2. amps-preamps
  3. 169236-157369

questions for georgehifi and others about powering my Wilson Sasha2s

Conversation with georgehifiArchive this

George, I read a thread you commented on about amps for Sasha 2s, but the direction got derailed when Troy came in and it deteriorated into the merits of Troy providing insights rather than the content of the insights.  I have seen other posts by you and I respect what you have said. I have been flailing around with my system the last two years. I've been doing my best to ferret out gear that makes sense, and I have made great progress, but its been messy. Synergy though reading reviews is elusive!! I ended up recently with Sasha 2s, sourced only by a Vivaldi Stack, Modwright LS300 (had to get tubes to tame the dCS and Sasha 2 combo) and JC1+ amps, Everest with all Shunyata Sigma V2 and V1 and Alpha V2 power cords. Some gear sits on Townshend platforms, Sashas on Podiums, and IC and SC loom is Townshend F1s. My Sasha 2 amp journey started with the amp I had which was a Naim DR300 NAP which was not very detailed and not powerful enough for the sasha 2s, but a fun amp on my old B and W 801s. I then bought the JC1+s and was very impressed. Wife finally loved the sound of my system again. I did think the JC1+ lacked a bit of resolution, but it was a sweet and powerful sound with a strong lower foundation that was a joy in musical terms to listen to. I then got weak and started to give in to the dogging on the JC1+s that is quite easy to come across.  Last Friday I took delivery of a NIB Luxman m900u. Figuring if it was as musical as everyone claimed I'd buy a second one and be done with my amp search. It's been burning in for about 100 hours now. It's got more resolution, and a deeper soundstage, and while it's bass is musical it's bass light. The real problem is that in my system its too bright on female vocals, strings and piano. Wife wants the JC1+s back but I've heard that resolution and depth and I can't unhear it. Guys a know on line now say its a bad match for Sasha 2s, two guys say I need Ampzilla 2000 V2s, some say Modwright KSE 150, others say the Modwright or two are not good enough. I have avoided tube amps my whole life, but? My budget is around 22K for amps, so two used m900us were perfect. Do you think the Luxman will burn in/burn burn/off the brightness? I am over using cables as tuning devices, but It did occur to me to roll the 7308 Amperex USN in the LS300 for some British warm tubes to compensate. Can you shed any light on my situation? I'm pretty beat up and disappointed right now. Often on this forum I hear about all these product recommendations for products and companies I have never heard of. I don't want Macintosh like brands but also not any  tiny start ups that are not even fully rolled out. Thanks for any help.
wokeuptobose
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
I think George is suggesting that my complaint about the Luxman (bright sound on female vocals, strings and piano is caused by the Luxman not being able to drive the 2 Ohm load of the Sasha
Sorry, what I means is that the JC1+ can push more current than the Lux and has more Class-A,  therefore filling out the lower registers more than the Lux, that's probably why your wife likes it more. 
As for getting another Lux and bridging it I said don't, as when you bridge amps the first thing you loose is stability into low impedances (Sasha has 2ohms)!!! So don't bridge is what I say. But vertical bi-amp instead. 
https://imgbb.com/M8gRTS3


Cheers George
wokeuptobose's avatar
wokeuptobose OP
148 posts
 
Thanks, that makes sense. I won't be getting another one. I don't think vertical bi-amping is a possibility as the Sashas have only the one pair of binding posts down low.  I'm certain the m900u matches beautifully with some speakers, just not mine. I will give it till Saturday then if its still bright I will put the JC1+s back in and offer the Luxman for sale. Someone will be happy...NIB when I got it, 200 hours of burn in now.
The Gryphon EVO is just too much of everything for me at this point in my life, but I'd love to hear it here!
 Several HIFI friends are suggesting, ARC 150, ARC 160 S, Modwright KSE150 single or pair, VAC Signature 200 iQ single or pair, Ampzilla 2000 V2, and BAT VK255SE. My goal is to keep the attributes of the JC1+, but add greater resolution, deeper soundstage and more air, max budget it 22K. Ideas? Thoughts?
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

wokeuptobose OP


I take it wokeup you used the JC1+’s in high Class-A bias mode??, Because in normal bias mode they won’t be as sweet sounding. (to your wife) As they get a more etched (can be described by some as more detailed) Class-B sound to them then
.

*******
Also this is a big one for me, if you have a volume control on your Vivaldi dac, try driving the JC1’s direct with it. (no Modwright LS300 preamp you can sell it) I always find this so much better (unless the dac is tube output, then there can be an impedance mismatch.)

Just checked yes it does! and you can set the dac max volume level, so the volume at near max is for the very loudest you will listen to, that way there no chance of "bit stripping"
DCS Audio:
Its enhanced digital volume control allows direct connection to a power amplifier, removing the need for a separate preamp, and its maximum output can be set to one of four levels to suit a range of amplifier and speaker combinations.
After doing this, I’ll be surprised if it’s not the best you’ve heard.

And your dac has a wonderful low output impedance at 52ohm, so it can drive long interconnects to your amps if you want them next to your speakers with short speaker wire.

Cheers George
wokeuptobose's avatar
wokeuptobose OP
148 posts
 
I sold myself on spending so much on the Vivaldi by thinking I could sell my ARC REF10 and put the money toward the Vivaldi. I tried and tried to like it. In fact I had two others listen to my system without revealing what I was changing.  It is slightly more revealing going direct, but its harsh. It sounds digital. The Vivaldi does have all the tools to match the output level so you always run it near wide open, but its too analytical on it's own. I then tried a passive and that improved the sound, but still to much. It was adding the LS300 with the tubes that made my system so musical and enjoyable. I rolled in Amperex USN 7308s and Mazda rectifiers from Brent Jesse and it was very nice. I realize I'm going round and round here, but I had a great combo, I just thought maybe there was more. There is, but with the m900u it's too bright. 
wokeuptobose's avatar
wokeuptobose OP
148 posts
 
good point, however as I never tried the Vivaldi direct into the Luxman. No reason not to give it a listen. thanks.
More to discover