Power Amplifier project by Nelson Pass
Aleph J
History
This amplifier is a direct descendant of the legendary Pass Labs Aleph 3, the amplifier that turned the audio press upon it's ear, brought single-ended amps to many people, and catapulted Pass Labs into the forefront of specialist audio engineering and construction, where it still resides today.
Circuit description
The Aleph J is a single-ended, Class-A, MOSFET power amplifier, with a Jfet driver stage. It utilizes the Nelson Pass 'Aleph Current Source' to greatly increase the overall efficiency of the output stage, with the benefits of more linearity, a higher damping factor, and greater stability into tough speaker loads, doing all this with less negative feedback than it's predecessors. The Aleph J is a regular kind of amp - a voltage source amplifier, requiring nothing out of the ordinary from the preamp or the speakers.
Power supply requirements
A bipolar power supply of (+/- 24V) is required. The PSUs for almost all First Watt amplifiers including the F4, F5, F6, M2x, Aleph J, and Aleph Jzm are all essentially identical.
These Power Supply PCBs are suitable for all First Watt amplifiers.
Chassis suggestions
The Deluxe chassis in the 3U height is a perfect choice. For builders that want more space and/or may want to build a bigger amplifier in the future, the 4U and 5U are excellent choices. We also have a back panel parts kit to make life easier. Don’t forget the Keratherm.