Alexia Fever Continues!

Bobvin said:
Are there any other sharks feeding Alexias with ARC Ref250s? What are your thoughts? I see many Dag owners slipping current to their Alexias, and I see some Pass 160s delivering the juice, but Ref250s? Anyone? Bueuller?
Click to expand...

I didn't hear it with an all Arc setup, but Dag + Arc pre at my dealer's. Nice combo. Very nice vocals.
 
I Don't want to tell you that I love the synergy with ARC because i'm an ARC dealer.
I only could advise you to hear them in your nearest ARC Dealer and trust your ears.

But I'm going to give you some hint,
My REF150 is sounding like never before with my Alexias.
My Next step will be definitely the REF250
I want more POWERRRRR !!!!!!!


:D
 
Bobvin said:
Are there any other sharks feeding Alexias with ARC Ref250s? What are your thoughts? I see many Dag owners slipping current to their Alexias, and I see some Pass 160s delivering the juice, but Ref250s? Anyone? Bueuller?
Click to expand...

Unless you have a really big room, get a ARC REF 75, it's a better sounding amp than the REF 150, REF 250s or the Pass amps (I've heard the XA 200.5s) and it can handle KT-150s.
 
My Ref110 drove my Sashas nicely, and I never felt they were being starved in any way. But I have always understood Wilson speakers to really be able to sound their best under more power than less. I have heard (not auditioned) the Ref75, the Ref150, and the Ref250 driving the Alexias and they sounded great with all.

When I auditioned last week with Ref250s it was mid-day, I had gotten up really early, and drove the 3.5 hours up to Seattle. So being a little tired and road weary, I can't say I was paying any attention to amplification... I was just focusing on the Alexias presentation of some favorite tracks.

The real reason for my question has to do with my pondering a pair of 250s vs. a 150 and a Ref Phono2SE. Do I go for the power now, or go for the phono amp. I've already found a replacement for my Einstein phono, but maybe the switch to an all ARC front end will be more pleasing than the extra juice.

But, I see most folks here have hi-power SS amps (mono blocks or stereo), so the real question becomes one of power and how the Alexias respond?
 
Bob, I have heard the Alexias with both the ARC REF 75 and REF 150. I have also heard them with very good SS amps. I'm certainly not trying to ruffle anyones feathers, but I felt that the Alexia really sounded better with the SS gear than with ARC gear. The SS gear, especially D'Agostino, produced a more fully fleshed out sound, more meat on the bones. Your tastes could easily vary from mine, but I felt the big SS amps produced a more lifelike sound than the ARC gear did. ARC gear paired with Alexias produced a more delicate presentation.

Hope this helps.
 
I have both brands and I prefer ARC.
When you are a tube guy is hard to go back to SS
But is me not a general assumption

:)
 
And the prices are not the same
If you compared them side by side
Two mono blocks of Dan cost almost the same as the REF750 and those are out of these league
 
Bobvin said:
My Ref110 drove my Sashas nicely, and I never felt they were being starved in any way. But I have always understood Wilson speakers to really be able to sound their best under more power than less. I have heard (not auditioned) the Ref75, the Ref150, and the Ref250 driving the Alexias and they sounded great with all.

When I auditioned last week with Ref250s it was mid-day, I had gotten up really early, and drove the 3.5 hours up to Seattle. So being a little tired and road weary, I can't say I was paying any attention to amplification... I was just focusing on the Alexias presentation of some favorite tracks.

The real reason for my question has to do with my pondering a pair of 250s vs. a 150 and a Ref Phono2SE. Do I go for the power now, or go for the phono amp. I've already found a replacement for my Einstein phono, but maybe the switch to an all ARC front end will be more pleasing than the extra juice.

But, I see most folks here have hi-power SS amps (mono blocks or stereo), so the real question becomes one of power and how the Alexias respond?
Click to expand...

Bob, I'm driving my Alexia's with a 70 watt Cary CAD 211 FE amps (300b/845) and the sound is delicious and plenty loud...no problem with 100db+ peaks. On the other hand, I have tried VAC phi200's (200 watt/channel amps) - and it wasn't as great a pairing as I would have hoped. I also have the D'Agostino Momentum Monoblocks and the McIntosh 601's. In three independent blind tests, the McIntosh 601's were picked as the number one favorite by the participants. The VAC's were picked last and the Cary/D'Agostino's battled for a tie for second.

If it was me, I would go for a REF 75 (which has the pretty meters and the 150 doesn't) and a McIntosh 452 and your REF2SE (which ROCKS by the way!) instead of a REF 150 or REF 250. Why? The Alexia's don't need power. At 30 watts you will be covering your ears. At 60 watts, you will likely leave the room. Switching between tubes and solid state is fun. The 452 is essentially the 601's I have in a stereo amp. If you're not into that, I understand.

If your choice is ultimately REF 250's vs REF 150/REF2SE Phonostage - then definitely the REF 150/REF2SE phono stage.

What preamp do you have?

Hope that helps.

Mike
 
highEndguy said:
And the prices are not the same
If you compared them side by side
Two mono blocks of Dan cost almost the same as the REF750 and those are out of these league
Click to expand...
Price is an issue to be sure... The Dag stereo is somewhat more than the 250s, the Dag mono's out of my league. Pass monos, depending on Watts more in-line with budget. I love the ARC tube presentation of holographic soundfield. It helps me get lost in the music. SS can have more grip, sometimes more detail, but soundfield somewhat less 3D IMHO. But Pass amps supposedly have a tubelike presentation, and I don't know if SS amp with ARC Ref5SE pre would shrink the 3D effect too much.

Matters of taste to be sure. And ARC preamp is a certainty for me. Dag stereo amp is not out of possibilty as I have heard (not auditioned) one with Alexias and it certainly sounded good.
 
I would lean more towards keeping the REF150's and going for a better front end. If you like the ARC sound then having the REF150/REF5SE/REF2SE should give you exactly what you want. I think a better phono stage will give you nicer results than more power.
 
dlb2 said:
I would lean more towards keeping the REF150's and going for a better front end. If you like the ARC sound then having the REF150/REF5SE/REF2SE should give you exactly what you want. I think a better phono stage will give you nicer results than more power.
Click to expand...
i agree 10 fold!!!!
also those alexias sensitivity is 90db. althought the ohms drop a little low you could run any size amp and get plenty of volume. im running 15w into 90db, and still have plenty of volume left on the dial when playing as loud as i can handle.
i personally think when you have a decently efficient speaker like that, a big mistake people make is running too much power through them. but that is just my opinion from the listening i have done on lots of different speakers and amps. i just never liked the sound of 90db+ speakers with very high powered amps.
the arc sound is a preference some people love. if you like that sound, the way to go is their best front end products. the ref preamps and phonostage are great. save some money with the 75's or even test macs newest 275's. and with the leftover treat yourself to a new cartridge or something to boost the most important part(the front end).
just for an fyi. i ran 100w tube amps and sold them and bought 15w tube amps with the same entire setup, and the 15w were less money, and i wouldnt trade them for anything right now.
mike has the setup to die for!!!! ref2se/ cary slp05/cary211's/alexias. i dont care about the rest.lmao!!!!
best of luck on your search.
 
dlb2 said:
I would lean more towards keeping the REF150's and going for a better front end. If you like the ARC sound then having the REF150/REF5SE/REF2SE should give you exactly what you want. I think a better phono stage will give you nicer results than more power.
Click to expand...

Certainly that is exactly, for me, the trade off route. If I were to go 250s it may just be a lust for POWER, and a little more overall control of the speakers. I never felt the Ref110 lacked any juice with the Sashas, but SS does tend to have more grip on the bottom octaves, though I have not heard SS in my own room, always a dealer or friend. (Wait, I don't have any friends, who am I kidding!)

My phono-pre is not a popular one, but was well reviewed by Fremer. I found it quite capable but am willing to give it up for a Ref-Phono2SE. Since my dealer is now 200 miles away home auditions not likely.
 
Bob, just ask Mike about how he likes his REF2SE. Be careful though, he'll have you buying 2k worth of NOS tubes for it! :lol:

Of course I say that like it's a bad thing!
 
Bobvin said:
Price is an issue to be sure... The Dag stereo is somewhat more than the 250s, the Dag mono's out of my league. Pass monos, depending on Watts more in-line with budget. I love the ARC tube presentation of holographic soundfield. It helps me get lost in the music. SS can have more grip, sometimes more detail, but soundfield somewhat less 3D IMHO. But Pass amps supposedly have a tubelike presentation, and I don't know if SS amp with ARC Ref5SE pre would shrink the 3D effect too much.

Matters of taste to be sure. And ARC preamp is a certainty for me. Dag stereo amp is not out of possibilty as I have heard (not auditioned) one with Alexias and it certainly sounded good.
Click to expand...

Bob, Mike(Ritmo) on our forum has the combo of ARC REF 5se preamp and Dag stereo amp with his Alexia's. It's a very good combination, I have listened to the ARC REF 10/ Dag stereo/Alexia combo myself, it's very magical !!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top