2. speakers
  3. 1083513764

how 'bout Wilson Sophias with Simaudio P-5/W-5 ??

In my quest for a 2 channel audio system, I am quickly becoming confused and overwhelmed. Problem is that I only have one high-end dealer in town, so a lot of my listening is limited to trips away from home, making "A/B" comparisons difficult.

Perhaps, I made the mistake of focusing first on electronics and I repeatedly listened to the Simaudio P-5/W-5/Eclipse CDP usually with JMlab Speakers (936's and Alto Be's). Although, I seemed to be very happy with the Simaudio, I felt that perhaps the Alto Be, although beautiful, was too polite and tame for the kind of rock, alternative rock that I listen to (Radiohead, U2, Strokes, White Stripes, REM, Ryan Adams, Beck, Coldplay, MUSE, etc. etc.) So, I have listened to many other speakers on recent trips (full line of Verity Audio, Meadowlark, Joseph Audio, Wilson Sophia and WP7). I really would prefer to stay at or below 12K for the speakers. (I am still hoping to listen to Dynaudio Confidence C2 and Contour S5.4.) Of all of the speakers I auditioned, I quickly realized how great the WIlson Sophias are for dynamic bass, reproducing drum kits. Moreover, their precise focus, imaging and soundstage were unbelievable. Putting on some dynamic rock pieces, I realized how more emotional the Sophia was compared to some of the other speakers. Yet, I am not sure how well they will mate with the Simaudio equipment. Now, I haven't purchased anything yet, and I am not married to Simaudio. Yet, I really wanted to avoid the maintenance of tubes etc. For reference, I listened to the Sophias with Theta electronics (Dreadnaught, Casablanca, and Compli). I was struck how forward the midrange was compared to JMlab Altos listened to before. Yet, I wondered whether the system could become fatiguing. On the other hand, I have no idea how the Simaudio W-5/P-5 would compare with the Theta. I hope to get to an audio store that carries both, so that I can do extended listening with the Sophia and Simaudio. (will require yet another trip)

In the meantime, can anyone comment on pairing the Sophias with Simaudio electronics ? Otherwise, given that I would like to avoid tubes (if possible) can anyone comment on other solid state electronics that would ideally mate with Sophia. For reference the room is 23 by 13 with 9 foot ceilings. I also like to listen to my music at loud volume.
thom_y
stehno
1,453 posts
 
Jazz dude, yes, I am aware of what others have said about the W-5's bass and I am well aware of the typical 3-day warm-up time period required for the W-5.

But I am also aware of what the W-5 bass was like in my system at that time with my Aerial 10T's. The amp I owned prior to the W-5 was a BAT vk-500 with optional BATPAK. The BAT's bass was far superior, more pronounced, and better defined when compared to the W-5's. In fact, the VK-500's power reserves for bass seemed limitless in comparison. However, the W-5 was far superior in every other category to the BAT vk-500.

My next amp after the W-5, a McCormack DNA-2 LAE (Limited Anniversary Edition), was better than the best of what both the VK-500 and the W-5 had to offer. That DNA-2 LAE was rated by Peter Moncrief as the best solid state amp (especially in the bass) a few years ago, bar none.

But the bass of all those amps and others I've owned or listened to previously simply pail in significance to the bass that is reproduced in my current amplifier. A McCormack DNA-2 Revision A amplifier.

It wasn't unitl some time after I parted with the W-5 that I stumbled upon the Moncrief specific review of the W-5/P-5 on SimAudio's website and what he described about the W-5's bass was exactly what I experienced.

There are some that consider Peter Moncrief head and shoulders above most every reviewer out there. Since I had owned 3 of the many amps Moncrief reviewed and categorized for quality, and his review of each of those was right on, I'm apt to agree with much of what he said.

FWIW, in Moncrief's reviews and classifications of solid state and tube amps a few years ago, he placed the W-5 in category 1C tied with the Audio Refinement Complete integrated amp and there were only 3 other solid state amps he placed over the W-5.

Personally, I liked everything about the W-5 very much. In fact, compared to every other amp I owned up that point-in-time(about 5 amps), the W-5 was a real eye opener in a number of ways and I most likely would have kept it were it not for the bass reproduction.

-IMO
jazzdude
332 posts
 
Thom_y - I use thiel cs2.3's. My current preamp is the Supratek Sauvignon but I have a Supratek Cabernet on the way and it should be in my system in just a couple of weeks at most. The W5 sound is compareable in signature to the Linn Klimax and Theta Citadel except that the W5 is easily distinguished by its better bass control and overall dynamics. But givin the interactive nature of speaker and amp impedences I would recommend a serious audition prior to any purchase.
goatwuss
877 posts
 
Jazzdude -

I am a supratek Syrah owner, and have listened to the W5 with a small handful of systems, and really like it. I am aware, however, that it is a "balanced" design, and apparently would rather run with a balanced input from the preamp. All of the suprateks, as far as I know, are Single Ended. Do you have any qualms about running this amp from a single ended pre? Have you compared to balanced in any way?

-Todd
jazzdude
332 posts
 
First off, the W5 is only balanced to the output stages but not including the output stages. So the W5 is not balanced or fully differential all the way through. Secondly the Syrah with XLR outputs is balanced on the output stages, but of course input stages are not balanced. When a single-ended preamp and and push-pull amp are connected via balanced connections it is called a SEPP configuration. I've connected my W5 using both single-ended and xlr connectors at various times. FWIW, the W5 also sounds good single-ended. The two biggest benefits of using the W5 balanced inputs is increased noise rejection for long cable runs if you need it and sometimes increased gain because a lot of preamps have an additional +6db of gain on their xlr outputs. Supratek preamps are not in this category.

My Supratek Sauvignon has only one set of rca inputs and one set of xlr outputs. My Supratek Cabernet has one set of rca inputs and a set of rca outputs and xlr outputs.
More to discover