2. amps-preamps
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Sophia II's and Pass Labs etc

HI!

I will buy a new amp set up for my Wilson Audio Sophia II's after the summer. I currently use a Burmester 051 integrated amp and a Burmester 061 cd player + a TW Acustic Raven w/Graham Phantom II arm will be ordered soon

I like the Burmester 011 preamp and Burmester 911 mk3 amp very much, although I have not tested the amp set on my speakers. The price for the set in Norway is NOK 276,000,-

The other options I am looking at are:

- Pass Labs XP20 and XA 100,5 / XA 160.5 mono amps, approx. NOK 210,000 / NOK 255,000

- Audio Research REF 3 preamp and REF 110 amp, approx. NOK 220,000,-

- Simaudio Moon P8 and Simaudio Moon W8, approx. NOK 245,000,-.

- Spectral DMC-30SS and Spectral DMA 360, approx. NOK 230,000,-.

And then you have Conrad Johnson, Mark Levinson, Luxman, Accuphase, MBL, etc etc.

Do you have any preferences of the amps mentioned. Do you know if Pass Labs XA 100.5 will be strong enough for the Sophia 2's?

I listen foremost to pop/rock/hip hop/electro/jazz/metal/etc, since I am a talent buyer within the festival circuit in Norway.

Thanks for your help.

Cheeers, ToffenG, Norway
toffeng
toffeng OP
41 posts
 
Hi all!

Thanks for all the advise! Much appreciated.

I have got some quotes from the various dealers now, and two pieces are standing out:

- Mark Levinson No 432 amp and Mark Levinson No 326S amp (very nice quote indeed)
- Burmester 911mk3 demo

I also got nice quotes from Pass Labs, and the Krell, Simaudio Moon, Plinius & Audio Researc dealer is also keen.

How is Krell compared to PassLabs? Krell Evolution EVO 302 and Krell Evolution EVO 222? The dealer told me that the Krell sound is the most smooth one, as Simaudio Moon is more of everything, the Audio Research is great midrange and treble, but lacks punch. And he reccommended Plinius a lot. I will travel up to him (2 hrs flight) to check out all with a Wilson Audio 2. He is lucky for me also a dealer for Wilson, the only one in Norway.

Cheeers and thanks, ToffenG
sdrenslow
65 posts
 
I don't know if Balanced Audio Technology is available in Norway, but I can strongly recommend the VK-52SE vacuum tube preamp and the VK-600SE solid-state amp with Wilson Audio Sophia Series 2. I am blown away with this combination!
tncr
1 posts
 
Hi everyone,

I am driving my Sophia 2's With XA30.5 without any issue,my preamp is
ARC Ref3.You can suggest ref3 for its wide and fantastic soundstage with XA30.5.You can 'see' every performer right at it's place-very 3 dimensional.
I have tried XA30 with many pre's such Aesthetics,Boulder 810,but Ref 3 is the right one for me.Indeed match XA30 with a tube pre,works.
Compared XA30 (ClassA)with Boulder 1060(A/B) , thought they are different.
Any who like mellow ,soft,3D,musical amp should suggest XA30..
One who likes strict ,punchy instruments at the right place of soundstage can stick on 1060.
joncourage
185 posts
 
I listened to the Sophia iii with an Ayre ax-7e and the Sasha with Ayre mx-r's, and both setups were among the best I've ever heard.
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