I am currently driving these with an Emotiva DMC-1 pre/pro and MPS-1 amp (7 x 200w in a blade/cage format) (solid state). They sound good. The problem is that I auditioned these speakers being driven by ARC tube gear.

I am running a hybrid HT/2 channel rig, so the Sophias spend a lot of time doing multi-channel duty. For me, that means no tube amps.

I found this forum while researching to see if anyone had mated Audio Research Ref 3, McIntosh MC 402, and Sophia 2's with good results. Since the Ref 3 has an HT bypass, the theory was no tube burn in multi-channel. Has anyone tried this combo?

The alternative theory is to go with a solid state pre-amp and keep using the MPS-1. In that regard I have been looking at the Wyred 4 Sound STP SE, which claims to be passive to a point and active thereafter. That unit actually has more capacitance than the MPS-1 amp! Anyone have any experience with the Wyred STP SE pre-amp?

And yeah, I wish I could go BAT or Ayre or Lamm, but the budget is capped at $10,000. So I am thinking used.

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Randy - Wilson Sophia 2; BAT VK-600SE, BAT VK-52SE, BAT VK-5DSE; JL Audio F113 x2; Exact Power EP-15 and SP-15; Oppo BDP-83 SE; Emotiva MPS-1 and DMC-1; Marantz VP-15S front projector; 92" Stewart Firehawk; Rocket 200, 300, 750; ASC Tube Traps; SMS-1; WireWorld Silver Electra 5^2 PC's, Silver Eclipse 6 IC's and Silver Eclipse 6 SC's; Shunyata Hydra 6/Black Mamba CX-HC; Symposium Svelte Plus and RollerBlock Series 2+; Clear Audio Concept (MC); PS Audio GCPH

If your budget is $10,000 you can get some pretty nice BAT or Ayre combinatinos on Audiogon. For example you could get a BAT VK55 amp and 52 preamp for under your budget. Same thing for an Ayre combination.

Dave

Hmm. The Sophia IIs called, and they want you to sell the Emotiva gear, and upgrade.

Is the budget 10k for a pre and amp? If so, then there is a LOT you can do! Paging Serge (PHC1)!

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For I am not ashamed, for I know [in] Whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able...

LOL, I am already there ... at least in spirit. If I get a pre with HT bypass and a good two channel amp, I can use the Emotiva gear for movies (for which it is well suited) and have "the good stuff" for two channel. I avidly read Serge's Sophia thread, but then it just stopped and I notice he is now sporting Sasha's. Of course I would love to have the Lamm monoblocks, but they are out of reach for now.

Yes, the $10,000 is just for a preamp and two channel amp. I bought the Oppo BDP-83 SE to sidestep the need to immediately upgrade the Emotiva gear. I could not manage to list my equipment in the signature space.

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Randy - Wilson Sophia 2; BAT VK-600SE, BAT VK-52SE, BAT VK-5DSE; JL Audio F113 x2; Exact Power EP-15 and SP-15; Oppo BDP-83 SE; Emotiva MPS-1 and DMC-1; Marantz VP-15S front projector; 92" Stewart Firehawk; Rocket 200, 300, 750; ASC Tube Traps; SMS-1; WireWorld Silver Electra 5^2 PC's, Silver Eclipse 6 IC's and Silver Eclipse 6 SC's; Shunyata Hydra 6/Black Mamba CX-HC; Symposium Svelte Plus and RollerBlock Series 2+; Clear Audio Concept (MC); PS Audio GCPH

Chessman, $10k is a comfortable budget to give Sophia IIs worthy partners in terms of amp and preamp. As you have discovered for yourself already, or you wouldn't be asking this question, is that Sophia IIs, although often partnered with budget gear to prove a point I don't really understand, really react well to refined sounding gear.

You can easily find worthy partners such as Pass, BAT, Ayre, ARC, Conrad Johnson, Accuphase, Luxman just to name a few that would easily drive the Sophia IIs. My preference is for Class A, I find that Wilson Audio speakers do extremely well with Class A gear but some of the above mentioned gear would also have great synergy with the Sophia IIs. Some of the gear mentioned may be hard to find with higher Class A wattage but do try.

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System 7.1:
Wilson Sasha/Mezzo/Watch surrounds
D'Agostino Momentum x3 amps
Bryston 4B SST2 x2 amps
Krell S1200U pre/pro
Oppo Blu
Sony Blu changer
McIntosh MS300 music server
EAR/Yoshino Acute III tubed CDP
Transparent Ultra cabling
JL Audio F212 Sub
Lumagen video processor
JVC RS-35U projector
Stewart Screen

There is a demo Vk250SE with full warranty and a VK52SE on audiogon right at that $10k budget. I think the Sophia would love this tube pre solid amp combo with very good power for them. Then the 52SE is upgradeable to the REX in the future if you choose which means you don't have to sell anything the next time the upgrade bug bites. You can also get another amp and go mono in the future. Lots of options in this route.

Thanks for the headsup. In fact, I was drooling over these last night.

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Randy - Wilson Sophia 2; BAT VK-600SE, BAT VK-52SE, BAT VK-5DSE; JL Audio F113 x2; Exact Power EP-15 and SP-15; Oppo BDP-83 SE; Emotiva MPS-1 and DMC-1; Marantz VP-15S front projector; 92" Stewart Firehawk; Rocket 200, 300, 750; ASC Tube Traps; SMS-1; WireWorld Silver Electra 5^2 PC's, Silver Eclipse 6 IC's and Silver Eclipse 6 SC's; Shunyata Hydra 6/Black Mamba CX-HC; Symposium Svelte Plus and RollerBlock Series 2+; Clear Audio Concept (MC); PS Audio GCPH

The VK-52SE and VK-250Se is fantastic with the Sophias. you should be able to pick up the 52SE for $5500 and the VK-250SE for $2500. I know because I have bought the former and sold the latter on Audiogon over the past year.

If i had a pair of Sophia 2s I would consider driving them with the Luxman 550U class a 20 watts int amp or the Accuphase E550 class A 30 watt int amp.

I have heard the Sophia 2 with ARC electronics and things sounded really nice. If you need something on the cheap (relatively speaking of course) I have also heard them sound damn fine with the Krell S300i integrated.

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MC402, AudioResearch LS26, Magnepan MG3.7R, PS AudioDLIII, ACI Force XL, Transparent, Wireworld, Tara