Wilson Sophia 2--- VTL S-150 or Ayre V1-xe?

I've read one of your prior post, concerning the lack of bass output with your current equipment. At least that was my understanding of your post. I have an opinion, I didn't say it was a fact. I use this forum to give food for thought, based on my experiences and my preferences. There isn't a one amp fits all. As a Wilson dealer has told me; Sophia's require quality, not quantity. If you love your sound and I love my sound that's great. We end with the same results with different opinions.

I have had the Sophia 1 for a few years and have heard the Sophia 2s many times. I love them with my Lamm M1.2s, although I know that amp-speaker combo did not sing for Elberoth. They also sound great with Ayre mono blocks. I did not care for them with the big Krell mono blocks.

I have them in a fairly large room and they breathe and fill the room with sound and the Lamms seem to drive them without difficulty.

I did find that the Sophia 1s can sound bright with some music with Virtual Dynamics cables. They were not bright with Transparent but did not sing either. But with Purist Anniversaries the sound is always liquid AND detailed with the lowest noise floor I've heard.

I'm not surprised that Elberoth's Sophia 2s are beautiful with the 27WPC Audio Note Japan Ongaku SET amp. I imagine that is a beautiful sounding system.

Cipherjuris,

Just to set the record straight - at the time I had Lamm monos, I owned Avalon Eidolon Vision speakers, not Sophias.

I have never heard the Sophias driven by Lamm M1.2R.

Nickt, I have been going through the same task of looking for the right amp for my Sophia 2s. Since I am going to use them for a large Home Theater room as well as 2 channel I have been looking mainly at high current SS amps. So far I have auditioned, Krell, Pass, BAT, and Parasound.

I have been impressed with each of the amps for different reasons, but was unexpectantly impressed with the Parasound JC-1s. A good price and has the ability to really rock the Sophias. None of the amps were bright IMO.

In my opinion, the VTL-150 won't work with the Sophia 2's. I have both (although in separate systems) and tried them together. Bass was F-L-A-B-B-Y. I'm guessing that amp doesn't have enough juice at 4ohms.

I'm guessing you also don't want Ayre. I heard Ayre electronics matched up with Wilson Sasha's at RMAF and it was thin and bright sounding - not my cup of tea. If you like realistic body, you're going to need tubes in your path somewhere (imo).

I have Pass amps and use a tube preamp to balance out the sound. I have heard nothing but good things about the Parasound and would love to audition them one day. I did try the preamp and it was very warm and nice, but a little rolled off on top. I wonder how the amp would sound...