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Sabrina X Amp Suggestions

I recently upgraded from an old book shelf speaker (Proac 1SC) that I have been using for 10 years to a newly acquired Wilson Audio Sabrina X. I have a small listening space (around 200 square feet) so a small floorstander like Sabrina X is perfect for me. I would love to get some suggestions on what would be considered a typical amplifier match for a Wilson - I am sticking to the big popular brands and nothing too obscure due to resell value.

I am now using an old integrated amplifier Goldmund 390.2. I am indifferent whether the upgrade path is a better integrated amplifier or moving to a amp / preamp set up. I listen to mostly vocal, jazz and small to medium scale classical music and would hope to obtain a sound that is airy, detailed with good resolution and clean bass and a bit of sweetness (not overly so to make the make music too dark or muddy) to make music involving and engaging. 

I have been reading a lot of posts here and it seems that many people with Wilson use ARC Ref 6 or Ref 5SE paired with Pass X250.8 or X250.5 to good results. I have not heard of the results but the descriptions seem to deliver a good engaging soundstage (attributable to the ARC preamp) with detailed, neutral and clean sound from the Pass. Sounds close to what I look for. 

Would love to hear your views on this set up with the Sabrina X, or any other amp suggestions. Thank you in advance!
jjjason1
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
jjjason1
Stereophile tested measurments:
The minimum magnitude is 2.44 ohms at 135Hz. However, there is also a combination of 4.44 ohms and a capacitive phase angle of –58° at 72Hz, a frequency where music can have considerable energy; this will place a significant demand for current on the partnering amplifier.
https://www.stereophile.com/images/416WiSabfig1.jpg
This is a very hard speaker to drive, especially around 70hz, low bass where big current will be needed, and also from 100hz to 200hz. 88db is not overly inefficient though.
So an amp at >100w into 8ohms will suffice. But that 100w should double into 4ohm give almost 200w and again into 2ohm almost 400w, this means it gives good current.
I suggest BJT amps, (not tube, Clas-D, or Mosfet), like John Curl’s Halo JC1 monos or the Gryphon Diablo 300 or 100 integrated, Krells etc etc.

Cheers George

moto_man
323 posts
 

I just picked up a new pair of Sabrina X's that I am running with a Pass Labs x250.8 and they sound fantastic.  My dedicated music room is 11x11x11.  Great amp for those speakers.  As for this rumor that' based on the published impedance curve, the Sabrina X's are a "very hard speaker to drive," I have to respectfully disagree.  They may not be a "flea watt" candidate, but they seem to be an easier speaker to drive than my JA Pulsars, or the Focal Diablo Utopia III's.  I use an MSB Discrete DAC with its preamp module, and for the same volume setting, the Sabrina X's get significantly louder than either the Pulsars or the Focals.  Not only am I very pleased with the Sabrina X's, even right out of the box (they are still breaking in), but the Pass Labs is a great match for them.

verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,469 posts
 

The best I have ever heard Wilson speakers sound is with Ayre gear paired with an Esoteric DAC featuring the MX-R Twenty mono-blocks.  I am not sure what your exact budget is but a VX-R Twenty would be incredible with a decent preamp like an ARC would be jaw droppingly good.  Even a VX-5 Twenty with a first rate preamp would do very well.  

I have no relationship with Ayre.  Just have heard them paired very well together.

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