Identifying a genuine Firstwatt F6

[noamgeller]

Hallo everybody!

A novice question... Can anyone help me identify if thats a genuine F6 amp?
I am desperate to have one but do not have the knowledge to really tell if it is true to the original Design.

 

[blek stena]

Hi,

Check the link to see the original F6:
6moons audio reviews: FirstWatt F6

Regards,

 

[analog_sa]

if it is true to the original Design.

It has all sorts of added complications which IME do not contribute anything positive to the sound:

- fuses after the smoothing caps
- relay speaker protection
- delayed relay power-on

Luckily the paranoid kit can be easily removed.

 

[ColinA123]

It's not genuine as in "factory built"
So it's a "clone" (Which is what most of us have.)

The amplifier boards look like those from the shop but as stated above lots of additional what if prevention added.
One question might be the quality of the J-fets used?

 

[wdecho]

Clone, built by someone other the Firstwatt. Depending on builder and quality of parts whether it will sound and last like genuine Firstwatt amplifier. The primary difference for a diy'er buying would be price. Clones do not command the price of a genuine.

 

[Extreme_Boky]

all PCB's single layer?

 

[noamgeller]

Thanks a lot for the answers!

I have decided to stay away from this one and go for another Clone of the J2.

I will run the CNO 2.5 that I have built, Troels Gravesen Desing. I am

wondering how that will go!

If someone can shed light on the J2 desing and sound I will be most happy to hear!

And of course some pictures...

 

[wdecho]

J2 design has not been published to my knowledge. The design will be someone's speculation unless the builder has inside information. Might sound good though. I would rather depend on a published design if buying a completed amplifier unless the price is right.

I am curious as to where the builder obtained the boards. Probably China.

 

[sq225917]

The build quality on that first one was waaaaay better than the 2nd one, that guy was fastidious.

 

[analog_sa]

Perhaps. But the J2 appears to be a nearly exact copy of the original, boards layout and all. Only the dual Toshibas appear missing. If the price is half what an used original goes for, i would say it is an excellent buy for someone unwilling to do their own reverse and build.

 

[noamgeller]

Does somebody is familier with the failure rate of such an amp? How reliable is it? I could have it for excactly the half of a used original.... thats to say a little bit les then a quarter of the original Price

 

[Zen Mod]

it looks well made, no less good than first one .... and probably even better - simply because tidy wires strapped with nylon ties aren't always measure of quality

it will last at least 10 years , if not even more , when you're going to replace PSU caps , due to typical A class amp working temperature

then again 10-15 years of pure bliss

 

[noamgeller]

Amen to that