Jeff Rowlands Amp and Dac vs. VAC amp and DAC

rinpoche I would say Al's technical wizardry and completely correct explanation notwithstanding try each output tap until you find the one that sounds best to you. It's likely to be the one Al suggests but it may not be, we all have different ears. Have fun!

Hi everyone.
Never heard Wilsons though heard a lot of them.
Would LAMM pre/power plus some DAC beat both Rowland and VAC overall? LAMM hybrid power, I mean. What if it could?

Inna,
It's strictly subjective as to what combination of components someone would prefer to drive these or any  speakers. For instance I had a friend's Lamm push-pull tube amplifier in my system and I didn't care for it, my friend agreed. That's just us,  another listener could have the opposite impression or be somewhere in the middle. 

Best case scenario is that you must actually do some listening with audio components to come to a definitive conclusion.  Rinpoche is taking the right approach. 2nd factor is confidence in yourself and trusting what you hear. 
Charles, 

It’s strictly subjective as to what combination of components someone would prefer to drive these or any speakers.

Yes preference is 100% subjective.

But performance is not and can be measured.

Performance is key to the best sound possible IMHO though any sound might be preferred still.

Limitations with performance may take longer to discover as amp is asked to work harder over a period of time. Like putting a very good quality but  undersized engine in a performance vehicle.

Best sound over time usually occurs when components are not required to run harder than designed to and able to deliver the music with ease.

Do you happen to know which output tap they were using on the 200iq?

almarg,  They mentioned 2.4 ohm impedance dip before hooking up the amp.  I heard a 2 but not sure if 1-2 or 2-4 tap.   

pokey77,  ARC GSi75 is using KT150 and 200iq is 100 wpc with KT88 so my guess it can handle a tougher load??   200iq can roll KT150 and I mentioned to dealer it would be an interesting experiment.

jbrrp1, I have TAD E1.  It's 2 dbs more efficient than CR-1 @4 ohm.   It's the least fuzzy setup speaker I've ever owned.   It's doesn't boom and sounds great plucking them anywhere.  I drive them with tube and SS amps.  Wilsons are a little different from my experience,

rinpoche, when you audition the 200iq, I suggests also audition a SS amp for comparison.

If I was to buy the Sabrina, buy a VAC pre that has low output impedance and an used SS amp.    For under $5000, Parasound JC-1 is a great option.  It has low and high bias setting.  Use low to watch TV and high for listening to music.

For under $10,000, you can get Pass XA160.5, Bryston 28B-SST2, Hegel H30, Ayre MX-R ... lots of excellent options.   So pre + used SS amp are a smidgen more than Sigma 160iSE.  My .02!