You can find for a big part what I use. I wrote many reviews. I am not going to repeat it over and over again.
Tru-Fi is a lot more effective. You are welcome to visit me.
Tru-Fi is a lot more effective. You are welcome to visit me.
BEST AMPS FOR WILSON SASHA
bo1972" ... I am not going to repeat it over and over again.' You've never once mentioned details on your mythical "True-Fi" premise. You wrote, " I seldom talk about my set ... I never will talk in details about my own developed Statement Audio Pro measurement. ... We will never tell in details how we do it ... I see audio as a game." It's a game you're playing alone, Bo. |
I believe bo1972 owns Pass Labs amplifiers, AudioQuest Wel Signature speaker and interconnect cables, Purist power cables, some form of Audyssey, and Monitor Audio speakers. I’m not sure what model Pass Labs or Monitor Audio speakers he has. If I’m correct, I submit his equipment is highly thought of. I own Monitor Audio PL500’s and they are by far the best speaker that I’ve ever owned. The PL500’s are some of the best speakers I’ve heard... Again, no absolutes in audio, but that’s my opinion based on listening. |
p59teitel, several people asked for Bo to list his equipment, so I did. I don't agree with his tone either. I think it's funny how so many want to dictate how individuals respond to a post and that's why I sent the OP a PM, essentially saying the same thing as Bo, but in a nicer way. So if based on my experience I submit there are better options than Sasha's, why wouldn't I share my thoughts with the OP? He's not required to take my advice, but it is food for thought. If you read some of my previous post, it's clear that I've owned several Wilson speakers and I got highly offended when individuals, including Bo said something negative about them. Once I sold them and started listening to different speakers, I realized that everyone had an opinion and there was no reason for their opinion to invalidate my own. This is a very subjective hobby and no one, including Bo can create a system that everyone likes. |
I agree with p59teitel. Bo is simply being bombastic and preachy. In a post unrelated to this one, someone asked about a cd transport. Rather than say ALL TRANSPORTS SUCK AND YOU ARE AN IDIOT FOR CONSIDERING ONE, I politely enquired if he had considered moving to a hard drive and steamer based digital solution. After this polite and encouraging question, I waited for his response before I continued down a path that was not at all what he was originally asking for. In fact he was interested and the conversation evolved, and I think was appreciated. Bo, please take note. We are mostly strangers participating in a conversation. Stay polite and humble and your ideas will be well received. I want to hear them! But I don't want to be blasted by someone who seems self absorbed, over-caffeinated, and with a megaphone glued in position! To quote Sam Neil in The Big Lebowski, "Take her easy dude." |
dartzeel 8550 integrated amplifier is a good option?, can drive the sasha?I have no knowledge of the sonics of the DarTZeel CTH-8550 integrated amplifier, but I don’t see any technical issues that would arise pairing it with the Sasha. However, some of John Atkinson’s comments in the measurements section of Stereophile’s review would certainly cause me to think twice before spending $25K or so to buy it. Starting with the fact that the top and sides became too hot to touch after running for 45 minutes at 1/3 of its rated power into 8 ohms. And the statement that "even with no signal, the CTH-8550’s chassis gets very warm after a while" seems extremely inconsistent with the unit’s 45 watt specified power consumption when idling, especially given its 64 pound weight. Those things aren’t necessarily show-stoppers, of course, but they would certainly cause me to wonder what other issues might be lurking in the design. I looked up the manufacturer’s response that was provided by Mr. Deletraz in the August 2009 print edition of Stereophile, in which the review appeared, and the response did not include any comments about the temperature issues JA cited. Regards, -- Al |
I have Sashas powered by Pass XA-160.5's. Wonderful match. I agree with other posts that the older XA100.5 would be lacking along with most tube amps (unless very high wattage mega-buck units). The newer XA100.8 is more capable than the XA100 Point 5, so I think you would be fine driving the very low impedance below 100 Hz, which is less than 1.8 Ohms. |
You could buy a valve amplifier with an output transformer to get the impedance and current drive you need to drive the Sasha. You’ll adore the ’warm’ sound, a.k.a harmonic distortion, and convince yourself it is ’technically pure’, even though the amplifier is technically not capable of fulfilling the requirements of the speaker. Alternately, you could buy a high current, low damping factor solid state amplifier that is ’technically pure’, but perhaps you won’t enjoy the sound so much. What does you ear like the sound of? Listen, be happy, buy it. |
I have owned a pair of Sasha's for a number of years. I had heard them at shows and dealers and just liked the way they play music. I just upgraded my amps from the Cary 500MB solid state monoblocks to the new PS Audio BHK 300 monos. (The Carys put out 500 watts into 8 ohms, 1000 into 4 ohms.). The change with the PS Audio amps include greater detail and separation among the instruments, a slightly warmer sound (which I like) and a wider soundstage. There is no question about enough power, the bass is melodic and very present. And they're not even fully broken in yet! |
I am patiently hoping somebody (singular and plural ) could answer the original question precisely and in a manner that would settle the issue for orionpcgames. Allow me to repeat his question "hi, i have in this moment a ayon cd5s cdplayer with built in preamplifier , pass x250 amps and wilson sasha speaker ( i love sasha), i want a new and better amplifier, the options are two, pass xa100.8 monoblocks or cary 211fe monoblock, what is the better option for the sasha?, your opinion please" and i would also benefit |
alfs100, It seems that the question has been answered. On paper the Pass Labs XA 100.8 is the better choice given the documented challenging speaker load impedance characteristics of the Sasha. It has also been acknowledged that actually listening to the amplifiers driving the Sasha is the only way to truly determine which is better sounding. The OP could prefer the Cary 211 to the Pass once he’s heard both despite the apparent Pass advantage if judged solely on known measurement and specifications and then extrapolating from that information. What else is there to say? He’ll have to listen to both amplifiers for a definitive answer. What more can a forum provide for a subjective topic? Charles, |
thank you Charles . Hoping for other Sasha owners who tried either of OP's 2 amplifier choices to share their experience. I would imagine a few Audiogon members have Wilson / Pass Labs combination, and either have not seen this thread or busy at the moment. Maybe Charles does not have the opportunity to audition these amplifiers with his speakers and relying on opinions. |
Really, it will still be a matter of You’re own discretion. There are trade offs both ways. There is no such thing as perfect audio, Or, a prefect sound system, perfect software, or, for that matter perfect live performances. What are you after, in amassing a system? What are you’re objectives? Sometimes, the more complicated, sophisticated things are the absolute worse. You are the final arbiter, as to what sounds good to you! Not a thousand folks, who are running through equipment at the drop of a hat, and their opinions, may serve to confuse, or complicate things even more. My opinion.....Do some listening to a variety of music, with both the Pass, and the Cary, come to your Own conclusions....and don’t look back. |
Looks like a wide variety of amplifiers being used with Sashas, with ARC, Lamm and Pass leading the pack: https://systems.audiogon.com/systems?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=sasha |
Congratulations! Early in this thread much caution was expressed toward use of the Cary 211 push pull tube amplifier and for very legitimate reasons. Georgelofi and Almarg rightly noted the Sasha’s specifications and difficult speaker load characteristics. Although I cited the Stereophile review by Art Dudley who said that the Sasha was superb with the 25 watt tubed Shindo amplifier, there still was ample reason to be skeptical about choosing the Cary. Particularly knowing that it is a no NFB design amplifier to boot. On paper judging the available specifications you’d think that the Cary to be a risky option with a good chance of a poor sonic outcome. Once again nothing beats actually listening to reach a verdict regarding the suitability of an audio product. One could argue that perhaps the Pass amplifier would have been equally good or even better. Moot point at this juncture, the Cary and Wilson pairing is "incredible " in your opinion and that’s the bottom line. I’m very happy for your fabulous results . I suspect that this combo of amplifier and speakers will keep you pleased for many years. Charles, |
Post removed |
Sasha's need power and control. The built in preamp idea is cute but that needs to change as well. I would go Krell or ARC for this system. Krell will deliver accurate tone and grip with great soundstaging. ARC will emphasize bloom and dynamic swing. Tubes can be a pain over time...always changing character and on the decline. Cables must allow the system to breathe and expand and deliver lifelike color and dynamics....Transparent or MIT will do this better than most others. Power cords need to be up to snuff as well. Ayon as a CD player may be ok but a Krell Cipher or an ARC spinner would be closer to SOTA! Strong opinions? Yes...because I've been down your road more than a few times and tried to patch together a system with almost the right gear, which will leave you frustrated and feeling like you wasted your money. Do it right now and avoid the constant changes and frustration. |