2. amps-preamps
  3. 163964-16222

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 11 responses by longinc

longinc OP
35 posts
 
@coachpoconnor - thanks sharing your comparison. Why is the LTA the clear winner in your comparison of the 2 preamps?
longinc OP
35 posts
 
Thanks @tvad ! 
longinc OP
35 posts
 
Thanks @tvad ! I will look into the Supratek and looks like folks when considering the Supratek are also considering the Don Sachs preamp. So many choices! Have you paired the Supratek with the Sit-3?
longinc OP
35 posts
 
Thanks @jayrossi13 for your input. My speakers are a Chapman T7 (4 ohm, 89db sensitivity). My moderate sensitive speakers is giving me a little pause because the other options i am considering (linear tube audio and pass labs are ~10db gain). Did you consider others and how did you land on the Supratek Cabernet?  
longinc OP
35 posts
 
@zm thanks for your input. I read good things about the LTA MZ2 and MZ3 pairings with the SIT-3. Like you i do like clarity, transparency, speed, timbral accuracy of the SIT-3. Tad bit of tube bloom is fine but too much not so (which i assume is what you were experiencing with the Don S). Hence i was leaning the way of the MZ3, but wasn't sure given its ~10db gain and my speakers are 89db sensitive. I don't listen loud but my current preamp's gain is 24db and my knob is usually (depending on the recording) between 930am and 1130am. What speakers are you using with this setup?
longinc OP
35 posts
 
Hi @vinpic,

Thanks for your input on the the MZ2 preamp. What speakers were you using when you had the MZ2+SIT3 in your system?

Andrew
longinc OP
35 posts
 
Thanks @vinpic! Your notes are super helpful - thanks for sharing. And very nice speakers you have there!
longinc OP
35 posts
 
Thanks @nordicnorm and @bobandcindy101 for your suggestions!
longinc OP
35 posts
 
Thanks @cal3713 for your impressions! Very helpful. And i tend to agree that anyone that spends time on creating a highly engineered outboard power supply likely has a good product. I am in the camp that a good portion of the sound (quality) of a piece of audio equipment comes from the power supply. 
longinc OP
35 posts
 
HI @mrubey , Nice! and thanks for sharing your journey. Looking forward to hearing your impressions of the MZ3 paired with your SIT-3. I would reach out to Nicholas at LTA, he is really responsive to questions.
longinc OP
35 posts
 
Thanks @coachpoconnor! for sharing your experience of the MZ2
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