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Sonus Faber vs Wilson

I currently own a pair of absolutely gorgeous Serafino Tradition speakers. They are about 3 months old and I’ve finally got them positioned nicely in my room. They are being driven by a Gryphon Diablo 300. Great soundstage and imaging even off access. Tremendous detail and I just love the way the speakers look. I must add that it’s really important to me how all this stuff looks in my home. I love the tight fast and nuanced delivery of the Gryphon but not loving the way it looks…alas..that sound made the decision for me and I’ve hidden it away so my wife doesn’t have a coronary.

So….this brings me to my newest quandary. My local dealer has a gorgeous dedicated listening room in the lovely Biltmore hotel just minutes from my home. (Very dangerous…!) There are a pair of Wilson Sasha DAW speakers that sound…well…that sound like the best speakers I’ve heard. I absolutely HATE the way they look…and I would dread getting them up the three front steps of my home…but that sound….

Do I keep the lovely sounding and gorgeous looking Serafino’s or swap them for the ugliest best sounding speakers I’ve ever heard.? 
(There is an $18k price difference so there’s that too…!)
128x128jomonhifi
tonywinga's avatar
tonywinga
844 posts
 
The subs integrated perfectly into my system.  I have to either turn them off or put my hand in front of the cones to tell if they are working.  And I agree with you that once you experience that last octave down to 20 Hz it is hard to give it up.  I have one song, a Choir song with a large bass drum.  When the bass drum is struck, the power of that drum is intoxicating.  The subs and the Thiels working together make moments like that possible.  But I wonder how it would sound on the Wilsons...
james633
1,023 posts
 
tonywinga,

You have a really nice system and room BTW. I have no complaint with Wilson really other than the cost. 
One more thing to try before throwing cash at the system. If you have the ability to highpass the subs and cut the lows out of the mains it will make a huge difference. Running the subs at around 60hz (right where your bass driver rolls off and the passive radiator picks up) will really elevate the bass (no pun intended) and the whole system. 
Subs are just so good these days might as well let them do their thing. At 60hz they will blend well. At 80hz I find I can hear them and at 40hz and less the system as a whole is not near as good. That has been my experience in a few different rooms with the same system. 
Anyway, something like the JL Audio CR-1 would add the ability if your system lacks a high-pass.  If you end up using a higher crossover you might want to pull the subs a little closer to the mains. If you keep the face of the driver less than 39” away from the front wall you should still be good at 60hz and less for room nodes based on the 1/4 wave. 
kencp's avatar
kencp
2 posts
 

I've also visited John at the Biltmore.  Compared Focal, Sonus faber Nova III (one woofer), and the Wilson Sabrinas (not SabrinaX).  He used the BIG Gryphon amplifier.  I liked the Focal the least.  It took a lot of listening to determine the Sabrinas were just a little better than the Nova III's....but interior designer girlfriend nixed the Wilsons as "too ugly."  I think the Nova V's would likely have bested the Sabrinas, but he didn't have them available.

My opinion, FWIW, is keep the Serafinos and enjoy their excellent sound.  It is easy to get into the "better speaker" quandary, and (again, FWIW, and from 50 years having stereos, and owned a store)) you will likely never obtain the "best" speaker in small speaker increments.  If you were to make a big leap in price, you might get stuff that is better than the Wilson Sashas or Serafinos, but then the itch will hit again...  At some point, it's worth just staying with good stuff and listening to music rather than to the equipment; I think you'll get the most enjoyment.

jomonhifi's avatar
jomonhifi OP
151 posts
 

So…..it’s been well over a year since posting about this lovely quandary.  My gorgeous Serafino’s are now being driven by an Audio Research 160s with Nordost Try 2 Speaker wires, a new Ethernet switch and Ansuz power distribution. I’m sitting in my chair listening now…. 

Sonus Faber is about to release the new Amati… Joseph Audio has a gorgeous floor stander and then there are those DAW’s….

Hopefully my dealer AudioSalon will get a pair of Pearl Graphine’s soon for me to listen to.

Ain’t this fun…?

jomonhifi's avatar
jomonhifi OP
151 posts
 

And oh god…. I did upgrade to the Rossini Apex and got the clock..!
 

help…!

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