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Amplification for Wilson Watt Puppy 7s or 8s

Putting together a new system and would like feedback from those within the community who own Puppy 7s or 8s in particular. I am trying to narrow my choice regarding amplification from the following. Would appreciate your feedback regarding your experience using these in your system:

VTL S-400 Reference; VTL 450 monos w/ VTL T.L6.5 preamp
BAT VK 150SE monos w/ VK 52SE preamp
VAC Phi-200 monos w/renaissance preamp
E.A.R. 890 monos w/E.A.R. 912 preamp

My listening room is 25"L x 17'W x 12'T . I listen to all genres of jazz, blues, house music, classical, gospel and spoken word. Yes it is eclectic but I truly love all forms of music. From time to time I will turn the volume up quite high but this is the exception, not the rule.

I hope to acquire most, if not all, of the components pre-owned but well taken care of. If I need to buy new, I will as a last resort.
winston50
lubes3
35 posts
 
Samhar,

I don't know if these have the current to control my Watt Puppy 8's woofers. They need to go into a fairly well ventilated cabinet(WAF), so I prefer amps that don't generate a lot of heat. I believe the DNA-750s operate in class AB and the Spectrons are digital, so neither generate much. The McCormacks were played pretty hard for about 3 hours last night and were barely warm to the touch. McCormack/CJ claim they only need 15 minutes to warm up. I cannot confirm that yet. But they created a very involved musical environment within the first hour. A second glass of wine may have also helped.

Again, I am initially pretty impressed. Plus, I found them for quite a bit less than the Spectrons.

Thanks for your responses,
Lubes3
richard_stacy
686 posts
 
i know you are close to nailing this down but thought i would throw out another to consider. as much as you seem to like the speed, detail and efficiency of the spectron you may want to look at spectral. dma 250 would be a great match or even an older 180. for the maximum, depending on budget, dma 360 mono's which wilson uses in design and has for many years. you will not match the speed and accuracy of these amps, no way no how.
samhar
1,048 posts
 
Lubes3 sounds like you've found what will work for you great!!!

FWIW I've heard the WP-7 with the Jadis 200 in a word fantastic. The WP-8 impedance drop to 2 ohm might be too much for the OTL's good point.

Sam
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,099 posts
 
FWIW, the Puppy woofers don't need a lot of 'current'. John Giolas, the national sales manager for Wilson, used our amps for years on his WP7s and 8s. You have to understand that at Wilson, you have your pick of almost any amp you want, and you don't see them using amps that are particularly 'high current'.
dob
577 posts
 
I respectfully disagree with Atmashere. I owned WATT/Puppy 5 and they had impedance dip at about 2 kHz doen to 2.5 Ohms. I used old Audio Reasearch classic 60 and I was happy but when I got 225 watts Equilibre tube amp from Audio Matiere (now Audio Aero) - then and only then I understood correlcation between specs and music

Current WATT/Puppy - "Sasha" dip at 100 Hz to 1.8 Ohm. So, to drive them with OTL amp...but not very well.

I heard Watt/Puppy 7 with Spectorns (not mine, I have 802D) and its was SPECTACULAR !!!

Lubes 3,
I never been great lover of DNA series amplifiers ( I always hear "glassy" highs there and with time it drives me literally nuts) but I did not audiotioned one you are having now.

Good Luck
Rafael
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