Wilson Sophia2s demand better than AYRE V5xe, so..

I too use and love my Ayre K-1xe preamp, and plan on keeping it for a very long time as well. (The phono stage makes this an incredible value as a full function preamp, IMHO!) Its neutrality and transparency is incredible.

However, I too found most solid state amplifiers to be somewhat lacking in bloom, especially in the mid-range. (Perhaps having a solid state preamp with a solid state amp is just too neutral.) I found my long term amplifiers when I bought my Lamm M2.1 (200 wpc) monoblocks. These amplifiers are hybrid amps, with just one 6922 tube in each amp, but that one tube just seems to add a sense of life to the music. (FYI, replacing the stock Sovtek 6922 with something like an Amperex Orange Globe 6DJ8 ($200/pair), or better yet, the Amperex pinched waist 6922 ($400+/pair) will really make these amps sing!)

I used to use these amps with my Revel Studios, (which I felt sounded similar to the original Sophia), and now use them with my Eggleston Works Andra II. The Andra II speakers really have great bass response, and these amps provide all the power and bass extension I would ever want. (The M2.1s have better bass response than any tube monoblocks I've ever heard.) Their mid-range is fantastic, with a nice touch of tube bloom. (Vocals are great!) Their treble response is great, with good extension and lots of decay to cymbals. (Note: with the stock Sovtek tubes the sound has just a slight touch darkness. However, with even decent NOS tubes, this touch of darkness is no longer present.)

I got my Lamm M2.1s used for $7K. The Lamm M2.2s (220 wpc) replaced the M2.1s, and are slightly better in the treble response, but tend to run slightly over your $10K budget @ $12K used.

My two cents worth.
Good Luck in your search!

PS As an alternative, the DarTZeel NHB-108B, (The "B" version has balanced inputs), is a mighty fine solid state amplifier, and might do the trick if you can get by with 100 wpc. Used they run about $12K too.

Hce4,

I see that you are contemplating using the VTL MB-450s.
My friend used to use the VTL MB-450s with his Eidolon speakers, before he upgraded to the Lamm M2.2s. The VTLs are very musical amps, with great mid-range and a well extended treble. The bass response is very good too.

However, two things kept me from getting these amps when it was my time to upgrade.

One, was the heat. These amps run hot. (Even hotter than the Lamms run, which is my only gripe about the Lamms actually, as they run very warm.) In the summer, we used to have to open a window and run a fan with the VTLs running, whereas now, with the Lamms, we just have to open the window. (FYI, we live in California, where it is usually fairly warm all summer.) That is only a problem for 4 months or so out of the year though. (However, for a couple of months out of the year, it helps reduce the heating bill!)

Two, the bass response of the VTLs, while very good, (especially for a tube amp), was not in the same class as the Lamms. The Lamm bass response is quick, tight and deep. The VTLs did not go as deep, nor were they as quick and tight. Although for a tube amp, I must say they did quite a good job.

It might not be fair to compare the two amps, as the VTLs usually runs around $4,500 used, whereas the Lamm M2.1s (the M2.2s predessecor, which has the same bass response as the M2.1s) run about $7,000 used, which is about 50% more. (The M2.2 run closer to $12K used.) However, if you want the best bass response....

The reason I bring this up, is that one of your original points for upgrading was that you wanted "stronger bass output", and I did want to point out that while the VTLs have good bass output, it is not great bass output. As we had done a direct comparison between the two, I thought you might be interested.

My two cents worth.
Good Luck in your search.

Hello Mtdking,

You wrote: "I will have to disagree that the Lamm M1.1 has more bass output then the VTL MB-450 sigs."

Assuming you wrote that because of my post, (I believe I was the only one to recommend the Lamms in this thread), I would like to point out that what I actually wrote was that the M2.2 (and hence the M2.1) amplifiers have more bass output than the VTL MB-450 sigs. Please note that the M2.2 has 220 wpc (and the M2.1 has 200 wpc), which (obviously) is double the power of the 100 wpc Lamm M1.1 amps. (I don't even think that I mentioned the M1.1 amps actually, so I am not sure why you brought that up.)

And, I fully stand behind what I wrote. The Lamms (that I mentioned) have incredibly great bass response. And yes, they do indeed have better bass response than the VTLs, based upon our direct comparison.

My two cents worth.