Rowland JRDG 501 and Wilson Audio

Hi Soundoc. The 501s are high current amps capable of driving even difficult loads. I can't see any problems them driving Wilson speakers. To maximize the musicality and low level detail of your 501 monos, you may want to add a pair of Jeff Rowland PC1 external power factor correction units. These transform the AC into a 385V steady DC stream and keep all the 501 charge caps at an optimum charge level without ripples. the PC1 is said to bring the 501 quite close to the musicality of the big JRDG 312 amp.
I personally like the WP8s better than the Sophias. A brand of speakers that is known to work marvellously with Rowland electronics is Vienna Acoustics. I have fallen in love with the Vienna Mahlers in 06 at RMAF and now am proud owner of a pair. I have heard them both with 501s and the 312. But if you are considering the pricepoint of the WP8, the new Vienna Die Muzik may be of interest as well. They should become available in September or October for about $25K.
Both Wilson and Vienna make wonderful speakers. . . it all depends on your particular preference. . . more detailed the Wilsons, while the Viennas are thought to be profoundly musically involving. I like them both for different reasons. . . . and I am delighted about the long term enjoyment of my Mahlers.

Hi Keith, what was the problem you experienced with 201s? In fairness, the 201s sound quite a bit different from the 501s, particularly for headroom, authority, detail, ability to handle transients bass definition. 201s tend to get 'glassy' very quickly at the first sign of excitement. . . not so the 501s.

Tusa, what JRDG class D amps did you try with your Sophia speakers, and what specific issues did you experience with them?

RGS92, what model of WaTT Puppies did you listen to? G.

Yeap, that's the problem of the 201s. . . they definitely lack 'lung' capacity for relatively large speakers like the Sophias or my Mahlers. I am not surprised that the NuForces did well on your Sophias. . . I have used the Nuforce Ref 9V2SE on my own Vienna Mahlers, which are probably more difficult to drive than Sophias, and Nuforce monos control them with aplomb. On a different system I have also heard the JRDG 501s being plenty confy on the Mahler's. . . conversely the 201s can't drive the big Vienna Mahlers to any satisfactory degree.

Hi RGS, I remember not being fond of WP6s because of their tizziness. . . but have heard the newest WP8s driven by both Bat and CJ electronics and found them to sound very graceful instead. Have not heard them yet driven by any switching amplification, so I can't venture to guess how they would sound with JRDG 501s, even if PC1 PFC units were added. G.