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Wilson Sophia2s demand better than AYRE V5xe, so..

...What would you recommend?

Just took delivery of Wilson Sophia 2s. Plinius CD101 - Ayre K1xe - Ayre V5xe - Sophia 2s. Synergistic Research cables.

The K1xe is very good, I'd like to keep it, but I need a new amp.

The V5xe is too lean in the midbass, no texture or bloom. Soundstage is okay, but not "full" enough. No deep bass!

At the RMAF, I liked VAC phi 200s on the Von Schweikert VR-9se AND on the Greshman Black Swans as a point of reference.

I'm open to tubes or SS, but I think tubes might get me where I want to go. I'm looking for very full and detailed imaging that absolutely floats in the air, with intense layering, body and texture. I need better control over these speakers, and stronger deep bass output, speakers sound too thin now. I want fullness of images like MBL speakers, but with a more natural, involving midrange like the best Acapellas.

Budget is 10k new or used. Again, looking for a warmer, natural sound with very delineated images that complement my dynamic Wilson speakers, so don't underpower me!...
hce4
rlwainwright
1,904 posts
 
Do a Search on Audiogon for Butler - check out those *sweet* Monad monoblocks, 19K originally, but now within your budget. These amps are works of art, absolutely stunning. And check out the 6 Moons review, I think you'll be impressed.

http://6moons.com/audioreviews/monad/monad.html

If you want or need even more power, there are 2 Butler 2250 amps for sale, *way* below your 10k cutoff...

-RW-
duffydawg
58 posts
 

Hi Hce4,

Friends of mine also have the Sophia 2's, and had a similar experience with their Gamut MKII amplifier. They are now using a Jadis Defy 7; which sounds very good. Their dealer, Brooks Berdan, had several possible choices for them, and they liked the Jadis best. The Jadis is a tube amp. I hope that is in your scope of options. From what I heard, as they evaluated the system, the Jadis really sounds the best.

Good luck,

Mark
hce4 OP
48 posts
 
Thank you both, SS is convenient, but if there are no SS amps that can do what I'm looking for, then I welcome tubes...

Forgot to mention, would like to run balanced as the Ayre K1xe performs best in balanced mode along with my Plinius CD101 and I've spent $$$ on balanced cables.

Keep the ideas coming...
audphile1's avatar
audphile1
4,924 posts
 
I think you should also not exclude the option of keeping the Ayre amp and just replacing your preamp with a tube linestage. If you can demo tube preamps in your system, e.g Audio Research LS-26 or REF3, or VTL TL6.5, it may well be worth it.
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