Hi Everyone,
Apologies if this topic has been discussed before — I did a search but didn’t find a specific answer.
I had the good fortune to purchase a factory First Watt M2 amplifier this week, which will join its siblings in my collection: an X250.8, Aleph 5, and Volksamp Aleph 30 (along with a few of Papa’s less legitimate children from Nakamichi and Adcom). I currently run long XLR cables between my preamp and power amps, and I’d prefer to keep that setup.
Since the M2 uses a transformer-coupled input, is there any reason I couldn’t lift the grounded leg and wire it for balanced XLR inputs? I realize it might be sacrilegious to modify a genuine First Watt product, but it seems like a relatively minor change to add a pair of XLR inputs and switches. I’m genuinely curious if this is possible. I also understand that doing so would lower the input impedance, which may be reason enough not to bother.
Thanks in advance!
Apologies if this topic has been discussed before — I did a search but didn’t find a specific answer.
I had the good fortune to purchase a factory First Watt M2 amplifier this week, which will join its siblings in my collection: an X250.8, Aleph 5, and Volksamp Aleph 30 (along with a few of Papa’s less legitimate children from Nakamichi and Adcom). I currently run long XLR cables between my preamp and power amps, and I’d prefer to keep that setup.
Since the M2 uses a transformer-coupled input, is there any reason I couldn’t lift the grounded leg and wire it for balanced XLR inputs? I realize it might be sacrilegious to modify a genuine First Watt product, but it seems like a relatively minor change to add a pair of XLR inputs and switches. I’m genuinely curious if this is possible. I also understand that doing so would lower the input impedance, which may be reason enough not to bother.
Thanks in advance!
it is SE JFet buffer - feeding "interstage" autoformer
so, no - no any sort of xformer directly on input
result - for balanced signal route, you need to take any of usual solutions, separate auxiliary boxes in amp vicinity
so, no - no any sort of xformer directly on input
result - for balanced signal route, you need to take any of usual solutions, separate auxiliary boxes in amp vicinity
Thanks Zen Mod, that makes sense and explains why it's RCA only.
That is very high praise coming from you, I'm really excited to here this amp when it arrives later this week!
That is very high praise coming from you, I'm really excited to here this amp when it arrives later this week!
Going between the X250.8 and the M2 must be an interesting experience. I keep hearing great things about the M2.