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Amplification for Wilson Watt Puppy 7s or 8s

Putting together a new system and would like feedback from those within the community who own Puppy 7s or 8s in particular. I am trying to narrow my choice regarding amplification from the following. Would appreciate your feedback regarding your experience using these in your system:

VTL S-400 Reference; VTL 450 monos w/ VTL T.L6.5 preamp
BAT VK 150SE monos w/ VK 52SE preamp
VAC Phi-200 monos w/renaissance preamp
E.A.R. 890 monos w/E.A.R. 912 preamp

My listening room is 25"L x 17'W x 12'T . I listen to all genres of jazz, blues, house music, classical, gospel and spoken word. Yes it is eclectic but I truly love all forms of music. From time to time I will turn the volume up quite high but this is the exception, not the rule.

I hope to acquire most, if not all, of the components pre-owned but well taken care of. If I need to buy new, I will as a last resort.
winston50
michael_moskowich
86 posts
 
Hello Winston,

I have Watt/Puppy 8 and I drove them with McIntosh 2102 tube amp and it was not enough, speakers need more power. I tried a few amps, some at home, some at dealer showrooms, some tube and some solid state and finally I settled on Spectron, first single stereo and very recently pair of monoblocks.

Wilson speakers and Spectron amps - it is the match made in heaven. I never thought that such synergy was possible. When and if you hear it - you will know what I am talking about.

Good Luck
Mike.
unsound
7,329 posts
 
FWIW, the best I've heard the Watt/Puppies with is big mono Krells.
crna39's avatar
crna39
145 posts
 
I've had the WP7's in here for a couple of years and used the Pass XA-160 monoblocs. I've recently switched to the XA-100.5 monoblocs because we'll be upgrading the speakers soon. If you own any Wilson, you owe it to yourself to audition Pass XA series amps.
michael_moskowich
86 posts
 
Hello Crna39,

I auditioned XA-100.5 monos in my system. They are about the same as McIntosh 2102 I had - in presenting efforless presetnation, soundstage etc. In some areas PASS is better e.g. bass and in some McIntosh e.g. midrange.

You owe it to yourself to try your Wilsons with really powerful amplifiers - like Unsound suggested "big Krells" - I am not a fun of Krells in the most important area for me - musicality - but regardless, you will see that big power can do with your speakers.

Mike
avsource1
7 posts
 
Have anyone tried Lamm 1.2 with Wp8?
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