Musician vs. audiophile


We need direction here. My wife, a musician and says my Sophia 3s, powered by BAT 3VK IX tube pre amp and 250w solid state amp sounds flat compared to a freaking Best Buy box store McIntosh/Martin Logan setup...  I can't honestly disagree, specifically when our rig is at low volume.  It lacks color and punch, even with 2ea. JL 12" subs... Help me with your recommendation, please!!!      
repeter
The McIntosh amplifiers, particularly the ones with Autoformers, pair very well with Martin Logan ESLs, according to owner feedbacks and my own experience. They are hardly considered "box store" quality. No experience with your other components.
To add to my previous post, many McIntosh solid state amplifiers have balanced and unbalanced input impedances in the vicinity of 20K. Driving impedances in that vicinity will almost certainly be a problem for your preamp, if it does not have the Six-Pak upgrade installed.

Regards,
-- Al

I am not familiar with the BAT amplifier.

I have had a pair of Sopra No2's and McIntosh MC452 power amp, since the Sopra's were first available and am so "smitten" I'm not looking to change.

One thing I found about my Sopra's was that it took at least 200 or so hours of break in time, for them to open up some.  But at around six months or so, they really seemed to "relax" and sound less "confined".

These speakers throw a "huge" amount of sound, yet I've found they are
very adept at the "performer in the room" sound stage.
To add to my previous post, i'm very familiar with Wilson speakers -- they're the very reason of spending a fortune and receiving a lady-bug size performance. 
overpriced and sound very poor in general especially Alexandria. in fact the higher priced Wilson sound worse than cheapest. First off they do not image and keep sound within the box -- all of'em with any amplifier paired. You can only dream about tonal balance... Obviously major brick-mortar store such as Best Buy would not target their customers with the product they wouldn't understand they paid money for.
BAT amp is great.
 @czarivey, that's pretty funny!  I think I understand where you're coming from.