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
rocray
Hopefully the OP found what he was looking for in the last 11 years.
Yep your right, I should have looked a bit deeper, just tweak bumping up old threads spruiking for EVS yet again

Cheers George

datsawman
Watt Puppy 7 needs new or used Amp and Pre-amp
You’ve got the best sounding of all the Watt/Puppy version there in the 7’s. My friend who has been through them all, even the 8’s came back to the 7’s.
Although they are 90db efficient and only need a 50watts or more to get loud, they are a nasty load for an amp in the bass, nearly 2ohm and 34 degrees -phase shift.
https://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/Wilfig1.jpg

Which means to get the "very best bass performace" out of them, you need an amp that can do "good current" "almost" doubling wattage down into 2ohms and be happy doing it continuously.

This means good linear amps and solid state, preferably using bi-polar (bjt) output stages (mosfets at a pinch). Your vintage Marantz is not one of these, neither are tube or Class-D amps. Music Reference RM200 are a tube exception with their 2ohm tap, but wattage then maybe very low for partying

If you want the best and need some help to get some ideas from the technical members here here on what I’ve outlined above just ask and they will help out with more suggestions

Cheers George

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.

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
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.
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
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.
Mcintosh pre amps, arround 3000 (C46 or C2200) are also good choices to W/p 7. I run my w/p 7 frist from MA2275, then bought a C200/MC 501 combination. The combintion is just great!!
Tube pre - ARC LS5 MK II or III or LS26 - Amp - NuForce 9SE V2 or Classe CA-2100
FWIW, the Watt/Puppy system is designed for tubes. They are easy to drive- our local dealer demoed them with our 60 watt for years. Wilson's national sales manager has used tubes for at least the last ten years...
I think they would sound nice with an all tube system.

How much do you want to spend?
You can do a vintage Luxman system for $ 3,000.00 range or
audio research or Conrad Johnson from about $ 5,000.00 and up
Do you have a large room?
Do you listen to Led Zepplin really loud?
Used Musical Fidelity integrated amps would have plenty of power and sound very good. The NuVista M3 , which I use, or the later similar models are excellent amps and are very reasonably priced for their performance. I am an audio dealer but I don't sell Musical Fidelity.
I use WP7's and have both ss and tube amps. I used to sell audio and know some people at Wilson so my "opinion" is more informed than most. Feel free to call me at 989-673-8493 since it is easier to talk than type. Denny