Amplifier and preamplifier for Wilson Watt puppy 7

Have watt/puppy 6's and you need Audio research...try SP16L and VS110...wow, musical like nothin elseand it's their most reasonable offerings! I've had most of the current ARC stuff over the last 3 years and one thing I've learned is that balanced gear is less musical than single ended stuff!!

I auditioned the WP7s on a great many systems, and found them to yield a distinct presentation with each. My strongest recommendation to you is that you work with dealers that will permit you to audition the various combinations of equipment at home. I was only able to arrive at the presentation that pleased me the most after doing this.

That being said, I did have an experience similar to yours. I had originally matched the WP7s with Spectral electronics that I had loved intensely with the speakers that preceded them, but that did not yield the fine, textural detail of instruments and voices that I had heard elsewhere with the WP7s. I set about auditioning a lot of electronics and quickly found that I preferred tubes. Surprisingly, I found that I most enjoyed a set-up that was nowhere near the most expensive I auditioned. I spent some more time with other elements of the system (i.e. cabling, room treatment) to deal with small, but important musical issues, and arrived at a system that pleases me greatly.

As for your issues with imaging, I'm inclined to believe that this is an issue of speaker setup. Like many speakers on the contemporary scene, failure to set the speakers up properly can completely short circuit any attempt at realistic imaging. One of the great things about Wilson is that they have arrived at a highly reproducible formula for getting state of the art imaging. The problem is that it requires a well trained, dedicated individual to make this happen. If the person that set up your speakers left your listening room without the imaging being spot on, they are either inadequately trained, or don't care enough. My strongest recommendation is that you get someone from your dealership to come back out and set things up to your level of satisfaction. If they don't, call Wilson. They are manic about their product, and may be able to suggest a solution.

Good luck,

Siliab

Have you tried a different digital front end?

You are now hearing the limits of the speakers, which all speakers have. You have a few real options. Try changing your room around. This is the least costly fix. If that does not work, try a CJ Premier 350 and then Shunyata Research cables. If that does not do it, then I hate to say it, change your speakers.

Really sounds like a wire problem to me and you didn't mention what you were using.......Sounds like Valhalla to me with depth only at the center albeit with lowered image height......If I guessed right try some other wires as the JC-1s have tremendous depth right to the outside corners using speakers similar to yours.......