Luxman is an interesting option....

__________________
Shindo/DeVore Super 8's

One good thing about music: When it hits you, you feel no pain.

Bob Marley

dartzeel measured very bad in the stereophile review.
i guess ARC would be a great match.

or a lyngdorf millennium. it's an amp and upsampling dac all in one.

Audio Research DSi200

Magnum Dynalab MD309

Pass Labs INT30A

Sim Audio Moon 700i

If you want to spend more go for pre/amp combos. BTW, good little int for start is Krell S300i.

Stephen,

Who's the "guy" you're talking about ?
So you're following the Wilson route now ? They are very nice speakers. I would love to listen to them and the Sashas...
There was the Master's Flu, and now we'll have to talk about the Serge's Flu !
You're changing really often these days...

Now to answer your question, from the listenings I had of Wilson speakers, but I did not listen to the Sophia 3, I would favor nice tube amps like the Leben to be sure that I won't get a too highly detailed presentation for my ears....

__________________
Jérôme

They have convinced themselves that man, the worst transgressor of all the species, is the crown of creation. All other creatures were created merely to provide him with food, pelts, to be tormented, exterminated. In relation to them, all people are Nazis; for the animals, it is an eternal Treblinka. Isaac Bashevis Singer

Gamut DI-150
Kondo Ongaku
New Kondo Overture
Dartzeel of course.

Stephen.......The Audio Research VSi60 integrated tube amplifier ($4k) was well reviewed in the September 2010 issue of Stereophile.

__________________
Dan


Living Room System: McIntosh C2300, MC601 (2), MCD1100, MS750, MR85, Sony DAT 60ES, Nakamichi BX-300, Micro Seiki DD-40, Ortofon 2M Black, Sonos ZP90, Oppo BDP-83SE Blu-ray, PMC EB1i, Fathom f113 w/ Sound Anchor stand, Power Plant Premier (2), PS Audio Soloist Premier SE (3), Rollerblock Jr.'s, Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's & PC's, Kimber 8TC with WBT Solid Silver Angled Locking Banana Connectors.
Studio System: McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MCD1100, MR88, Michell Gyro SE w/SME 309/Ortofon Cadenza Black, Sonos ZP90, PS Audio Power Plant Premier, PS Audio Soloist Premier SE, Sonus Faber Amati Anniversario, Rollerblock Jr.'s, Wireword Silver Eclipse IC's & PC's, Wireworld Silver Eclipse speaker cable.
Studio Home Theater System: McIntosh MX120, MC452, Oppo BDP-95 Blu-ray, PS Audio Soloist Premier SE, JBL LSR-6332 (2), JBL LSR-6328P (3), McIntosh XLS112 (2), Sony 52XBR9, Tributaries Silver IC's, Wireworld PC's.
Vintage: McIntosh MA5100, MR74 tuner, JVC XL-Z1050 K2 CD player, Wyred 4 Sound DAC2, Tandberg 3008A and 3026A, JBL4312A , McIntosh 4300V for deck speakers.

Good choice Dan !
4 k for a tube ARC integrated is very tempting !

__________________
Jérôme

They have convinced themselves that man, the worst transgressor of all the species, is the crown of creation. All other creatures were created merely to provide him with food, pelts, to be tormented, exterminated. In relation to them, all people are Nazis; for the animals, it is an eternal Treblinka. Isaac Bashevis Singer

Jerome,

Not to worry... I won't be giving up on the Shindo gear anytime soon, it is by far the most magical sound that has ever come into my room.

Dan,

Do you think that the ARC could drive the Sophia3's?

I heard the 3's with a 40 watt tube integrated by Octave and was very impressed...

Jerome,

I think that you point about pairing the Wilson's with tubes is probably a very good idea.

__________________
Shindo/DeVore Super 8's

One good thing about music: When it hits you, you feel no pain.

Bob Marley

Stephen.......The Audio Research VSi60 is rated at 50 watts per channel continuous. The Sophia 3 is rated at 87 dB with one watt input, and Wilson's site says 20 watts is the minimum suggested power amp. With the VSi60 putting out 50 watts you can expect to get 102 to 103 dB of sound pressure level from the Sophia 3. You could listen all day at 92 to 95 dB and probably be in heaven.

The last paragraph of the Stereophile review by Robert J. Reina said, "I felt sad when I packed up the VSi60 to ship back to ARC.I didn't want to see it leave - the first time that's happened in 25 years of reviewing audio gear. This captivating and enticing little dream of an amp is a sleeper. Look for it. Ignore its power rating, kick back, and listen to the magic."

You may want to find an ARC dealer and give this integrated an audition.

__________________
Dan


Living Room System: McIntosh C2300, MC601 (2), MCD1100, MS750, MR85, Sony DAT 60ES, Nakamichi BX-300, Micro Seiki DD-40, Ortofon 2M Black, Sonos ZP90, Oppo BDP-83SE Blu-ray, PMC EB1i, Fathom f113 w/ Sound Anchor stand, Power Plant Premier (2), PS Audio Soloist Premier SE (3), Rollerblock Jr.'s, Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's & PC's, Kimber 8TC with WBT Solid Silver Angled Locking Banana Connectors.
Studio System: McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MCD1100, MR88, Michell Gyro SE w/SME 309/Ortofon Cadenza Black, Sonos ZP90, PS Audio Power Plant Premier, PS Audio Soloist Premier SE, Sonus Faber Amati Anniversario, Rollerblock Jr.'s, Wireword Silver Eclipse IC's & PC's, Wireworld Silver Eclipse speaker cable.
Studio Home Theater System: McIntosh MX120, MC452, Oppo BDP-95 Blu-ray, PS Audio Soloist Premier SE, JBL LSR-6332 (2), JBL LSR-6328P (3), McIntosh XLS112 (2), Sony 52XBR9, Tributaries Silver IC's, Wireworld PC's.
Vintage: McIntosh MA5100, MR74 tuner, JVC XL-Z1050 K2 CD player, Wyred 4 Sound DAC2, Tandberg 3008A and 3026A, JBL4312A , McIntosh 4300V for deck speakers.

Thanks Dan... will do.

Not many places around here seem to cary the ARD and Wilson combo.

__________________
Shindo/DeVore Super 8's

One good thing about music: When it hits you, you feel no pain.

Bob Marley