Thank you Mr. Pass for everything you've done for audio industry! Thank you!

I could watch interviews with Nelson Pass for hours. So much to take in. Little nuggets of insight and tips galore.

Always great to have Mr. Pass on the show. Such a nice, laid-back, regular guy. : )

The fact that this video has (as of this post) only 658 likes and 100 comments says a lot about the percentage of audiophiles that are into low power, high efficiency speakers as their thing. It does keep used equipment pricing down though. :) Thank you Steve and thank you Nelson.

Now, THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT!!!! Nelson is one of my favorite people in the whole wide world, and not only because of his genius. It has just as much to do with his personality. It is genuine, and welcoming. So, Steve, why haven't you tried the open baffle products from Siegfried Linkwitz? Personally, I committed to the Linkwitz stuff a few years ago by buying the LXmini plans, figuring I'd 'get round to it' one of these days. Then Nelson screwed with my head by inventing that truly impressive balanced LXmini crossover board. The addicted solder sniffer in me COULDN'T RESIST! Actually, not having the money to plunk down at once for all the necessary amps, wires, and other stuff, the piecemeal approach has worked fine. AND, building all the amps this past year-and-a-half has actually given me something to do in retirement, and proven to be one of the highlight of my life. Yes, all the class D modules on the market these days would make it a LOT simpler (and less expensive). I've built a few, but I'm not sure I could live for long with that class D sound. Neurochrome and ESP are in the stable, and are my favorites. If I was just now considering the active approach I might be tempted go for Spatial, GR Research, Pure Audio, etc. At least I be done by now. Be it all without a satchel full of Nelson-style fun. :D

@mediascapes2011

3 жыл бұрын

yes, a great guy, nice playful I do what I like philosophy, make sure you check out DNM Denis Morecroft, quite a different approach, deeply embedded in rigorous inventive iconoclastic english engineering.

Mr. Pass has been my inspiration and the reason why I got in to my Audio DIY hobby about 5 years ago, during these past years I started buying broken ADCOM amplifiers designed by him, all the way to the GFA-5800, and repairing them to the point that I currently have more than 20 Adcom Apms that I have repaired, upgraded, etc. My next step is to build one of his well know DIY designs from scratch and start playing around as he does. God bless Mr. Pass and gives him many more years of good health.

Great again Steve. I love listening to you and Nelson....

This was your best interview with Nelson so far. I really enjoyed it. Nelson seems to have a Devil May care attitude at least when he’s being interviewed.

Thanks Steve for this. Always amazing to watch your interviews with Nelson! You guys look happy together... It's that simple!

Thank you Steve for bringing the Jedi Master in for an extended interview !

Thank you so much for these wonderful interviews!

Always them up Nelson Pass. Thank you Steve.

Always good to hear Nelson talk, he never disappoints. There are a just a handful of people in the world like Nelson and we have two just like him in Australian - my favourite is Joe R and I wish he could capture just 1% of the American market as a new 1% of the Australian market is to small for genius like JR to survive comfortably here. But I am happy to hear that Nelson works for the pleasure and passion of designing the next best amplifier rather than just selling what he has done before. Nelson and the few like him are inspirational to me and keep my sound system humming alone. So thank to you and the others like you. May you stay safe and design many more amplifiers to come.

The Korg B1is a very nice preamp. My son is thrilled with the Amp Camp amp and Korg.

Crazy talk! So pleasant to listen to. Thanx!

great interview btw, I just finished listening to all of part one and two, Nelson really is a fascinating intellect with a joy for his craft that makes it sound comprehensible... at least somewhat. :-D

Great interview - interesting, as always. Looking forward to your take on Spatial OB speakers. Mine have taken months to break in - but they are now quite sublime. They give a sound and stage that I believe would please - and surprise - a lot of people. Never heard a piano sound so 'in the room'. Greetings to one and all.

Glad to hear you're working on doing a Spatial OB review.

Love the story of the two led’s. So I could very well imagine people will start to drill the second hole in the new cases by their own.

He's a great guy, thanks so much for sharing this.

great stuff very fun and full of realites thank you for your channel.

Thank you Steve for suggesting 2 to 3 albums in every video. I'm new in hobby and listen via streaming. Your music suggestion really makes my gears sing! ❤️

That was cool. I found myself forgetting I was listening to KZread.....just hanging out with the guys-doesn’t happen that often, thanks

That was fascinating. Great interview!

My SIT3 sounds superb with the Maggie LRS's. I don’t listen loud, but there’s plenty of volume in my 30' x 12' 6" x 8' room. The SIT3 also loves my Spatial Audio M3 Turbo S's, and little Harbeth P3ESR's. Three different flavours of loveliness to suit my mood! Thank you so much, Nelson!!!

@Pixeltrainer

3 жыл бұрын

Vocals on my Maggies sounded so realistic my dog would sometimes freak out thinking someone was in the room that shouldn't have been. He ultimately pawed at the left channel that was next to our front door causing the bass panel to de-laminate. My only complaint was their lack of bass and an inability to bi-amp in order to increase the bass level.

@siletteman

3 жыл бұрын

@@Pixeltrainer. Yes, pawing is the price you pay for such realism! :(. Nelson has since commented: - "I find LRS’s pretty demanding, easy enough to see 100W peak draw. if you crank it up a bit. SIT-3's will just about do that, but they are one of the few little amps that is just as happy at 4 ohms as 8. :) "

@turtlehermit5951

17 күн бұрын

@@PixeltrainerJust saw your post and wondering if you still running same setup, I am a recent Maggie LRS convert, and getting a SIT3 from a local forum. I don’t listen loud either. Does the SIT3 really make that much a difference compare to other amp? It’s not cheap to own. Thanks for your input.

Mr Pass is one of a kind. Pure genius that’s just me

Awesome interview!

Thanks for sharing insight from one of the legends

An amazing person,makes me wonder if he is real We get to enjoy his F6 and the Korg based preamp on everyday basis, I simply couldn’t afford a real F6 from the factory so the diy ones gave me the opportunity plus a real joy

Love my f7, been waiting to demo the 8 🤞

I remember we buildt a 30 watt Nelson Pass class a amp around 10 years ago. It was from a magazine here in Denmark. My friend still use it, and it’s a great amp still.

Enjoyed this interview. Thanks 🙏Very curious to hear your firsthand take on Spatial speakers.

The missus said to me the other day.... let me get this straight. You spend £1,000 on speaker cables because you can 'hear the difference," but you can't hear me from the kitchen ☺

Audiophiles talking with that quality of sound...hmmm I love any interview with Nelson Pass, but I also need to understand what the's saying in a video.

Ask Nelson about the F4 next time you talk. It might be considered the most interesting First Watt amp - and is Loved on the diyAudio Forum!

I would like to have a little beast JFET amp, one like shown and especially for headphones

So glad to have heard all this from the master.

Love it 👍🤗

great interview thanks, I add this comment here but it refers to recent video on big speakers, could you also make one on listening on the opposite: best speakers for low volume listening, not desktop or nearfield, but standard system setup, for quiet late night atmosphere.

I wonder where all the Toshiba J-fets are?.... I reckon between Pass and Curl there's a fair few stored away.

LRS Speaker has Nelson Pass modified and redesigned the crossover network for it for improvement ?. Is Nelson Pass Designing new or modifying one of his old amplifiers to specifically drive the LRS speaker ?. I want to buy a LRS speaker for my first time and was thinking of building Nelson Pass DIY F5 V3 turbo amplifier Mono blocks 100 W to 150 W highly modified version per channel class A

Great video Steve. What does Nelson like / use on the LRSs

Nelson says, "I don't listen loudly...by the way, can you help me move these 21 inch woofers?"

@FOH3663

3 жыл бұрын

@GeneralCurtis3LeMay What kinds of problems with the 21"s, and 24"s?

@FOH3663

3 жыл бұрын

@GeneralCurtis3LeMay I'm well versed in all things LF ... I was just trolling you into statements you couldn't back up.

@FOH3663

3 жыл бұрын

@GeneralCurtis3LeMay Seriously, what possible detrimental elements do the 21" or 24" possess? How can mere size of a LF drive create a performance issue?

@FOH3663

3 жыл бұрын

@GeneralCurtis3LeMay Very nice "there's no benefit using a 21" or 24" woofer, they suffer from 𝙈𝘼𝙉𝙔 problems" These are your contentions, please elaborate. If you don't want to elaborate with 𝙈𝘼𝙉𝙔, how about just the single biggest problem?

Curious. Why did you change the pitch of your Audiophiliac intro sound tag. It seemed a few cent higher than normal. Did you speed it up? Love the interview btw. I could listen to Nelson just read specs.

@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac

3 жыл бұрын

Speed up was an accident

Now that its been almost a year, would be nice to revisit Nelson to see where he is at with regards to his Magnepan LRS's. I'd assume he's discovered the "perfect combo", at least for him (which would be good enough for me).

Someone should compile a list of ALL known speakers that play nice with First Watt designs, that would be awesome.

@siletteman

3 жыл бұрын

My SIT-3 sounds superb with the Maggie LRS's. I don’t listen loud, but there’s plenty of volume in my 30' x 12' 6" x 8' room. The SIT3 also loves my Spatial Audio M3 Turbo S's, and little Harbeth P3ESR's. Three different flavours of loveliness to suit my mood! Thank you so much, Nelson!!! Nelson replied - “ Thanks for that. I find LRS's pretty demanding, easy enough to see 100W peak draw. if you crank it up a bit. SIT-3's will just about do that, but they are one of the few little amps that is just as happy at 4 ohms as 8. :) "

Cube Nenuphar Mini single 8 " speaker (single driver) is in the picture with Nelson Pass in his living room. Is this a speaker along with the Tannoys (single driver) he uses to test his First Watt amps? Just curious why he prefers single driver speakers in his personal listening room. Any technical reason?

@FOH3663

3 жыл бұрын

I believe that's a Voxativ full range driver. Not certain about his preferences, but I'd guess his preferences include the point-source, and absence of a crossover for greater mid-band purity. In the previous interview with Pass at his home, he discusses, ... albeit briefly, the loudspeakers in his home listening room etc.

@williampearson4968

3 жыл бұрын

@@FOH3663 Cube Audio (Poland) indicates they make their own proprietary drivers. I agree Cube's approach is simplicity for the audio signal.

Can you review the Pass XP preamp you have?

When Nelson speaks, you'll find me wachting

Love my First-watt kit hate the blue LEDs and one is brighter than the other on my F3 lol.

@ronniefranks4351

3 жыл бұрын

I’m with you. I hate blue LEDs!

@randallmilton

3 жыл бұрын

*Zeos has entered the chat*

@FOH3663

3 жыл бұрын

@@ronniefranks4351 That's what Scotch 33 is for!

hey Steve, whatever happened to those prototype Magnepan speakers you were trying out about a year ago? the ones you said Magnepan loaned you for advice and public reaction as to what kind of pricing decision they should make on this bass-heavy, dynamic-heavy flat panel driver. I've remained very curious to see/hear more them.

@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac

3 жыл бұрын

Well, that speaker is still in the works, but it’s going to take time before it becomes a real product I guess it’ll be $18-$20,000

@Jeton6

3 жыл бұрын

@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac oof, figures...still, it sounded very intriguing. thanks for replying! can't wait for your KEF KC62 review. I hope they create a portable smaller version, maybe with paired 4" drivers that reach down to 30 or 35hz. when/if ever that and their meta tech bleed down to the consumer/portable market, they would dominate.

Yes Nelson, the audiophile can be a bit neurotic and a pain in the ass. Ears and logic , also just having a bit of fun, opening up a nice wine now and not worrying about the the small things.😃

Pass Labs biggest competitor is used Pass gear.

Hi Steve! You have an expensive looking "Headphone" tree behind you... Nice decorations...

@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

I would like to know why some pass labs amps have had a negative review in the bass department?

@joshua43214

3 жыл бұрын

25watts of pure class A and low damping factor. They don't have enough head room for big drivers unless they are very efficient, then they can be a tad on the muddy side.

@salvadorrodenas3071

3 жыл бұрын

@@joshua43214 right on target, I think so, like you audio buddy 😁

a quick note: I'm going to listen to it again. m.

I did not know that Gandalf was into high end hifi systems. I thought he was into rings

@xfloodcasual8124

Жыл бұрын

He’s into hifi rings

I am considering using one of Nelson's First Watt amp for my Maggies 3.5R. I am using it for the tweeter/midrange panel only since it will be biamp. If possible, which first watt would you recommend?

@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac

3 жыл бұрын

Not so sure that's a good idea. Pass XA25 would be my choice.

@mr.seanster

3 жыл бұрын

@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac thanks Steve! I appreciate your feedback. I was hoping for that extra magic in the first watt. Have always been curious but not willing to part with my maggies.

I have a Forte 3 that I wouldn’t take any money for. Sweet, but slam too.

It's the first time I arrived 31s after upload. 😂

Can I say that he looks like Santa, but for audiophiles.

I wonder if I can talk with mr. Pass.

@joshua43214

3 жыл бұрын

He has replied to my comments on the DIYAudio forum. So, you probably can :)

Strange a hifi Chanel would have such bad sound

Good Day Steve, as the whole audioworld might know,Jay was given an live session on his channel,in which we all were able to ask him directly, on the answer,is the equipment he is using provided from the hi-fi industry, a very long clear statement came,the come to point,the industry isn't providing him nothing on non-profit base,they are watching his channel very carefully,and are not always amused,a very well-known hi-fi reviewer in The Netherlands was receiving last year a letter from the industry,because he said very honestly his opinion,this is not the way we should be to another is this small world.I do watch your channel,because is was in a similar poistion you were in your life,selling hi-fi

Excellent show. Please do more interviews with the actual designers and avoid the typical marketing department bumf.

Why do videos by the Audiophiliac have such awful sound? Buy a microphone Steve !!!!!

@jimshaw899

3 жыл бұрын

The shoemaker's children?

What's so special about these Toshiba transistors, surely there must be other transistors that are equivalent just as good or slight change of circuitry What are these Nelson pass amplifiers go down to impedance like the F8 you never say price how much they sell for you can buy them has kits. I don't understand that you show in the picture cube audio I think the 8-inch driver but he never talks about them why is that?

@Pixeltrainer

3 жыл бұрын

Question re: Toshiba per NP: 1) They are very quiet. You can use them for the mc input on a phono stage 2) They have high transconductance at normal bias currents (like 10 mA) 3) With an Idss around the 10 mA zone, they conveniently self-bias 4) The N and P types are good complements in symmetric circuits 5) For such a little part, they do a good job into lower impedances with low distortion - (witness the Beast with a Thousand JFETs) 6) Toshiba's quality consistency is second to none

@Pixeltrainer

3 жыл бұрын

F8 is current production so not available as a kit. Available new MSRP $4000 or as a Demo ~ $3400 from Reno HiFi. This interview wasn't about Cube drivers hence no discussion in this video.

@johnsweda2999

3 жыл бұрын

@@Pixeltrainer why stop making them tho!

@FOH3663

3 жыл бұрын

Re; the 8" driver in the video thumbnail, I agree, I too wanted more along those lines ... ie, his hobby exploring loudspeakers etc. The topics surrounding his dabbling in loudspeakers I've always found more interesting than his electronics exploits. That said, the 8" Voxativ did get a very brief mention but nothing more (when Steve inquired about the Pure Audio Project OBs).

@johnsweda2999

3 жыл бұрын

@@FOH3663 Steve had these speakers cube audio I mentioned it in a comment to him "is he going to review them and what does he think" no he said! the company doesn't give money to reviewers they don't want biased reviews so he's not doing it. Doesn't stop people reviewing than like Steve tho its no in the Spirit of it and you have to respect the company not going down that route. They are a breakthrough in driver technology and have the highest tesla magnetic field strength of any fixed magnet driver accept field coils.