Great room size. Great Amp. You really have to listen to the Sabrinas.
The Harbeth you have would go nicely with two REL s/510.
The Sabrinas are very different then the Vintage watt /puppys.
Very transparent and open. If you listen to them you will decide quickly if they work with you. |
"Anyone who thinks they are HiFi sounding has not listened to current models..."
I can't tell you how many times I've heard this about several brands of speakers over the years. Basically, it boils down to "THIS TIME we got it right." ;-)
I begrudge no one for whatever preferences they have. We all have different priorities concerning what we value when we listen to music. That's fine. It's a big world and there are options for everyone.
(And, BTW, I do listen to live music regularly -- Powell Symphony Hall, Cathedral Basilica and similar venues these days and years ago spent time in the music industry as a sound engineer before switching careers. I'm confident of my own preferences.)
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@yogiboy
Great links.
No doubt the smaller panels of the P3ESR will help with the disappearing act.
I once read a slightly troubling review of that renowned speaker where the listener got confused as to which speaker was actually playing at the time.
The other speaker in the room was the M40!
Maybe the ability to sound like a much larger speaker is the P3s best parlour trick, but it did leave me wondering just how big the actual differences might be.
This is not going to be easy for the OP, is it?
@clearthinker,
What a wonderfully refreshing post to read. Thanks!
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Hyberbole
I doubt an order of magnitude separates many different speakers, unlike the pricing. In case you don't know, an order of magnitude is 10x.
Exaggeration
At that price there will be plenty of other options. Anyway we all know speakers are a very personal choice.
Silly supposition
And can any member who 'hasn't heard live music' please put up hand, there won't be any.
The above post adds nothing and we can all do without. |
The Wilsons are an order of magnitude better speakers. They are the lowest distortion, most dynamic and resolving speakers, the most lifelike speakers anywhere near their price. Anyone who thinks they are HiFi sounding has not listened to current models, or has listened in systems with those horrid flat cables, or ones with high silver content, to through the horrific DACs from PS Audio or Mytek. Or simply hasn't heard live music. |
Wow, thanks for the great comments and discussion. In answer to a few queries, I do love the Harbeth "sound" - the natural midrange and overall true timbre. (I'm a musician, and timbre is my #1 concern in any speaker and system.) That said, I have found the Wilsons to be less analytical and clinical that some have suggested, and similarly natural and timbral-accurate. I don't necessarily think they're a complete dichotomy, but perhaps I'll reflect on that a little more.
To address what I don't like about the Harbeths, that would cause an upgrade "itch" to be scratched? It's hard to say - they do from time to time sound a bit "boxy" on big, orchestral stuff. But overall I have no complaints, just... an itch for something different, maybe? Complacency = first world problems! :)
And I think my room is probably a limiting factor for the big Harbeth 40s, though with the overwhelming consensus on those, I may do look at those calculations again. Moving up the Harbeth line does make sense, I just think that's too much speaker for this room, but perhaps it could work? Hmmm... |
Geoff won’t like this but i had two 60-90 minute demos with the Sasha Daw in Manhattan this past July and found the $37k speakers too dry and clinical to my ears. Although on the plus side great soundstage, imaging and super clean as I could hear every lyric (which is a problem for me as I have asymmetrical hearing loss), it just tired me out. It had no soul to me. Meanwhile I wound up with the Harbeth 40.2 Anniversary and absolutely adore their warmth and natural sounding musicality. Vocals are liquid smooth. |
For investment in that league, would make sense to listen more widely before making the jump. Consider Vandersteen Quatro Wood CT at substantially less cost than Sabrina X. Sound to my ears is more lifelike than Wilsons.
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It’s your system. Go for it if that is what you want. It’s all good stuff. |
Great room size. Great Amp. You really have to listen to the Sabrinas.
The Harbeth you have would go nicely with two REL s/510.
The Sabrinas are very different then the Vintage watt /puppys.
Very transparent and open. If you listen to them you will decide quickly if they work with you. |
With that amp I would get a pair of Klipsch Cornwalls. I am not a big Wilson fan. My buddy's Watt/Puppy's have not aged well. His Wilson subwoofer is just a coffee table now. Replaced by two JL Audio units.
They are extremely overpriced. If you want to spend a lot of money get a pair of Sound Labs 545's. They are perfect for that room. |
Sounds like you’re not sure what you’d like to improve upon — “upgrade” is too vague at least for me. So failing that the obvious safe and perhaps smartest bet is moving up the Harbeth line. I would say that given you like the Harbeth sound I’d suggest looking at Sonus Faber over Wilson — a little more rich or warm/musical and less clinical sounding (relatively) than Wilson while possibly adding better 3D holographic imaging over Harbeth if that would qualify an an upgrade to you. Those are my impressions of the house sound differences anyway, FWIW. Hope this helps, and best of luck.
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@soix
"What areas would you like to change or improve upon over your current speakers?"
Since any loudspeaker will have necessary compromises, including the C7s and Sabrina’s (though I imagine quite different ones) that must be the key question here before pulling that trigger.
As said previously, a genuine upgrade over the C7ES-3s as opposed to a mere shuffling of compromises, would be the M40s (“Ye cannae change the laws of physics Jim").
Unless the ’compromise’ that most bothers you is one that ALL Harbeth speakers are afflicted with, that would be the safe route.
[If you’re able to hang on to both the C7 and the Sabrina to compare, and of course, satisfy that pesky itch, then lucky you!] |
I am a Harbeth 40.2 Anniversary owner and although I have no desire to upgrade, I have always been interested in Wilson's. Since I have never spent any real time listening to Wilson speakers I really can't say what they sound like in comparison, but the owner of a local audio store, who happens to be blind, once told me that Wilson sounds the best to his ears. As one might only assume, someone who is blind must know, as they use their eyes to "see" in many ways.
That said, once I got my 40.2's I really haven't had a single thought to make changes in speakers. They are so right to my ears, and the path to get to them was long and expensive. I am sure there are other speakers that I would like as well or more, but would probably have to spend a lot more to achieve this. The Wilson line generally starts where the Harbeth line ends, even when you buy used. This has been one major prohibiting factor in even thinking about buying their speakers for me. I could afford them if I moved some priorities around, but when the Harbeths sound so perfect to me I simply cannot give this option a thought.
Whatever you do, make sure you can audition them thoroughly before you buy. And please do share your experiences if you go that route. I am very curious to know what others learn. |
Move up the Harbeth food chain. If you really like their sound, moving to Sabrinas may not be the best change. If you want to try something different, check out the Vienna Acoustics Liszt. |
For a room that size there are a lot of options.
This is of course a very personal thing. I find the Wilsons to be somewhat forward and clinical sounding. The other thing is that the industrial design can be a turnoff for some. I have a lot of wood in my living space and I find the Wilson’s to resemble a mix of school lunchroom garbage can and Transformers robot.
That being said I did hear the Sabrinas played with a very expensive Linn Klimax DSM and Solo amps. Lots of detailed info, but maybe too much depending on your preference?
Your Pass Labs XA30.5 might reduce the hi-fi sound nicely though? I have a XA30.8 with a Linn front end and Spendor D9 speakers and am very happy. |
Why don't you move up the Harbeth food chain if you like your current system, but want "more"? The 40.2 is amazing. |
I've always found the Wilsons I've heard over the years to be very forward, "hi-fi" sounding speakers. Conversely, I've found Harbeths to be a very neutral and more accurate presentation of unprocessed vocals and unamplified acoustic instruments (my personal reference point) -- in other words, more natural.
As such, I'm a little surprised that Harbeth --> Wilson is your flight path. But, speakers are a very personal choice and Wilson certainly has its followers and advocates, so maybe Harbeth was never the best choice for you in the first place. All one can do is listen (ideally in your own home) and then go with the one that best suits you. Forget what impresses anyone else. |
What areas would you like to change or improve upon over your current speakers? |
