Zu Soul Superfly

Gopher:

Check "Watt's New" at www.firstwatt.com: select F1J

Nelson Pass is upgrading the F1 to the new Jfets used in the J2: free for original owners (you pay only frieght + cost of shipping box), small charge for 2nd owners, etc.

Might be your answer for more texture and image density.

If interested, contact [email protected] to get on the upgrade list; include the serial # of your F1.

(I'm going to try the Soul with either a F1J or the J2 later this year. If you upgrade the F1, I would appreciate your comments on the combo.)

The First Watt M2 may be a better match for Soul.

I've compared the F1, J2, and M2 on 98dB 6 ohm Audio Note speakers; the M2 is more tube like and has "drive" that the F1 lacks. Even at 10WPC, Soul is underpowered using F1.

IMO
YMMV

Dealer disclaimer.

Regiggey,

That looks very interesting to me and sounds like it may be precisely what I am looking for. The only problem is my Firstwatt was build from Mr. Pass' DIY plans by Mr. Rawson. I am not technically skilled to perform the upgrades myself, Mr. Rawson has retired and I doubt Mr. Pass would care to work on something he did not build himself...

Audiofeil,

I weigh your feedback very heavily as I realize you have quite a bit more exposure than most to Zu's speakers, but I am very surprised you feel the F1 lacks drive.

Though I have no basis for comparison, I feel as if the F1 really takes control of the driver. Based upon your experience with the F1 and Zu speakers, I am curious as to what you feel is missing.

To my ears the amp doesn't sound soft at all offering very strong bass performance and a clean uncongested mir-range. Its very dynamic and keeps great PRaT.

I'm very curious as to what more power would bring because to my, admittedly less experienced ears, this amp sounds darn powerful.

I'd love to try the higher end First Watt but its a bit out of my budget at the moment... Perhaps you have an outstanding lower cost recommendation? Phil made a compelling case for el34/el84 amps.

You'd have to hear the difference; words are insufficient. However, at 10WPC, the Soul is underpowered.

BTW, PRaT is a joke.

I have a loaner Virtue Audio TWO.2 that should arrive this week through a tour on Audiocircle. I suppose that will be an opportunity to hear what extra power can do as I believe that puts out 55wpc into 8ohms.

What do you mean "PRaT is a joke"? I understand the term to be essentially the swing factor of a component--the toe tapping factor. If two sources are playing the same piece and have a similar tonal balance (not just a more forward midrange or similar catching ones attention) but one just has a faster attack, better fun factor and is just more musically satisfying, I equate that with PRaT.

Maybe I'm using the wrong word but an example of this would be the Meridian G08 I formerly owned (not PRaTy IMO) compared with the Berendsen CDP-1 (think GaMut)I recently sold. To me the Meridian sounded kinda slow and dead while the Berendsen was alive and nimble.