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Watt Puppy 7 needs new or used Amp and Pre-amp

I'm building my system on a pair of Watt Puppy 7 speakers. Currently I have my vintage Marantz 250 amp with an SAE Mark 1B Pre-amp/equalizer.
I think the preamp needs to be replaced first. I need some advice on putting together a system on a tight budget. Thanks for helpful advice!
Duane
datsawman
bflowers
80 posts
 
I second the notion of tubes for the WP7. I auditioned the full line of Wilson speakers extensively before I ultimately bought Maxx 2's. The WP7 was very detailed, but definitely bright in comparison to the current Sofia and Maxx 2.
bmotorcycle
68 posts
 
Yea, why did you ask (Atmashere). Anyone who has read much in this forum knows that he is a manufacture, and unless asked a direct question about the Atmasphere product, I have never read one response to a question regarding tube amplification that he or any of his associates has suggested that the questionnaire use/try/audition Atmasphere product. They have always tried to educate not sell. I guess I should have prefaced my statement fist by saying my system is an all SET based system, (no Atmasphere pieces in the mix) because I might be questioned of my intent. And if that was not the intent of your question than I apologize. We need first hand education at times, not just opinions that as we all know we all have like we all have _____ .........Bob
siliab
362 posts
 
I have had WP7s in my system for several years and have auditioned them with many different pieces of electronics, both tubed and solid state. I, too have found that tubes are a better match with the WP7s than solid state. I have used a Wright Sound Company WPL20 full-function preamp and a Music Reference RM200 amplifier very satisfactorily. Both were reasonably priced.
tweak1
3,660 posts
 
I suggest you to explore the Tweak Audio EVS 1200. Dual mono, 600/1200 wpc current ICePower modules a mere ~ $2300. 30 day money back
golfnutz
231 posts
 

Tweak Audio EVS 1200 is based on ICEPower 1200AS1/2 Class-D modules. I had these modules running a pair of Watt/Puppy speakers and they just couldn’t handle the impedance for these Wilson speakers properly. The amps never failed, but the results were a flat sterile sound.

The ICEPower 1200AS1/2 are rated at minimum load of 2.7 ohms, so based on the comments about the Watt/Puppy 7 speakers from Stereophile, anyone with these types of speakers probably won’t be happy with the results either, especially in the bass region.

Its impedance drops to 2.4 ohms at 78Hz and remains below 6 ohms for much of the region where music has its maximum energy (fig.1). In addition, an impedance of 4 ohms at 59Hz is associated with an electrical phase angle of -34 degrees, which will add to the drive difficulty. With both its enclosures ported, interpreting the impedance curve at low frequencies is difficult, but it appears that the Puppy’s 3"-diameter port is tuned to 27Hz or so, while the WATT’s 1" port is tuned to about 80Hz.
Read more at https://www.stereophile.com/content/wilson-audio-specialties-wattpuppy-7-loudspeaker-measurements#9A...

Even for an 11yr. old thread, Tweak1 really should be doing some type of research before making recommendations on amps for speakers he’s never heard.

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