VTL Siefried vs Audio Research 610T

I own the Maxx 2/210's/Ref 3/CD7 combination within a custom-built room and am very pleased with the results. No question the 610's would be a dream upgrade within that system. I think at this level, component matching within the same line almost _always_ makes the most sense, especially between pre and amps. I seem to recall Wilson also having a pair of the 610's and absolutely raving about them. As with all successful manufacturers of speakers, Dave and the guys at Wilson always have a variety of electronics on hand at any given time.

With regards to service rep at VTL, I think that is an unfortunate tag from long ago. Since Luke and Bea took over, their service commitment seems exemplary and the electronics are all first rate.

Err no question about it, I have both sitting here in front of me, I much prefer the AR 610's.

I have lived with the Seigfried's for a year and tried many different tubes in them, the best sounding were the EAT KT88's but there reliability was not so good (a biasing issue I think) I ended up with matched GE 6550C's. Which were far better than the stock tubes.

We also always had a channel imbalance issue which with the 610's has disappeared.

We have just received a pair of REF610T's and the build quality is superior, the sound is much better IMHO, the soundstage is wider and deeper with superior transient speed. The bass is deeper and the resolution is stunning. One aspect I like very much is vocals have a 3D perspective to them, you can clearly hear everything that is being sung. My wife and I almost stopped listening to music with the VTL's now for 1st time in months we have had several late night sessions, which says it all really.

System they are being used in is Wilson X2's/Aesthetic Callisto & IO with dual power supplies/source is Rockport Sirus 3/CEC TLX, Audionote DAC 5 and cabling is all Transparent.

Oh and Dave uses a number of different amps, John is using the 610's at home with Maxx 2's. Wilson's policy is to not specificaly recommend components.

If you send me an email I will send you some photos.

"My wife and I almost stopped listening to music with the VTL's now for the first time in months".

Is there any hope for the rest of us? Forget whether Siegfried or ARC 610t is better - if one is not drawn to listen with all your previously proclaimed amazing and satisfying equipment, including what you proclaimed to be the best speaker on the planet(Wilson Alexandria)- then are the rest of us also fated to a disconnect from our music listening without a NEW 40k amp, or for that matter w/o the world's best loudspeaker?

Hello,
Both are very expensive amps. Its very important that David Wilson uses $45k Siegfrieds but I suggest you to read:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1180897750&read&keyw&zzspectron

Also, I have heard that Wayne Donnelly - Positive Feedback reviewer, who knows about equipment and MUSIC, recently sold his Siegfrieds and use relatively inexpensive Spectron Musician III SE in stereo mode. As good as the stereo is - two of them, in fully balanced monoblock configuration (still much cheaper then Siegfrieds) are pure " tube magic"
All The Best in Your search,
Rafael

thanks for your replies...I'm going to audition the Siefried's in my system this week and the 610T's in the coming weeks.

Question for the Wilson owners...What speaker cable are you using with your Maxx's or X2's? I'm using Audioquest Everest, I had them with my previous Vandersteens and decided to use them for now but I've never tried another cable with the Wilsons.