Pass Labs
| Industry | Audio equipment |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder | Nelson Pass |
| Headquarters | , |
| Website | https://www.passlabs.com/ |
Pass Labs is a high-end audio company based in Auburn, California, United States founded by Nelson Pass in 1991.[1] Pass Labs makes amplifiers, preamplifier and speakers.
History
Nelson Pass founded Pass Labs in 1991 and was based in Foresthill, California.[2]
Products
The Pass labs Aleph series of amplifiers operated pure class A and contained internal circuitry using MOSFETs. The Aleph amplifiers had a unique appearance, a cube with heat sinks on all four sides, a practical solution to the heat generated by the class-A design.
After the Aleph series of amplifiers was discontinued, a separate entity Volksamp was licensed to continue to produce a similar product. Aleph 30 and 60 Amplifiers were made by Volksamp until production ceased in 2003.
Manufacture of the Aleph series of amplifiers is to be continued by First Watt, an amplifier company founded by Nelson Pass in 2004. First Watt initially produced power trans-conductance amplifiers (or technically a power current source).[3][4] These current domain amplifiers are only suitable for use with certain types of speakers. With respect to the Aleph amplifier line, First Watt has announced plans for the Aleph J, a revision of the famous Pass Labs Aleph 3/Volksamp Aleph 30 wherein a new JFET input stage is to be added.[5]
Current Pass Labs "X" series amplifiers use a distortion canceling balanced audio signal circuit.[6]
References
- ^ "Pass Labs Guide & How Nelson Pass Revolutionized Class A Audio". Moon Audio. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
- ^ "Pass Laboratories". Tweak Technologies. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
- ^ First Watt F1
- ^ First Watt F2
- ^ First Watt Aleph J Archived May 10, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ US Patent 5,376,899