it's not the place to go.  In that case the Don Sach's is a good candidate.  I have owned and loved one.  Note that its sound is heavily determined by the the output capacitors and tubes used.  You can read on my system page for some information in those regards if interested.  My speakers aren't naturally warm (accuton drivers), so adding a cool-leaning preamp is a no-go for me. 

I suspect the Supratek sounds similar to the DS, but gives you a higher gain option, and has an external power supply which is a + in my book.
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