My experience with the First Watt F7


I think that many of us have a mental list of components and speakers we would like to try if circumstances and finances allow, and I'm no different. My finances are more limited than many members, but within my means I have been able to try quite a few different things over the years.

About six weeks ago I saw an ad for an F7 in great condition and having efficient speakers, it had been on my wish list to try not only because it was made for speakers just like mine, but also because I had never read a negative review of it or any of the other First Watt amps.

I want to say here that I have a lot of respect for Nelson Pass as a innovative designer and a businessman, and I once had a very positive experience with Pass Labs on a service issue. The reason that I am writing this brief review is because one member who knew that I had bought it had requested my impressions, and I am also curious to know the impressions and experiences of others here who may have owned this amp.

When I first received it, I gave ir a couple of hours to warm up. I sat down to listen, and initial impressions were good, but not great. There was good clarity in the mids and treble region, and stage width was very good but not better than what I was accustomed to. I noticed two negatives on the second day. The first was that the perceived size of instrumental images, for instance Stan Getz's sax, were 15-20% smaller. That wasn't a deal breaker, just an observation. I also noted that the timbre/tone of the sax, as well as other wind instruments and strings was not as natural sounding as I am used to.

Three days in, I was listening from the next room while working, and by now I knew that there was something else about the presentation that was more serious that was bothering me. I stopped what I was doing and put on a couple of specific songs to test a hunch, and that is when I identified the problem. The amp had no "flow", and even though individual instruments were well separated and clear sounding, nothing hung together like a real group playing together. Each instrument sounded like a separate event that didn't relate to the others. I had never had this experience before, but once I identified it, I couldn't "unhear" it. I also noticed at that time that electric guitars sounded different and less authentic than they had on other tube and solid state amps I have owned.

Finally, and this was surprising, the bass was noticeably opaque and lacking detail. I sat there in front of it listening one day, and I thought that if I was young again, and new to audio, this would probably be an amp that would impress me. 

I sold it within two weeks, confident that it was not the amp for me, but grateful that I had the opportunity to try one for myself.

I would like to hear the experiences of others familiar with the F7. 

 

  

128x128roxy54

@charles1dad I've not heard the AGD, but based on reviews from trusted folks, the AGD's are somewhat closer to tube sound qualities vs most class a ss, cool looking as well,

 

 

@sns AGD’s are somewhat closer to tube sound qualities vs most class a ss, cool looking as well,

How many times has that been uttered about some solid state design? Perhaps this time true via AGD? Anyway I’d find your impressions very worthwhile.

Charles

 

Greetings........Sit-3 owner, here.........it powers Cornwall IV's, playing high-res files streamed through Qobuz. Suffice it to say that I am a very Happy Camper!
 

I have the FirstWatt F8. I am unable to find any of the issues you reported for the F7. Now this might be because I don't understand, in gut terms or rather in ear terms if you will, what they really refer to.

My preamp is a Van Alstine Transcendence RB 10 tube box. The speakers are Focal Aria 906's.

I've had other preamps in the system, and the sound had problems like being too detailed or bright (for photographers: like oversharpened images).

I had a Quicksilver Integrated. It produced very good sound. My F8 system just gives more detail while the sound stays whole and natural.

 

@roxy54 

Having never owned a First Watt or Pass Lab amp, owning one or at least hearing one has been on my list as well.  Kind of sad that the F7 didn’t work for you. At 25 watts a side, it would have been my first choice as well.