Jeff Rowlands Amp and Dac vs. VAC amp and DAC

Thank you. I appreciate the detailed information. It is well beyond my comprehension, but I do understand your bottom line advice. I have not heard either amps with the Wilson speakers. I would have to take them to the store and I don't really think I can manage that. The store does not seem open to letting me bring the amps home. I listened on bigger Focal speakers -- and more expensive Focal speakers. They both sounded very good, but tubes (as I am realizing) have a little magic that SS doesn't. But, the JR was really good as well. The owner of the store thinks it should be fine with the Wilson's. I emailed the Wilson people and they also like VAC, VTL, and ARC with the Sabrinas. Thing is, everything costs so much (to my mind) and I want to get it right. Your help is part of the process and it is appreciated. 

By the way, do you have suggestions for other amp pairings with the Wilson Sabrinas? I am open-minded at this point. 

rinpoche for a purchase of this magnitude any good store should let you do an in-home audtion, I assume the store is local to you? Perhaps the owner can bring the amps over and at least do an audition with your speakers if he won't lend you an amp? I would expect better service than what you're describing for a good brick and mortar shop.

Thank you -- I will ask if they will do it. When I asked one of the guys in the shop he said, 'bring in your speakers'. They have been around a long time so I will see if they are willing to do it. It is one DAC and 2 amps. Should be worth it for a purchase of this magnitude, as you rightly say. That is a great suggestion. Thanks.

Do you have suggestions for other amp pairings with the Wilson Sabrinas? I am open-minded at this point.

I suspect that Knghifi’s suggestion of the VAC 200iq would avoid the concerns I expressed about pairing the Sigma with the Sabrina. Especially if two of them were used as monoblocks, but possibly also using just one in stereo mode. I say that in part because the 200iq includes a third output tap, designated as being for 1 to 2 ohm loads. That in combination with the reference in its description to 6 db of feedback suggests that the output impedance of that tap is low enough to avoid the tonal issue I referred to. It is also more powerful than the Sigma, of course.

A risk of going that route, however, would be the possibility that having a preamp in the chain might ultimately prove to be sonically desirable, and a preamp that would do justice to the rest of the equipment would add up to very big $ in combination with two or even one of those amps. See this thread for some discussion of using the Aeris with and without a preamp.

From a technical standpoint I would also expect something like an ARC Ref150SE to be a compatible pairing. ARC tube amps tend to have lower output impedance than many or most other high quality tube amps, as well as having very robust power supplies. However its size, complexity, heat generation, cost, and again the possible desirability of a preamp may rule it out. And I have no knowledge of how well its sonics would synergize with those of the Sabrina.

I’m not particularly knowledgeable about VTL products, but the fact that most of their amps have only a single output tap, nominally rated for a 5 ohm load although claimed to be suitable for 2 to 8 ohm loads, would give me pause.

Regarding Rowland solid state amplification, I have no experience but FWIW a number of members here whom I consider to be particularly credible, including Ricred who posted above, use it with great results. As far as I know there are no technical issues that the Continuum S2 or the Rowland power amps would present in your application.

Good luck. Regards,
-- Al