Get your First Watt SIT-3 now?

Thanks, Joe (Snopro).  But the SIT-3 wouldn't work for me, as the DEQX HDP-5 I use as my preamp provides essentially zero gain from its analog inputs to its analog outputs.  (And in fact the default positions of some internal jumpers result in negative gain).  Basically, it can be thought of as driving an amp directly from the output of a volume-controlled DAC circuit, with no intervening preamp.

And in any event, as I indicated I'm very satisfied with the XA25.

Best regards,
-- Al

Lwin, thanks for providing the additional perspective.

George (Jetter), I've owned my XA25 for about five months now, and the early impressions you've probably seen me mention in other threads continue to apply.  Basically, I've found Teajay's review to be absolutely spot-on, and for that matter to be more accurately focused than Herb Reichert's comparably positive review in Stereophile.

The bottom line IME is that I don't miss the 300B-based VAC Renaissance 70/70 MkIII I had been using during the previous several years at all.  The XA25 comes remarkably close to the VAC with respect to dimensionality, imaging, liquidity, and other traditional fortes of high quality tube amps. It’s a bit less rich sounding than the VAC, but I interpret that as an increase in accuracy, which is fine as far as I am concerned. 

I should add, though, as you're probably aware, that my speakers (Daedalus Ulysses) are extremely easy to drive, having an unusually flat and benign impedance curve as well as high sensitivity (rated at 97.5 db/1W/1m).  Also, in case it matters (which it probably doesn't), most of my listening is to classical music.

Finally, I'll mention that as it happened I didn't have an opportunity to do much critical listening during the week I gave the XA25 the 120 hour breakin that was recommended by Mark at Reno HiFi (from whom I purchased the amp; he was wonderful to deal with, btw).  So I can't comment on how its sonics might have changed during that period.

Best regards,
-- Al 

 

Those considering purchase of a SIT-3 should keep in mind that its gain is only 11.5 db, which is extremely low for a power amp.  Consequently it requires a single-ended input of about 3.2 volts to be driven to its rated maximum power capability of 18 watts into 8 ohms.

That is particularly likely to be a problem in applications where it would be driven directly from a DAC, or in vinyl-based applications if an active preamp providing something like 15 db or more of gain is not being used, and of course in just about any application in which a passive preamp is used.

The XA25, in contrast, provides 20 db of gain, which is still below average but should be ok in most applications.

Regards
-- Al