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Which amp with Wilson watt puppy 8

Hi there !

i live on an island with no audiophile shops around. 
I arrived in 2011 with a Jeff Rowland continuum 250 and Sonus Faber Cremona m speakers who were a great match. Unfortunately I blew the speakers a few times, then upgraded to columns, blew them also twice. I guess the amp is too powerful for them, but this time Sonus Faber was unable to provide me replacement tweeters and speakers, which is an enormous disappointment. I will never buy anything from them again. I ran through the web and found corresponding parts that I changed myself, but they seem to sound much higher in the trebles and lack bass, especially at high volume levels, (above 55%) . I tried swapping the cables, but it didn’t change anything. 
I now bought a pair of Wilson audio watt puppy 8 that arrived this week from a NYC store. I hope them to last lifetime. 
They have cost me around 11.5k$ door to door, look great and tough, but need to be driven above 60 % of volume otherwise nothing comes out of them, especially bass !
I also get the same sharp treble sound, which is very disappointing.
My problem is to find the issue : 

1/ room acoustic

2/ change my class D amplifier for tubes or transistors

3/ find better cables

4/ me turning old ?

what should I do next ? what amplifier would you recommend with this configuration (watt puppy 8, MIT Avtr 1, ps audio direct stream mk1, aurender n10, musical fidelity M6 CD) ?

thank you 


 

lendivf
kofibaffour
412 posts
 

it is the speaker. it has a hollow presenting upper bass, lower midrange and couple that with the overly present lower treble. Makes for a bright sounding speaker.

You'd find this out if you invest in a measurement mic and use REW for sanity RTA measurements @lendivf 

 

Also the vertical dispersion is narrow enough with flaring in the lower treble presentation with things sounding brittle and papery.

So answering you on what to tackle:

1/ room acoustic - Yes this is what to focus all your energies on

2/ change my class D amplifier for tubes or transistors - Nope, not the culprit

3/ find better cables - even less of a culprit

4/ me turning old ? - can be a factor but also low on the importance ladder.

 

Take the time to get the measurement mic. ge this one - miniDSP, UMIK-2 USB Reference Measurement Microphone

and get REW - Room EQ Wizard Room Acoustics Software

Use this video as guidline to set it up - Room EQ Wizard: Start to Finish Tutorial - Ep3

and follow this method to get the data needed to show you how your speakers are coupling with the room - Moving Mic Measurement | diyAudio

westborn
163 posts
 

Since you have the Musical Fidelity M6, I would look at the Musical Fidelity integrateds. I have the Wilson 5.1s and love the tube/solid state hybrid MF sound with them.

BUT, I also use mid-upper level MIT speaker cables, which go very well with the Wilsons (they use to show them together at various audio shows). 

It is odd that you say you need 60% volume to get them going, and even then are experiencing sharp treble.  Wilsons can be annoyingly detailed in some areas with bad amp pairings.  Are your speakers and gear (including cables) well broken in? Definitely sounds like you have a mismatch somewhere. 

sls883
763 posts
 

How loud are you playing music? It seems odd that you have had drivers blow on multiple occasions.  

lendivf's avatar
lendivf OP
9 posts
 

@kofibaffour : thank you for your very detailed

answer, it seems to stick with chat gpt’s suggestion.  
 

✅ Recommended Actions – in Order of Impact

1. 📐 Treat the Room Acoustically

  • Add thick curtains, rugs, furniture, diffuser panels behind or around the speakers.

  • For discreet treatments, look into GIK Acoustics, Vicoustic, or Artnovion.

2. 🧪 Try a Different Amplifier (Warmer Character)

  • Consider amps that are warmer and more musical, such as:

    • Accuphase (E-480, E-5000)

    • Luxman (L-509X, L-590AXII)

    • Audio Research (tube amps – open soundstage and warmer tone)

    • Gryphon, Vitus, or YBA for high-end richness

3. 🎛️ Try a Smoother DAC

  • Consider a DAC with a more natural, analog-like sound:

    • Denafrips Pontus II or Terminator II (R2R)

    • Holo Audio Spring or KTE

    • LampizatOr Amber (tube-based)

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