Yes, it could be that I am sensitive to this region. Interesting that the tweeter doesn't come into play until 3k, I'll have re-read the review. |
I am sorry, I was refering to the new B&W 802 Diamond above, not the previous 802D model.
I do not own or live with the Wilson's but the recent crop of their "entry level" speakers, at least as I heard set up by Peter McGrath, did not sound fatiguing at all. Funny I thought voices were particularly convincing. Having heard previous generations, this was a surprise to me because I had dismissed Wilsons as somewhere between sterile to accurate to overly aggressive sounding depending on the material and system they were matched with. Musical was not a term I would have used, while this is a term I would have use to describe the larger B&W 800 series and Avalon speakers I have listened to. My opinion about the newer Wilsons is not unique, but Madfloyd listens to these speakers a lot more than me, and it is certainly easier to develop a valid opinion over months and years than in a short audition. |
I listened to the Wilson Sophia 3 and the Sasha along with the Avalon Indra and Isis at the same showroom last week.
Since I have been a Magnepan owner for the last 25 years and am about to audition both the 3.7 and 20.7 I wanted to listen to the new breed of dynamic speakers.
Most of us Maggie fans know the downs that you get with the wonderful sound stage, quickness etc, and in my system I bi-amp with matching Audio Research D400s with a LS17 Pre and Marantz SACD. Also use a pair of Velodynes 12 inch powered subs. The system list is just so you know it wasn't a pure. "speaker to speaker" comparison and my sound preferences.
I completely understand the appeal of Wilsons, but because of my preferences would not swap even my current set up for either model. They seems a bit too analytical for my taste, but again the things that others love such as pinpoint imaging are there in abundance with Wilson's.
The Avalons sounded more "musical" to me but the Indra lacked some weight and authority. The Isis sounded wonderful and would love to have them but even the demo model was 58k and that is just too far above my comfort zone.
This is all a long winded way to say that as a "panel guy" I think the Avalons are a better speaker for the sound I prefer but the Wilson has the attributes many will simply love.
Given the price points, the Maggie's ( 5600 for 3.7/14000 for 20.7) seem like a steal but we will see if I still hold that opinion after auditioning. |
I also prefer Avalons over Wilsons in general. Though with the right equipment matching either can sound good. The Avalons seem to be more involving. |
Avalon Indra - Fell in love with it immediately with jazz vocals. When I popped in The Prodigy.... That love dissipated. Where's the speed and pace?
Wilson Sasha - Very involving piece. Seems to sound very humanly - like everything comes with an extra layer of flesh. Very very good. But after prolonged listening, I thought there is a polarized layer added to the music in that it impacts certain familiar character to music. Warm?
Wilson Sophia 3 - Auditioned right after the Sasha. First impression screamed "Hifi-ish".... But will be well liked by most audiophiles.
So Wilson Sasha will be my choice. Sorry haven't heard the other Avalons. |
I love both brands Avalon & Wilson and have owned both but if you like dynamics and let's face it we all like to play music loud sometimes don't we? It's Wilson Audio for me everytime!!! |
You want to keep the Arcam? Arcam is no match for Avalon or Wilson. Arcam is a brand which is not good at depth. Depth is the strongest property of Avalon. So you need an amplifier who is capable of this. |
Wilson really does not have the =great sound until you spend for the top of the line....Verity Sarastro or lowengren are on a different plane...more for music lovers instead of analyzing cds...also, wilson uses cheap drivers and charges a lot of $$$... |
Trcnetmsncom, well said. I had listened to Eclipse and Eidolons in stores and shows for some time and they simply didn't, "hit me over the head," the way the Paradigm Studio 100s did.
I bought the Paradigms and began a merry-go-round of replacing electronics. I was fixed on the speaker and not the music. A few years later I tried the Studio 100 version 2. Thanks to a knowledgeable friends persistence I gave up on the Paradigms and purchase a pair of used Eidolons.
Within the first hour listening to the Eidolons at home this whole audio thing became very clear. Now after living with the Avalons I've only experienced a handful of speakers that sound correct to me. |
Wilsons, very good hifi
Avalon, music/emotion
802D, bad hifi
YMMV !
I also agree that avalons (save the new compass) do not do rock yet wilsons can fatigue with rock ! |
The thing I noticed with Wilson Audio speakers is that most of this people had a lot of acoustic problems. Even with very musical amps classical music did not sound as it should be. Depth is ok, but there are enough speakers which do this better. I sold Avalon for about 6 years. I prefer them over Wilson Audio. But I am still not convinced about it. The stage is deep and wide, but instruments and voices are smaller and more sharper focussed in real than wenn I hear it at Avalon speakers. For realism in sound for classical music I prefer B&W 800,801 and 802 and the top od Sonus Faber. These speakers are not perfect either and have the limitations to be poor in depth. |
In 2009 I had the chanche to listen to the Wilson Audio Alexandria 2 with my own music for 1,5 hours. It was with Ayre's most expensive power amps/pre, most expensive Transpanrent cables and the most expensive Wadia. I thought I will start with Nils Lofgren Acoustic Live. He was toooooo big. His head was far over 1 metre. Speakers were about 3m from eachother. Sorry, wenn you do a demo like this I never will take you serious. 2nd number: light my fire from jacintha is her name. The cross flute on the left side was at the same line of Jacinha her voice. It is recorded a few metres behind her voice. Wenn a system of this price is not able to let you hear depth I also will not take it seriously. |
As an owner of sophia 3, I audiotoned Avalons eidolon visions with a ceramic drivers..man highs and mids are quite impressive but lows with this drivers seems that it doesnt integrate well maybe it was my concern...I completly agree with others that avalon and wilson are quite different in every term, as I felt that one user describe as having both and I feel completely as same if I had a space I will buy avalons and run them as my mood goes..aynhow if you have concerns on lows I would not recommend them highly but again avalons have a musical texture that is bold and expressive... |
As an owner of sophia 3, I audiotoned Avalons eidolon visions with a ceramic drivers..man highs and mids are quite impressive but lows with this drivers seems that it doesnt integrate well maybe it was my concern...I completly agree with others that avalon and wilson are quite different in every term, as I felt that one user describe as having both and I feel completely as same if I had a space I will buy avalons and run them as my mood goes..aynhow if you have concerns on lows I would not recommend them highly but again avalons have a musical texture that is bold and expressive... |
Regarding Avalons it's the mid driver. There is a measurable peak at 1.8 - 1.9khz with the Accuton ceramic mid. Add to it the dispersion characteristics of the drivers makes it VERY susceptible to early reflections. Ceiling treatment is a must and be prepared to drive them with warm sounding triodes (well... TRL Samsons and Pass XAs may work for the SS school)
Never heard the Sophia 3 but the Sophia 2s are already very impressive. |
I have Avalon Opus w/ Spectral 360s and finally get my new Spectral 30SV tonight after work (waiting 6 months) all MIT Oracle IC, SC and PC plus conditioners. Used to have Wilson Cubs w/ Watch Dog Sub. Prefer Avalon's. But I see a pair of Watt Puuppy 7s and am debating on getting them to just have a Rock Out change when in the mood |
