To Clarify my comments
to Mad DOG and John Casler:
My main comment was NOT to say the VMPS is not revealing by saying "forgiving speaker"(should have used "Sounds amazing (ribbons are so smooth) with a wider range of electronics") but to stress that the Wilson can really sound bad with incorrect Solid State Electronics because of how forward and dissecting they can be. I've found that the Sophia's and even the WP7's image more like monitors than the wall of music (you have to go to the Wilson Maxx’s at 40k to get this, or the MG3.6 or MG20.1) the RM40's provide.
This is why so many people complain about Wilson's being harsh and that is because they have heard some really bad synergy setups. I was just trying to help with the Wilson setup, so that this after listening thread doesn't turn into another anti-Wilson thread because of a synergy problem. The VMPS are bargains by the way (and with the pots and the damping on the PR you can tailor the sound unlike the Wilson’s)!
To John Casler: Yes, I have listened to an Aragon Pre and Palladium mono-block setup several times over the years... and yes it is leaps and bounds better then the Adcom GFP750 (I owned that for 2hours listening before it went back in the box), my list was in now apparent order. I only made this comment because the Wilson + Aragon synergy didn’t work in my "Listening" experiences. Audio listening is truly a personal preference sport, and these are my experiences. (Mating preamps with $18k amps can show certain weakness that I didn't notice with my prior sets of $6k amps (ARC D400MkII, SIM W5(synergy didn't work for me), EAD PowerMaster2000).
Background:
I had been looking at new pair of speakers for 3 years(and saving) flying around (with my job) and visiting dealers and fellow audiogoners. My final decision was between the Wilson Sophia and the RM40's and I choose the WP7's (sold my Audi and bought a cheap Honda to make up the difference) because of three things: The WP7's go lower in the bass, I could move them by myself, and they are visually smaller for my small listening room (10’x12’). I appreciate the RM40's for how liquid the ribbons can sound (I'm originally a magnepan IIIa owner) I originally brought my complete front end down to a RM40's owner (7hrs of driving)and tried my Placette Active (both agreed on the superiority) vs Rogue pre, and compared his Rogue 120 Magnums to the Ampzilla's (the winner to my ears and the owners) with all Transparent Reference cabling (which he preferred to his Kimber) He has since purchased a Placette Active, kept the Ampzilla's, and bought transparent ultra cabling).
During my travels, only 2 out of 7 Wilson dealers had setups that I could bare listening to, much less impressed by. Esoteric Audio in Scottsdale, Az excellent services and setup made the final decision easy as they were uncrated and setup for me in my house. Krystal Clear in Dallas, Texas also had an excellent setup.
I have Lamm M1.1s as my amplifiers finally, and I have compared them to the Rowland 201 monoblocks for 3 weeks in my house. They are amazing and especially for the money but they didn't replace my Lamm's as I needed more control and warmth in the mid bass. I am awaiting the opportunity to try the new Rowland 501's (which are suppose to have this) and unfortunately there is no local way for me to listen to an Ampzilla for comparison. I would love to pocket the $$ difference if I found what I was looking for and sold the Lamm's.
Sorry about the long reply but I feel I was too brief with my comments before. If you wish to see what my tastes are just do a user search on Audiogon for my same userid.
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