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Wilson Sasha W/P amplifier pairing

I acquired a pair of Wilson Sasha W/P speakers this year. They’re Series 1 Sasha’s. Now trying to find great mono blocks to power them. My other system has Harbeth Speakers and a Pass Labs amp, I love the combo and can listen for hours without fatigue. I’d really prefer something warm and non fatiguing for the Sasha’s. 
 

Amps I’ve tried so far:

Pass Labs X350 - too bright and forward, etched vocals, not a lot of sparkle but plenty of authority

Pass Labs INT-30A - much better all around than the X350 but still too bright and forward. Not nearly enough power for Sasha. End result is too cold and thin

Bob Latino ST-120 - this is a $1200 kit tube amp I built. 60WPC. This amp was surprisingly kind of magical with Sasha.  Never fatiguing and full bodied. Unfortunately it went up in smoke because I can’t solder.

 

Mono blocks I’m considering:

Audio Research Ref 160M

Lamm 1.2 Reference

Pass Labs XA100.8

 

Preamp is a PrimaLuna EVO 400. Rega RP3 with Exact cart. Denafrips Ares II DAC streaming Roon via MicroRendu. Any advice welcome. 

audio_bidder
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,506 posts
 

Try pro built tube amps like Quicksilver.

I learned how to solder pro according to NASA specs.  I can't do it any more either. 

designsfx
787 posts
 

Although I’m not a Wilson user I am partial to Audio Research because I use it (GS-150 amp/REF6 Pre) so I wouldn’t try to steer you away from trying ARC. I’ve also heard Wilson’s run with VTL (MB-200, 450 and Siegfried), D’Agostino and Naim’s massive NAP-S1 ($75K+) and those presentations were very good as well.

Happy Hunting!

gpgr4blu
1,078 posts
 

I owned the Sasha series 1s with ARC Ref 150s before my current Alexia 2s with ARC Ref 160 monos. I also had the Sashas in house with the D’Agostino Momentum 250S. I heard them many times at my dealer who often paired them with the Lamm 1.2s.

You can’t go wrong. Note that Marc Mickelson of the Audio Beat uses the Lamm 1.2s with Wilson as his standard system. Many dealers and component manufacturers display Wilson with ARC as do websites--see the French speaker company Triangle’s website and video tours of the Audio Research factory.

So---my subjective impressions:

Lamm is very rich, more bottom up and very refined ,mid-hall presentation. I almost purchased them. There are simply no faults to this amp.

ARC is more transparent, has better highs (but not at all fatiguing) and presents in a very colorful, not colored, manner.  Sort of like technicolor on a big screen. The listening seat is more front of the hall and the sound is writ large with tremendous width, depth and layering. The speakers disappear. You can more easily separate each instrument in the mix.

I prefer ARC and especially the Ref 160 monos. But I can also say that the Lamms and even the Ref 160S will do a great job with the Sashas. I would urge you to try to hear both ARC and Lamm--but at least one or the other to know if you can fall in love. If you don’t, look elsewhere.

 

designsfx
787 posts
 

@gpgr4blu 

That was a nice summary- I’ve not heard Lamm equipment but would like to.

adg101
1,059 posts
 

Surprised any of the Pass amps mentioned sounded bright and forward; my W/P6 sound great with my Pass X250. Maybe there’s something else going on in your system or room. Have you played with speaker placement and room treatment? Will note that before I added dedicated circuits to my system my Pass sounded just a little light, but on dedicated circuits it opened things up, fuller more relaxed, effortless with no fatigue whatsoever.

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