Amplification for Wilson Watt Puppy 7s or 8s


Putting together a new system and would like feedback from those within the community who own Puppy 7s or 8s in particular. I am trying to narrow my choice regarding amplification from the following. Would appreciate your feedback regarding your experience using these in your system:

VTL S-400 Reference; VTL 450 monos w/ VTL T.L6.5 preamp
BAT VK 150SE monos w/ VK 52SE preamp
VAC Phi-200 monos w/renaissance preamp
E.A.R. 890 monos w/E.A.R. 912 preamp

My listening room is 25"L x 17'W x 12'T . I listen to all genres of jazz, blues, house music, classical, gospel and spoken word. Yes it is eclectic but I truly love all forms of music. From time to time I will turn the volume up quite high but this is the exception, not the rule.

I hope to acquire most, if not all, of the components pre-owned but well taken care of. If I need to buy new, I will as a last resort.
winston50
Having had both the BAT Rex & VTL 7.5 mk 2 in my system, my bias is towards the VTL sound. For me it wasn't subtle at all. But I found I am not a fan of the Russian tubes in the BAT design and that the BAT description in the post above as compared to VTL to be close to my experiences. I just much preferred the VTL. If you have heard VTL systems that you like & BAT systems that you like then it will be a difficult decision but my personal taste is strongly towards the VTL house sound which is very natural and fluid. To me more like music.
Hello,

I owned WATT/Puppy a few years ago. The biggest problem of these speakers is limited dynamic range so you must use very, very power amplifiers.

I would suggest a bit more expensive preamp REX by BAT (if you like BAT sound) driving pairs of cheaper Spectron monoblocks. Every reviewer who examine this amps compare them with excellent tube amplifier. One of the reviewer who will publish next month another review sold his VTL Siegfrieds (and its better then 400 you target) and kept Spectrons for himself

Even cheaper and musically better is combination of Spectron with the latest Joule-Electra flagship amplifier, LA-300ME. I owned both LA-300 and REX driving my pair of Spectron into 802N speakers and I choose LA-300 but REX is fantastic too ( much better then 52 you targeted).

Finally, a friend of mine owns WTT/Puppy 7 which he drives with Spectron and ARC REF preamp (#1 or #2). I do not like this particular ARC.


Good Luck,
Rafael
Hello Winston,

I have Watt/Puppy 8 and I drove them with McIntosh 2102 tube amp and it was not enough, speakers need more power. I tried a few amps, some at home, some at dealer showrooms, some tube and some solid state and finally I settled on Spectron, first single stereo and very recently pair of monoblocks.

Wilson speakers and Spectron amps - it is the match made in heaven. I never thought that such synergy was possible. When and if you hear it - you will know what I am talking about.

Good Luck
Mike.
I've had the WP7's in here for a couple of years and used the Pass XA-160 monoblocs. I've recently switched to the XA-100.5 monoblocs because we'll be upgrading the speakers soon. If you own any Wilson, you owe it to yourself to audition Pass XA series amps.