Eidolon, Amati Homage, or Watt?


Although my Dunlavy SC4's are great, I've got the "bug" to change speakers. My system consists of CJ Premier 8 XS mono amps(135 watts/chan push-pull triode),CAT mk.3 preamp,Krell 20i cd player and a VPI table. The room is 20Lx18Wx17H with the speakers on the long wall and I listen to jazz and vocal.

I've never tried any other speakers in my home system
but auditioned the Amati and Watt/6 at dealers with different systems and while they are both good in their own way,I'm still looking. Can the Eidolon's deliver all the goods of the Dunlavy,s and more, with only the medium power of my amps? I would also welcome other speaker suggestions.
qualsound
i agree with the utopia recomendation. i have heard the amatis, and watt puppys, and earlier avalons. the amatis are very smooth, but a little lite on dynamics. i think any of the speakers you mentioned are top shelf, but i think the utopias have less problems and with your great amps and seems to be wonderful system you will love the utopias.sound labs are also top shelf. good luck and keep us up to date.
It may be worth auditioning a pair of Alon Circes -- not the prettiest, but great sounding and far less $$$.
You have a great system including the speakers. Keep what you have and enjoy. In my opinion you will spend a lot of money to most likely be disapointed.

Butch
Its quite refreshing to see so many positive comments regarding all of the speakers concerned. Often when one asks a question (such as your own) it will meet with highly partisan, non-objective comments and recommendations - Kudos to all of the thoughtful respondents.

My own immediate thoughts (after reading the thread): Have you been able to bring any of these speakers home for audition? If not would you be able to? You're spending quite a bit of $. I would think that any dealer relieving you of this much $ would be happy to oblige you.

So much of what you hear is system/room-dependant that it'd be a shame if you didn't actually get a few of these fine speakers home for a good weekend-to-weekend listen.
The character you are hearing at the dealer will most defiantly be different than it will in your own system. Even simple things often overlooked such as speaker cables and IC’s can take a speaker from sounding brutally analytical to heavenly musical.

Additionally:
Speakers such as the W/P-6’s are extremely fussy about positioning and can sound dramatically different in two different rooms. A Wilson dealer should be willing to show you how they’d sound in your space.

I’ve never heard the Amati’s, I have heard the W/P 6's, the Eidolons - and the Circes (that Larryro mentions).

Delivery of sound from each is quite different. The least-mentioned Circes are wonderful speakers and really should be considered in your audition (probably the Kharma’s too). The Circe’s are especially wonderful with tube gear. They are very open, with three dimensional soundstage that lives and breaths –I’d call them the closest to an electrostatic or magneplanar but with dynamics… and no need for head-in-vice listening! One can walk around the room and still point to a given instrument or musician in a swing/jazz band. The Circes lack the dynamics of the W/P, but this is true of so many speakers – including (but not limited to) all other speakers on your list. That said, the Circes will get down pretty deep, and with some fairly articulate bass – lower than the Eidolons & just as tuneful.

The W/P are impressive in their speed, dynamics and HUGE soundstage. I've never heard them on CJ gear - most often they are paired to beast SS amps from Krell etc. But what I have heard from those systems is nothing short of remarkable. If it were me I would HAVE to bring them home – just to be sure.

The Eidolon's - which are much talked about, and come very highly regarded, do just about everything right, but need lots of juice! In contrast to the Circe’s the Eidolons image equally well, with a very natural presentation - but not quite as natural as the Circes. The Circes just seem more organic in sound quality – start and decay. In the bass, the Eidolons have neutral & tuneful bass, but not as quick, deep or snappy as the W/P's. Where the Eidolon really shines is in the midrange/highs & ability to disappear. The Eidolon’s ability to plausibly recreate the human voice may be without equal.

What a truly difficult decision... and one that I’d love to be in the position to have to make ;)

Thanks for the thread, & be certain to post what you end up with.
Cheers,
Mike