BEST AMPS FOR WILSON SASHA

I agree with George. The Sasha’s impedance curve suggests that it probably would not be an optimal or even a good sonic match for a triode-based amplifier that is described as using no global feedback.

It would be possible to say with greater certainty if the output impedance or damping factor of the 211FE were specified, or indicated in published measurements, but I couldn’t find any such numbers.

The ARC tube amp Mark indicated a friend uses successfully with the Sasha 2 is a different animal altogether. Like many ARC amps it uses a significant amount of feedback (14 db), and has a higher damping factor (12), and therefore a lower output impedance, than most other high quality tube amps. And of course it is significantly more powerful than the 211FE.  So I would not extrapolate any expectations about a 211FE/Sasha pairing from reports about ARC tube amp/Sasha pairings.

Good luck. Regards,
-- Al

Charles, a minor correction to your characteristically sage post.  I'm pretty sure that the 211FE is a push-pull amplifier, not a parallel SET.  I say that because it is described as transitioning from class A to class AB and then to class B at high power levels (a SET would always operate in class A), and also because it is described as being a "fully differentially balanced" design.

Best regards,
-- Al
 

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