First Watt J2 Review: A Low-Gain Power Amp Built on Pure Honesty

Duncan Taylor

First Watt J2 Review: A Low-Gain Power Amp Built on Pure Honesty

OK, at this point, I’m starting to realize that I will fall in love with 100% of the First Watt amplifiers and preamps that come through The Music Room used gear trade-in and consignment program. 

Reviewing the Sound of the First Watt J2 Amplifier

So much so that it has me diving on a box marked Pass Labs or First Watt, so my coworkers don’t grab it first. Oh, this is a competition, make no mistake about it. We see some of the coolest audio gear from the last 30 years roll through here, but often it’s a matter of luck of the draw who listens to what.

Today must be my lucky day. I’m listening again to a First Watt amplifier, this time the J2. A different amplifier completely from the F4, the J2 has all of that same First Watt goodness: the speed, the detail, the pleasing character, the honesty.

This one is perhaps a simpler circuit than the F4 amplifier, featuring modern high-power JFET transistors made possible by the electric car industry. As Nelson explains in the manual’s foreword, this builds on a previously used approach of single-stage, single-ended, high-dissipation power transistor amplification.

I’ll let you do your own research and learn more about the J2 design from the nimble mind of Nelson Pass. I’m just here to tell you this thing is a special piece of audio gear, and it pushes all of my buttons. I wonder why these First Watt amps capture my heart so, but I think it is a fairly natural reaction coming from a recording engineer.

I’ve spent a lot of time recording music and listening back to it, so at this stage in my audio hobby one of my major preferences is for honesty, transparency and coherency.

Paired with revealing speakers, this type of amplifier can get me close to my own audio nirvana, and I think I am probably not alone out there.

I should mention that the First Watt J2 is a lower-gain amplifier (helps with the noise specs!) so you will have to be careful about preamplification. I used the single ended output from a balanced preamp to feed into this J2 for testing, and actually pegged the volume control at max just to reach enjoyable listening levels. I would have had to switch to balanced or look for another preamp with a higher output if I wanted a single dB more.

But you probably know by now that listening volume depends on my speakers too. My new DIY speaks are somewhat insensitive, at least compared to my 92dB-efficient home speakers. The J2 would probably scream in my living room.

If you’re curious about taking the First Watt theory, or taking the First Watt plunge, you have my full encouragement. But do so after a bit of reading and make sure your sensitivity and output voltage numbers make sense. If you do, you will be in for a profound musical treat.

For more on First Watt, read Why the First Watt F4 Proves Simple Amplifier Designs Can Sound Extraordinary

First Watt amps regularly appear on “best of” lists and in serious audiophile systems. Explore other First Watt models that have passed through TMR’s consignment and trade-in program — each one tested, certified, and hand-selected by our team: