ss amp synergy w/wilsons

Sonofjim,

I have been trying several combinations. I've owned BAT for well over 10 years. 50SE/51SE, VK200, VK60, 75SE, 150SE's...

The things I keep coming back to is the Nagra PLL/VPA's and Ayre KXR/MXR.

The KXR is really a killer preamp. Silent. My BAT equipment is quiet. Ayre KXR is silent. There is a difference here. Allows resolution to pour out but mains a VERY natural presentation and tonal balance. The Ayre has a nicer top end than the BAT. The BAT better depth and better bloom in the mids.

The combo I seem to be falling in love with is the Nagra PLL and MXR's. The PLL is more dynamic, bigger wider deeper stage, more transparent than the BAT. The PLL also has a much more realistic top end than the 51se, to my ears anyway. The MXR's seem sweeter/natural/delicate on the top and ditto for the bass (vs the 150se's) except here I'll add more control and that "ease" everywhere.

I think the Nagra PLL has more body and depth in the mids, where the KXR is more silent and more resolute.

Honestly, BAT, Nagra, Ayre, it's all good. System matching, speaker placement, etc are all critical to getting just that right sound for you.

Richard Stacy: The Ayre amps are a great match. I never thought I'd be ready to swing to SS vs tubes. The Ayre's are that good...

Hope this helps !

I like Krell with Wilson.

I own Wilson CUBs and moved away from tubes (ARC, then Jadis) recently - now have a class D ICEpower amp, from Wyred4Sound (ST1000). Stunning clarity, and absolutely grain-free. Thought I'd mention this as I love the fact that it weighs nothing, does not act as a space heater, and is great value. The sound, to my ears, has all the virtues of tubes with none of the draw-backs. I have heard Krell with my speakers, and with Sophias, and found the sound too aggressive and tiring - pretty much the "opposite" of tubes. The local distributor pushes tubes, as above, or Gryphon SS - and steers away from Krell, and ML. Of course, I'm not sure how this translates to your WP7s, but Wilson does seem to have a house sound - only improving as you go up the scale.

Good luck - I'm sure they'll sound great whatever you choose.

I've heard the Sophias sound extremely good on a Sim w5 amp. This was using either a Nagra or a Supratek preamp.

A bit on the higher priced end, I've also heard the MAXX set my personal reference with Boulder.

To add to Bezimienny's notes above - I also recently received a Wyred 4 Sound amp, mine is the 250WPC version instead of the 500WPC version he got.

I don't run Wilsons, I run the Gallo 3.1. Different speakers of course, but both fall into the fast/detailed/articulate speaker camps.

The 3.1s, along with the Wilsons, can sound bright with the wrong amps, or if not setup correctly. The Wyreds sound fantastic on the 3.1 right out of the box. No grain, harshness, etched treble, etc. Would surely be worth a try, and if it works out, you save a LOT of money.