2. amps-preamps
  3. 190367-154552

Wilson Sabrina X ... oh my God! and Jadis... or?

Well, I’ve been a sucker for high efficiency and low powered tube amps, but the other day was visiting a good store and they had several Wilson speakers; the man offered me to sit and relax enjoying the Sabrina X, with a Jadis DA-50s and... BIG MISTAKE! Cannot stop thinking in such beautiful, full, complete, non fatiguing sound, I had 2 hours of pure enjoyment, seriously Didn’t want to leave room.

So here I am sending all my stuff and getting what I really think is the final game? At the end, I’ve never listened to such expensive and fantastic speakers. Fed by the aforementioned Jadis, a Prima Luna DAC and a Innuos Zenith, a shame I couldn’t play some records, but He said He was even better with vinyl reproduction.

I started with Isaac Hayes - Close to You from Black Moses... the voice was spread everywhere the room and just came from the amp, which was in the middle of the rack, just amazing, also played some flamenco, funk, classical, Jazz, Blues, Bossanova, Samba, everything was just spot on and sounded far beyond the speakers, without losing presence in front of me, hard to explain.

Now that I’m in, and pulled the trigger for an Ivory ones, need a proper amp for a few months till my wallet recover or sell the stuff I have.

I have a Goldmund Telos 7, which is beautiful Swiss made small amp, 175wpc Class AB with a fantastic DAC inside. But wondering if going Tube path is the right thing, cause I heard such airiness, full bodied, non fatiguing and relaxed sound with Jadis that was awesome!

Thought about these ones:

-Jadis DA-50S
-Mastersound Duetrenta
-Audio Research GSI75 (someone sells to me at good price)
-VAC Sigma iq170
-EAR Yoshino 834
-Lyric Ti200
-Octave V70 Class A
-Any of RAVEN tube amps?

Solid State: (Thinking from the "most analog sound"):
-Pass Labs INT-60
-Mark Levinson 5805 
-Krell k-300i
-Boulder 866
-Coda (dunno much)
-ModWright (dunno much)
-Moon (dunno much)
-Kinki EX-M1PLUS

Not sure going Class D, although reading lately a lot about GanFet Class D amps like AGD, Java, Gato, Aavik...

I’m going integrated for now and for a few years, if it got a DAC or Phono inside, better, but can live without them inside.

What I don’t want to lose is that 3D, great body sound that valves used to give me, more into musical pure joy than High End nowadays.

Btw, speakers cables were Nordost and Crystal Cable, being the later one maybe more open and higher volume but maybe less controlled if I remember well.

Much appreciated, these Wilson left me in shock.

superelmar
superelmar OP
63 posts
 

Thanks for your advice!

Well, volume pot didn’t pass 11 o clock, and filled the room, I was also shocked, but You know, Class A and Huge transformers...

I can sell my Goldmund Telos 7 for good money and invest in other, I think even tho is natural sounding, is not tubes.

Room was 28sqm or so, maybe 30, like mine.

bobheinatz
712 posts
 

You have a great list of tube and ss products.  I am sure your Goldmund will work well with the Wilsons, if not try  a nice tube amp.  Btw I own a Boulder 866 and I am

sure it would work superbly.

 

kennymacc
297 posts
 

If you liked what you heard at the dealers so much, and if you can afford it, why not shoot for that very same combination of gear?  Seems simple enough to me (if you can afford it). 

superelmar OP
63 posts
 

I was really surprised by the Jadis DA-50S, always was against push pull, but know what? Sounded wonderful and had control over the SabrinaX, will try my Goldmund, but I suspect I won’t leave tubes. ARC didn’t sound too tubey and for that better stay with a nice SS.

I say this because I really like the GSi75 (specs wise), and nice DAC and phono stage inside, what I’m sacred is it sound solid state.

westborn
148 posts
 

I realize this is the amps/preamps thread. But you should confirm with the dealer what source (digital/dac) he was using. And the cabling as well - power cords, interconnects, speaker cable, which add to system strengths and provide offset to weaknesses, as well as giving balance, detail, warmth, cohesion, etc.

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