Best amplification for Wilson Audio Sascha DAW

[Ron Resnick]

ARC is not in any way related to McIntosh. Regarding the sound of the products, I know people who like ARC and I know people who like McIntosh, I don't know anyone that likes both. If you like what you have then I'm not sure you would find the sound of Audio Research to your taste.

How would you describe the general sound of McIntosh versus the general sound of Audio Research?

 

[Another Johnson]

ARC is not in any way related to McIntosh. Regarding the sound of the products, I know people who like ARC and I know people who like McIntosh, I don't know anyone that likes both. If you like what you have then I'm not sure you would find the sound of Audio Research to your taste.

I like some current McIntosh offerings and I like some current ARC offerings.

I think it is worth listening to both.

 

[rangda]

How would you describe the general sound of McIntosh versus the general sound of Audio Research?

All the McIntosh I've heard (I don't think I've ever heard any of their SS offerings) is very rich and warm. The kind of rich and warm which can at some level be very appealing. But my problem with it is that everything sounds rich and warm.

Audio Research, on the other hand, sounds faster and more detailed. It doesn't sound thin, but it lacks the constant warmth that McIntosh has. I find ARC, at least the units I've heard (most of which would be from ~25 ish years ago when I bought my ARC preamp), to go against the grain of the tube stereotype and almost sound like solid state.

 

[Dishman442]

With Alexia 2 the XA60.8 leave little to be desired. Even at ear splitting volume their needles barely twitch so any thoughts about needing the 160.8 monos is extinguished.

I didn’t specify, so my fault. I was talking about the A/B amp 260.8. It is 260 watts into 8 ohms, biased to stay in class A for the first 34 watts.