F8

About the F8

The First Watt F8 is a stereo two-stage single-ended Class A amplifier using NOS Toshiba 2SJ74 P channel JFETs and SemiSouth R100 SiC power JFETs for signal gain, plus IRFP240 MOSFET mu-follower current sources, with three devices per channel. It features a current feedback amplifier front end with a purer second harmonic character, less distortion, lower negative feedback, greater bandwidth, and higher damping factor compared to the J2 model. It delivers 25 watts per channel into 8 ohms at 1% THD and 15 watts into 4 ohms, with a frequency response from 10 Hz to 200 kHz (-0.5 dB). The amplifier has an input impedance of 100 kOhms, gain of 15 dB, output impedance around 0.2-0.4 ohms, and a damping factor of about 40. Power consumption is approximately 170-180 watts. The F8 is praised for its warm, smooth, transparent sound with excellent dynamics, imaging, and musical engagement, making it suitable for efficient speakers (90 dB and above) with impedances above 8 ohms. It is considered a refined, natural sounding amplifier with a unique personality, offering high resolution and clarity close to single-ended triode tube amplifiers but with higher output power. The amplifier is no longer in production but remains highly regarded among audiophiles.