Amps for Egglestonworks Andra II or Sophia 2

I've had good and bad luck in my room with *both* auditioned and unheard equipment. Lot's of us around here take chances without listening first: doesn't have to be a disaster if the piece is in demand enough, or the price you get is low enough, to make a tolerable net on resale possible. I've taken pretty good hits on stuff I heard several times and loved, when it just didn't work in my room.

I'd be inclined to suggest opening up the search a bit, and rethinking the relative allocation to speaker and amp, but I respect that one has to narrow the search eventually, and maybe you are at that point.

My hunch is that the Wilson's might be the riskier choice, because of the fairly widespread tendency for people (like me!) to experience them with glare and edge. You liked the Maxx, but I'm not sure that is enough basis for confidence that the Sophia won't be a fatiguing disappointment in your room. (Of course, you could be one of the people who swear by Wilson.) I've only heard the Eggies briefly, but they might have less potential downside.

If you stay the course, Odyssey makes excellent amps in your stated price range with the power you need. The owner, Klaus, is a helpful vendor who supports second owners. I had a Stratos Dual Mono and really enjoyed it. Won't be as good as the big Pass Ozzy commends, but this is very amply reflected in price.

Good luck!

John

Sboje , why not contact the Eggleston folks and ask them for some recommendations on a SS amp for the Andra.

Anyone tried the parasound JC-1's on the Andras?

Yes I did try the JC1 to my Andra 1, I prefer plinius SA100, more musical especially in class A mode...At present Iam using musical fidelity super charger 550 monoblock .they sound good on Mark Levinson 333 as well.

hi,

I’ve been hanging around here since ’04 and some of the folks providing input here have as well or longer and all have immense experience in trying various combinations of gear, and approaches in building sound systems.

The ticket however will always be this: if you’re going to spend time at the beach, ya gotta get in the water at some point. Or why go in the first place??

I have had some audition experience with the Sophias. Each time they were being pushed by Ayre gear. 400 wpc monos, Ayre pre, Ayre CDP and all Transparent wires. I did not care for the setup at all. Too dry, too detailed and non musical. Highly resolute but just too overall analytical.

Until…. I brought in my own VK5 Tube preamp with shunyata Tesla Helix power cord. Things livened up then. It became more musical and timbers were more correct.

Yeah, that was a while ago.

For years I’ve heard from many that Wilson should have tubes in the mix somewhere. I believe it.

Having heard as well two other brands upper end speakers with Transparent cabling, one thing is for sure, I’ll never be ponying up money for their wires, in part or fully thru the rig.

Every device has its own voice or influence in a system. Its like baking a cake. Keeping mindful of the right mix and the results will often be quite satisfying.

On the plus side didn’t you say you had a Sonic Frontiers line stage preamp? If so, your options improved significantly if you want to stroll down ‘tube rolling avenue’ once your SS amp drops in.

Any number of SS amps will drive either of your short list speakers. Trust me. Optimization usually comes along down the road however. Ya gotta get a base line started first so you’ll know which way you need to or want to proceed.

This hobby is so very subjective an experience.

Class D amps seem a sincere option here. Not terribly pricey and often pretty easy ‘tube like’ sounding but with guts enough to control the listed woofers. Bel Canto 250/500wpc monos and your pre ought to be a more than fair to middling fit right off the bat. BAT as well has some very musical amps still out there at reasonable cost. 100 wpc to 150wpc or 200wpc, Odysseys, mcCormacks, Rotel’s, CJ’s, wire4sound, BC, Pass, Krells, Parasounds, Plinius, all SS or Class D’s and all getting long in the tooth will surely suffice. There are others, but as said previously, ya gotta get in now where ya fit in.

Later on, comes the necessary or desired increases and improvements.

The ‘Audiogon shuffle’, buy, try, sell, repeat… is the ticket for anyone desiring to build a competent and capable outfit.

Based on only some limited exp with the Wilson on your list, it sure seems the easier one to deal with given it doesn’t weigh nearly as much or is not as largely obtuse as the Eggelston. Both units have been on my own radar for years and not caring much for the Sophia’s presentation even with tubes, I’d opt for the big Egg myself, depending on condition and of course, landed cost.

I can’t recall anyone mentioning they bought a true ‘turn key’ outfit where everything was optimized and fully in place right off the jump. Systems are works in progress. Start somewhere. Anywhere at all. And with luck, at some point. Stop. Then just like the directions on the bottle of shampoo…. Acquire, listen & enjoy, then repeat the affair all over again!

Hmmm…. If that line had trucks or prison mentioned in it, one could make a decent country song from it. Or at least a commercial.

Good luck.