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how 'bout Wilson Sophias with Simaudio P-5/W-5 ??

In my quest for a 2 channel audio system, I am quickly becoming confused and overwhelmed. Problem is that I only have one high-end dealer in town, so a lot of my listening is limited to trips away from home, making "A/B" comparisons difficult.

Perhaps, I made the mistake of focusing first on electronics and I repeatedly listened to the Simaudio P-5/W-5/Eclipse CDP usually with JMlab Speakers (936's and Alto Be's). Although, I seemed to be very happy with the Simaudio, I felt that perhaps the Alto Be, although beautiful, was too polite and tame for the kind of rock, alternative rock that I listen to (Radiohead, U2, Strokes, White Stripes, REM, Ryan Adams, Beck, Coldplay, MUSE, etc. etc.) So, I have listened to many other speakers on recent trips (full line of Verity Audio, Meadowlark, Joseph Audio, Wilson Sophia and WP7). I really would prefer to stay at or below 12K for the speakers. (I am still hoping to listen to Dynaudio Confidence C2 and Contour S5.4.) Of all of the speakers I auditioned, I quickly realized how great the WIlson Sophias are for dynamic bass, reproducing drum kits. Moreover, their precise focus, imaging and soundstage were unbelievable. Putting on some dynamic rock pieces, I realized how more emotional the Sophia was compared to some of the other speakers. Yet, I am not sure how well they will mate with the Simaudio equipment. Now, I haven't purchased anything yet, and I am not married to Simaudio. Yet, I really wanted to avoid the maintenance of tubes etc. For reference, I listened to the Sophias with Theta electronics (Dreadnaught, Casablanca, and Compli). I was struck how forward the midrange was compared to JMlab Altos listened to before. Yet, I wondered whether the system could become fatiguing. On the other hand, I have no idea how the Simaudio W-5/P-5 would compare with the Theta. I hope to get to an audio store that carries both, so that I can do extended listening with the Sophia and Simaudio. (will require yet another trip)

In the meantime, can anyone comment on pairing the Sophias with Simaudio electronics ? Otherwise, given that I would like to avoid tubes (if possible) can anyone comment on other solid state electronics that would ideally mate with Sophia. For reference the room is 23 by 13 with 9 foot ceilings. I also like to listen to my music at loud volume.
thom_y

Showing 2 responses by stehno

stehno
1,453 posts
 
I can only commnet on the Moon W-5. A very nice solid state amp in it's own right. Fast, powerful enough, even a bit sweet when compared to some other solid state amps. A real eye opening experience when comparing the W-5 to some other amps.

However, there is something not right with the bass region even though it provides the listener with a sense that it has more than enough power.

With my 10T's the W-5 just sounded like it was compressing and congesting at even lower listening levels. Increased levels even worse.

I sold the W-5 thinking it just didn't mate well with my speakers' power requirements.

It wasn't until some time later that I realized it was the W-5 that was causing the problem.

There is a review by Peter Moncrief of Intern'l Audio Review on the SimAudio.com website. There, Peter Moncrief reviews both the P5 and W-5 and says very good things about both components.

But then he describes the same deficiencies in the bass that I experienced and he explains why he believes it is so.

Other then that flaw, I thinks it's an excellent amplifier and one could do far worse than a W-5.

-IMO
stehno
1,453 posts
 
Jazz dude, yes, I am aware of what others have said about the W-5's bass and I am well aware of the typical 3-day warm-up time period required for the W-5.

But I am also aware of what the W-5 bass was like in my system at that time with my Aerial 10T's. The amp I owned prior to the W-5 was a BAT vk-500 with optional BATPAK. The BAT's bass was far superior, more pronounced, and better defined when compared to the W-5's. In fact, the VK-500's power reserves for bass seemed limitless in comparison. However, the W-5 was far superior in every other category to the BAT vk-500.

My next amp after the W-5, a McCormack DNA-2 LAE (Limited Anniversary Edition), was better than the best of what both the VK-500 and the W-5 had to offer. That DNA-2 LAE was rated by Peter Moncrief as the best solid state amp (especially in the bass) a few years ago, bar none.

But the bass of all those amps and others I've owned or listened to previously simply pail in significance to the bass that is reproduced in my current amplifier. A McCormack DNA-2 Revision A amplifier.

It wasn't unitl some time after I parted with the W-5 that I stumbled upon the Moncrief specific review of the W-5/P-5 on SimAudio's website and what he described about the W-5's bass was exactly what I experienced.

There are some that consider Peter Moncrief head and shoulders above most every reviewer out there. Since I had owned 3 of the many amps Moncrief reviewed and categorized for quality, and his review of each of those was right on, I'm apt to agree with much of what he said.

FWIW, in Moncrief's reviews and classifications of solid state and tube amps a few years ago, he placed the W-5 in category 1C tied with the Audio Refinement Complete integrated amp and there were only 3 other solid state amps he placed over the W-5.

Personally, I liked everything about the W-5 very much. In fact, compared to every other amp I owned up that point-in-time(about 5 amps), the W-5 was a real eye opener in a number of ways and I most likely would have kept it were it not for the bass reproduction.

-IMO
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